Aÿ-Champagne

Tours

Experience Aÿ-Champagne during a tour, tasting, and lunch experience at a typical Champagne house in the middle of the Le Clos Corbier Champagne vineyards. See cellars dug in the 1850s and a traditional press. Learn the secrets of the Champagne-making process. Arrive at the winery and take a seat and enjoy your tasting class with a Champagne quiz. Train your nose to identify different aromas and flavors that can be found in Champagne through an olfactory workshop. Get competitive as you blindly identify 3 different champagnes from various small wineries, all while eating local snacks. Next, immerse yourself in the French lifestyle with a casual lunch of homemade regional specialties like pâté en croute (meat-filled pastry), Langres cheese, or pink biscuit cake paired with a variety of champagnes. Continue your tastings with the local red wine, Côteaux Champenois, and the regional liquor known as Ratafia. End your Champagne experience after lunch in the early afternoon.

Explore the charming countryside of Champagne on a relaxed e-bike tour. Cycle through Premier and Grand Cru villages, and see the UNESCO world's heritage vines. Glide down the Marne Canal and taste various champagnes and enjoy a traditional lunch. Select you pick up location and meet your local guide in Reims at 9AM, in Epernay at 9:35AM or in Mareuil-sur-Ay at 9:45AM. After a drive deep in the Champagne countryside to a typical Champagne House, Le Clos Corbier, your bikes will be ready for you to ride. Ride your e-bike and discover some of Champagne’s most remote locations. Earn your champagne glasses cycling through Premier and Grand Cru villages and fully experience the complexity of the terroir. Enjoy breathtaking views of the UNESCO world’s heritage vines of Champagne. Discover the village of Hautvillers, the birthplace of Champagne. Finish your time in Hautvillers with a guided visit of the church where the famous monk Dom Pérignon is buried. Experience a ride alongside the Marne canal to make your way back to Le Clos Corbier. Visit the cellars and taste different champagnes from the family domain, where you will see and be taught about the champagne-making process. Then immerse yourself into the French lifestyle with a traditional lunch consisting of homemade regional specialties paired with a variety of champagnes, cheese puffs, paté en croute, quiche, lentils, cheeses, Reims pink biscuit (the lunch can be adapted to allergies or specific diets).

Be welcomed in Mareuil-sur-Ay at a typical Champagne House in the middle of Champagne vineyards (Le Clos Corbier). During the visit to the cellars dug in the 1850s, you will start with the discovery of a traditional press and learn all about the secrets of the champagne making process. Take a seat and enjoy your tasting class with a champagne quiz, then train your nose to identify the different aromas and flavors that can be found in Champagne through an olfactory workshop. Get competitive as you blindly identify 3 different Champagnes from the family, including one Grand Cru Vintage. You will enjoy some local sweet treats and finger food paired with your champagnes! (It can be adapted to allergies or specific diets)

Immerse yourself in all things Champagne with this ticket to the Pressoria Champagne museum in Aÿ-Champagne. Uncover the secrets of what makes Champagne authentic, as you follow the journey from the soil to the bottle. Travel to the foot of a green French hillside to the UNESCO world heritage commune of Aÿ-Champagne. View the classically designed museum and explore the engaging displays at your own pace. Find out what makes Champagne the drink of kings. Dig into the depths of the sub-soil and relax in the peaceful vineyards. Learn how to pick and to press the grapes. Follow the process of fermenting, aging, and bottling the perfect Champagne. Become a connoisseur as you learn more about how each layer of flavor is constructed. Let the light bubbly flavor delight your taste buds to the fullest.

Meet your local guide at 9.00am (9:20am on Saturdays and Sundays) in front of the tourist office situated next to Reims centre train station and start the day with the discovery of Reims city center. Enjoy a city tour with a drive by “Notre Dame de Reims”, one of the first monuments to be registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thereafter, enjoy a full tour in the underground cellars of the prestigious Champagne House Veuve Clicquot (If not available, Veuve Clicquot can be replaced by a similar house) as a first introduction to the champagne making process and explore the 25-meter deep 2000 year-old cellars. Finish the visit by savoring 4 of their emblematic champagne cuvées. Enjoy a moment in the vineyards, with breathtaking views on the UNESCO world’s heritage Champagne vines and acquire knowledge about the particularities of our “terroir”. You will then discover the village of Hautvillers, the birthplace of champagne. Get to enter the church where the famous monk Dom Pérignon is buried. Drive through the famous Champagne Avenue in Epernay, capital of Champagne, where some of the most prestigious estates are based : Pol Roger, Perrier Jouët, Moët & Chandon, Boizel... Be welcomed in Mareuil-sur-Ay at a typical Champagne House (Le Clos Corbier), discover the cellars and get an introduction on how to taste champagne wines. Immerse yourself into the French lifestyle with a traditional lunch which consists of homemade regional specialties paired with a variety of Champagnes. You will spend the afternoon alongside a champagne producer, get behind the scenes, visit the press, tank room, cellars and get to appreciate the tools and expertise of a small champagne maker. Appreciate several tastings of their own production and acquire tasting knowledge with these rare champagnes! After a day full of experiences and precious souvenirs, your guide will drop you off, in front of the tourist office situated next to Reims centre train station at 5.30 pm.

Meet your local guide in front of Reims Centre train station, next to the office of tourism. Drive in the Champagne countryside to a typical Champagne House, Le Clos Corbier, where your electric mountain bike will be ready for you to ride. After a little warm-up to get comfortable with your e-bike, leave for some adventures ! Your bike will take you though the Champagne vineyards and hillsides where you will get to learn about the champagne region and terroir. Cycle back to Le Clos Corbier down the Marne canal. Visit the cellars and taste different champagnes from the family domaine. You will discover and learn about the champagne making process. After this memorable afternoon, your guide will drop you off at 07:00PM in front of Reims Centre train station. Please note that the electric bikes are heavier than regular bikes, as a consequence, it is required to be comfortable cycling.

Enjoy a unique and luxurious experience aboard our solar House Boat as you sail through the heart of the prestigious Champagne vineyards. Available every day from 10am to 9pm, this boat can accommodate up to eight people and will take you along the hillsides of the villages of Champagne. An unforgettable experience - Flexible Duration: You can choose a walk from one to four hours, depending on your desires, whether it's for a short getaway or a more in-depth exploration. - Nature Discovery: Admire the picturesque landscapes and the surrounding nature from the comfort of our House Boat. - Unique Perspective: Get a different view of the Champagne hillsides and UNESCO-listed vineyards, visible from the canal. A Solar and Eco-Responsible House Boat: - Solar: Built in France in Arcachon in 2023, the AY-CHAMPAGNE House Boat is unique in the Grand Est region for its solar design. Eco-Responsible: This boat filters its wastewater and limits its need for drinking water, thus becoming a model of ecotourism. Comfort and Safety: Sail serenely with our experienced skipper.Scenic routes- Marne and Canals: Sail on the canals to the south to the foot of Hautvillers, to the east to Châlons-en-Champagne, to the north to Reims. Depending on the time available and the weather conditions, you can also sail on the Marne to Épernay.- Wildlife Observation: Take advantage of the tranquility of the waterways to observe the local flora and fauna. A ride in premium comfort - Fast food: On board, enjoy jars Made in France. - Toilet and Equipped Kitchen: With microwave to heat bottles, sink to wash hands, etc. - Sunbathing: The solarium offers sunbathing areas to fully enjoy the sun. Don't forget your sunglasses, caps and hats, as the reflection on the water is more intense.Living room with Leather Sofa, Table and Chairs: For those who prefer shade, the living room is equipped with a leather sofa, table and chairs.This solar House Boat tour promises you an unforgettable getaway, combining luxury and respect for the environment, while offering you a unique perspective on the beautiful Champagne vineyards. Flânerie Package - 1 hour• Around Aÿ, navigate between the two communes of Aÿ, immerse yourself in the history of the Clos des Goisses, the Goyart distillery, the hillsides of Ay, Mutigny and Mareuil.

Discovery of the most famous areas around Epernay, Capital of the Champagne vineyard : The "Côte des Blancs" known as the kingdom of Chardonnay Grand cru and the Marne Valley renowned for its historic hillsides producing Pinot Noir where Champagne was born. Visit 2 families of independent producers/growers with explanations on the Champagne making process, visit of presses, wineries and cellars. Taste 6 different Champagnes Grand Cru/Premier Cru including natural Champagnes (without dosage), extra brut, old vines, vintages, aged in oak barrels, etc. In addition to the Champagnes, taste the 3 essential Champagne alcohols and aperitifs : Ratafia, Fine de la Marne and Marc de Champagne from the Goyard Distillery which is the oldest in Champagne. Our discovery tour through the vineyards and villages of the "Côte des Blancs" passes in front of the "Château de Saran", a prestigious property of the LVMH group (owner of Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot, etc.) and the production site of Champagne Moët & Chandon. A commented passage is also planned in the very famous "Avenue de Champagne" in Epernay where are located the superb mansions and production buildings of the Champagne Houses Moët & Chandon, Perrier Jouët, Pol Roger, etc. When visiting 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. In Hautvillers, we will also stop to admire the most magnificent panoramic view of Champagne overlooking the Marne Valley in the hillsides listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO where Dom Pérignon performed his experiments. It is the ideal location to take unforgettable photos of you and the breathtaking landscape. Here we will also discuss sustainable viticulture and explain the management of the vineyard. What a program ! Believe me, you will become an expert in Champagne after this tour !

During this private day, you will discover the famous "Côte des Blancs", Kingdom of Chardonnay Grand Cru and the historic hillsides of the Marne Valley listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO where Champagne was born. Our discovery tour through the vineyards and villages of the "Côte des Blancs" passes in front of the "Château de Saran", a prestigious property of the LVMH group (owner of Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot, etc.) and the production site of Champagne Moët & Chandon. A commented passage is also planned in the very famous "Avenue de Champagne" of Epernay, Capital of the Champagne vineyard, where the superb mansions and production buildings of the Champagne Houses Moët & Chandon, Perrier Jouët, Pol Roger, etc. are. Visit 2 families of independent growers with explanations on the Champagne making process, visit the presses, wineries and cellars. Taste many Grand cru/Premier cru Champagnes : natural Champagnes (without dosage), entra brut, old vines, vintages, aged in oak barrels, etc. Tastings are commented with tasting advice. In addition to the Champagnes, taste the essential Champagne alcohols and aperitifs : Ratafia, Fine de la Marne and Marc de Champagne from the Goyard Distillery which is the oldest in Champagne. The village of Aÿ-Champagne was the main center of the Champagne industry in the 16th century. The kings of France had their own wine presses here and the wines of Champagne used to be called “Wines of Aÿ”. The vineyard predominantly planted with Pinot Noir is classified as Grand Cru at the highest level of the Appellation. On our visit to a part of this historic village, we will discuss the vineyard management, the different grape varieties, the exceptional "Terroir" and sustainable viticulture. The tour includes a stop in front of the headquarters of the famous Champagne Houses in Aÿ such as Bollinger, Deutz and Ayala. Drive through other villages and vineyards classified Premier cru including Mareuil-sur-Aÿ where the Champagne Houses Billecart-Salmon and Philipponnat are located. When visiting Hautvillers 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. In Hautvillers, we will also stop to enjoy the most magnificent panorama of Champagne overlooking the Marne Valley, where Dom Pérignon carried out his experiments in winemaking. It is the ideal place in the heart of the vineyard to take photos of you and this breathtaking landscape. For lunch, we have selected for you Champagne and dining bars appreciated by the locals in order to share this convivial moment*. On the menu, to accompany your Champagne (1 bootle for 2) for example: gourmet platters of charcuterie and cheese with bread and salad, ready-made farm meals, pâtés, regional biscuits and coffee. When booking your tour, please inform us if you have food allergies or have any dietary requirements. *Depending on the day of the tour, the lunch location may vary.

Near Epernay, Capital of the Champagne vineyard, discover the most famous Grand Cru/Premier Cru vineyards and villages of the historic hillsides of Champagne listed as World Heritage Site by Unesco in the Marne Valley, predominantly planted with Pinot Noir. In Hautvillers, village called the “Cradle of Champagne”, guided tour of the church of Dom Pérignon and the vineyard. Discovery of the famous village and Grand cru vineyard of Aÿ-Champagne. Visit the production site of a family of independent producer/grower followed by a commented tasting of a selection of 3 Champagnes Grand Cru/Premier Cru, as well as the essential Champagne alcohols and aperitifs during additional tastings. Pause at the most beautiful viewpoints of Champagne in the heart of the vineyards and gain more understanding of vineyard management.