The Connoisseurs from Epernay (Private Half day Champagne Tour)
Description
Near Epernay, Capital of the Champagne vineyard, discovery of the "Côte des Blancs" Grand Cru and the famous village and vineyard of Hautvillers in the historic hillsides of the Marne Valley listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In Hautvillers, village called the “Cradle of Champagne”, guided tour of the church of Dom Pérignon and the vineyard. Pause at the most beautiful viewpoint of Champagne in the heart of the vineyard with explanations of viticulture management. Visit the production sites of two families of independent producers/growers followed by commented tastings of a selection of 6 Champagnes Grand Cru/Premier Cru, as well as the essential Champagne alcohols and aperitifs during additional tastings. Discovery tour of the "Côte des Blancs", famous area for its Grand Cru Chardonnay 100% Blanc de Blancs. Commented passage through the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay, called "the most expensive Avenue in the World" with its 200 million bottles in the cellars.
Tour Options
Itinerary
In Hautvillers, village called the “Cradle of Champagne”, enjoy a private tour of the Church where the grave of Dom Pérignon, known as the spiritual father of Champagne, is. We will tell you his story and you will finally know whether or not he is the inventor of Champagne !
In Hautvillers, we will also stop in the historical hillsides of Champagne listed as Word Heritage Site by Unesco to enjoy the most magnificent panorama of Champagne overlooking the Marne Valley, the place where Dom Pérignon carried out his experiments in winemaking. It is the ideal place in the heart of the vineyards to take unforgettable photos of you and this breathtaking landscape. We will visit the first of the 2 families of independent producers/growers that you will discover during your tour with explanations on the Champagne making process, visit of the presses, wineries and cellars. You will taste there, during a commented tasting, 3 different GrandCru/Premier Cru Champagnes*. *depending on the season and availability, this visit/tastings may take place in a village of the "Côte des Blancs" or in Aÿ-Champagne.
During your discovery tour in the "Côte des Blancs", we will go through Cramant which is one of the famous villages Grand cru located south of Epernay. This area in Champagne is called the "Kingdom of Chardonnay Grand Cru". We will also pass through other famous villages such as Chouilly and Avize, in front of the largest champagne bottles factory and near the famous "Chateau de Saran", the ultra private property where the luxury LVMH group (who owns Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, Krug ...) receives its biggest customers and VIPs as well as the "Montaigu site" dedicated to the champagne making of Moët & Chandon.
Oger is another renowned Grand Cru village in "Côte des Blancs" with the famous "Blanc de Blancs" 100% Chardonnay Grand Cru. This is where we will visit one of the 2 families of independent producers/growers of the tour with other explanations on the Champagne making process, visit to the presses, wineries and cellars. You will taste 3 100% Grand Cru Champagnes with tasting advice to discover the different "Blanc de Blancs" such as natural Champagne without dosage, extra brut, from old vines, vintage or even aged in oak barrels.
We will cross in Epernay, the Capital of the Champagne vineyard, the "Avenue de Champagne" , a must-see Champagne UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is considered "the most expensive Avenue in the world" with its prestigious Champagne houses, its mansions and its 100 kilometers of cellars which hide 200 million bottles. A commented passage is planned to explain the history of its superb mansions and production buildings belonging for centuries to the Champagne Houses like Moët & Chandon, Perrier Jouët, Pol Roger, etc.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Viator gives you a list of pick ups, please check that your place is in the perimeter of 6kms (3.7 miles) around Epernay (Reims is a 40-minute drive away and not within this radius. You'll need to come and join us by taxi, car, or train in Epernay). If it is not, we will not be able to pick you up at this place. In case of any doubt, you can contact us before to book. Depending on the weather/season and the number of people in your group, we will choose the most suitable vehicle from our fleet of different cars : Electric E-Mehari Jeep car, Premium Van and Minivans. Our Electric red E-Meharis are crossovers, if you have difficulty getting into slightly raised vehicles tell us.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(61)
Outstanding, educational and fun tour.... we learned about the nomenclature, process, denominations, and history of champagne with a fun local guide. The two tastings offered novel small production vineyards with s broad array of different champagne. Highly recommend.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Pascal. It was a real pleasure to welcome you on our private “Les Connaisseurs” experience. From hotel pick-up to drop-off, our aim is to offer a seamless and fully personalized journey through Champagne. We are delighted that you enjoyed discovering the history, traditions, and craftsmanship behind Champagne, as well as the opportunity to explore carefully selected small producers and their distinctive cuvées. Sharing this experience with just the two of you allowed for meaningful discussions, flexibility, and a deeper immersion into the region we love. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back to Champagne again soon!
Excellent. It was perfect. We recommend.
Thank you very much for your 5-star review! We’re delighted you experienced our private “The Connoisseurs” tour from Épernay. Designed for a more immersive and refined discovery of Champagne, it’s a pleasure to know you had such a great time. We look forward to welcoming you again!
Great guide and a lovely trip around the countryside of Champagne. We learned a lot and had a great time!
It was a real pleasure welcoming you and sharing my passion for Champagne with you. I’m delighted that you enjoyed the beautiful countryside and that you learned a lot during the tour. I truly appreciate your kind feedback and hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again for another sparkling experience in Champagne !
Really great experience on a private tour. Our guide Isabelle was really knowledgeable and shared her passion for the region with us as she took us around. Great customer service too when booking and all our questions were answered promptly which helped us decide which tour to book. We were lucky enough to be there at harvest time which added an extra dimension to the tour. Highly recommend.
Thank you so much for your amazing 5-star review! 🌟 It was such a pleasure to guide you on a private tour and to share my passion for the Champagne region with you. I am delighted that you appreciated both the visit and the service during the booking process — our team always aims to make everything smooth and easy from start to finish. You were indeed very lucky to experience Champagne at harvest time, when the vineyards are full of life and the atmosphere is truly unique. I am so happy that this added an extra dimension to your journey. Your kind words and recommendation mean a lot, and I would be very glad to welcome you again on your next trip to Champagne! Warm regards, Isabelle Private Champagne Tours | Local Expertise | Authentic Experiences
Fantastic luck with Philippe! His local knowledge as well as champagne skills were really appreciated by everyone in the group as much as his mood. The hours just flew by and we might as well have continued all evening :) During the tour we stopped for tasting at Jean Milan and Voirin-Jumel. We also visited Dom Perignon church and finished on a hill where we enjoyed the view as well as Philippe's surprises in the form of Ratafia and other drinks.
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We are delighted that you enjoyed your private Champagne tour and appreciated the perfect mix of local knowledge, history, and champagne expertise. It’s fantastic to hear that your group loved the immersive tastings, the visit to the historic Dom Pérignon church in Hautvillers, and the chance to relax on the hillside with breathtaking vineyard views and a few local surprises, including the famous Ratafia of Champagne. Creating unforgettable experiences in the heart of the Champagne vineyards is always our goal, and we look forward to welcoming you again for another memorable Champagne tour. 🥂
Isabelle is an amazing women, full off energy, knowledge and enthousiasm!! Must do if you want to go to the most Beautiful places of the Champagne region.
Thank you so much Olivier for your wonderful review! I am truly delighted that you enjoyed your private Champagne tour with me. Sharing my passion, energy, and knowledge of the Champagne region is always a pleasure, especially when it helps guests discover the most beautiful vineyards, villages, and hidden gems of Champagne. It was such an honor to help you organize this very special moment in the vineyards for your proposal, and I am thrilled that everything was perfect for you both. I hope to welcome you back soon for another unforgettable private Champagne experience!
Marine made us have a great time. She knows her subject perfectly and knows how to convey her passion with clarity and enthusiasm. The tasting was a real pleasure and perfectly completed this immersion in the world of champagne. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who wants to combine culture, pleasure and authenticity!
Thank you so much for your kind review! Marine will be delighted to know that her passion, knowledge, and enthusiasm helped make your Champagne experience so special. We’re also glad that the tasting added the perfect touch to your day. Your warm recommendation truly means a lot, and we hope to welcome you back again soon in Champagne! 🥂
We highly recommend this champagne tour. The host Marine was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. The tour tells you everything you need to know about champagne and the region. The degustation was excellent and from small champagne producers, which is lovely. We got picked up from the hotel and driven back where we asked. It is totally worth doing. 🍾👍🏼😊
Thank you so much Caroline for this amazing review ! It was great to meet you and drive you through our wonderful region, a good way to taste champagne with all the explanations you need ! Enjoy the rest of your travel, and see you soon, maybe for a Food Tour ;) Marine
Fantastic experience! We had an unforgettable afternoon. Learned a lot about champagne, the surroundings,... Tasted nice champagnes. Very nice that something was provided for our daughter of 5 years. That way she didn't have to be bored. Thank you Philippe for sharing your expertise with us.
thank you very much for your review. It was a pleasure to take your lovely family for a tour around the champagne area.
Super enthusiastic business manager. Tasty and affordable champagne. Man listened to our story too. Made a lot of effort to speak English, even though I prefer a tour in French.
Thank you very much for your review, it was a pleasure to make you discover the landscape of Champagne and its champagne off course. Merci beaucoup pour votre avis positif. C'était un plaisir de vous faire découvrir les paysages de la Champagne et ses champagnes bien sur.
