Champagne Avenue, Epernay

Option Pick-Up 1: Pick-up from Reims at 9:00 am in front of the Reims Centre train station tourist office (https://maps.app.goo.gl/tDwpQpJ57NGghT2i8). For train arrivals, exit via the REIMS CENTER. Drive towards Epernay, the capital of Champagne, to discover the region and its unique terroir. Option Pick-Up 2: Pick-up from Epernay at 9:35 am in front of the Epernay Tourist Office (https://maps.app.goo.gl/Bc4HZiv3J8tuqRa49). Pass the famous Avenue de Champagne, lined with prestigious Champagne Houses. Option Pick-Up 3: Pick-up from Mareuil-sur-Ay at 9:45 am at Le Clos Corbier (https://maps.app.goo.gl/9vvchofvBDXjKWEF9). Minivan service is not included for this location. Arrive at Le Clos Corbier, where e-bikes will be ready for your Champagne countryside adventure. Ride through Premier and Grand Cru villages to reach some of Champagne’s most beautiful and remote locations. Enjoy breathtaking views of UNESCO-listed vineyards, then visit Hautvillers, the birthplace of Champagne. Here, you’ll see the church where Dom Pérignon is buried. Please note: No alcohol will be consumed during the bike tour itself, as drinking is prohibited while cycling. Upon your return to Le Clos Corbier, you’ll enjoy a cellar visit, champagne tasting, and an introduction to the champagne-making process. Enjoy a traditional French lunch featuring local specialties like cheese puffs, paté-croute, quiche, and Reims pink biscuit (adaptable for dietary needs). Important Note: Participants must be comfortable and confident riding a bike, as e-bikes are heavier than standard bicycles. For safety reasons, we may refuse participation at departure if guests do not demonstrate sufficient cycling experience. Drop-off is at 3:00 pm (Mareuil-sur-Ay), 3:15 pm (Epernay), and 4:00 pm (Reims).

Discovery of the famous villages and vineyards classified Grand cru and Premier cru around Epernay in the historic hillsides of Champagne in the Marne Valley listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO, mainly planted with Pinot Noir. Visit of a family of independent producer/grower with explanation on the Champagne making process, visit of the press, winery and cellar. The visit will be followed by a commented tasting of several of their Champagnes Grand Cru/Premier Cru. In addition to the Champagnes, you will also taste during the tour 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 route in 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, Capital of the Champagne vineyard, where are located the superb mansions and production buildings of the Champagne Houses Moët & Chandon, Perrier Jouët, Pol Roger… When visiting the village of Hautvillers, the “Cradle of Champagne”, enjoy a 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 one of 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. An unforgettable sparkling tour in the best of the Champagne region !

Discover the sparkling world of champagne in Epernay on a full day trip. Visit an underground cellar, walk through vineyards, and enjoy a traditional French meal for lunch on a great day exploring the Champagne region. Learn what makes champagne different from other sparkling wines with a private guide to show you around the UNESCO-listed destination. Located on a hillside, the quaint village of Hautvillers offers one of the region's most beautiful views. A Benedictine abbey stands against the nearby forest, whose steward and cellar master was Dom Pérignon himself. Lunch is served at a restaurant offering delicious local cuisine and traditional French food. Enjoy a short walk in the vineyards and hear about the importance of good soil for quality vines and grapes. Learn about the tough manual labor done by the 15,000 vine growers in the Champagne region to produce high-quality wine. Before the day is over, your private guide will accompany you on a tour of an independent winery’s cellar and a guided visit to a Champagne house. The final touch will sparkle in your Champagne flutes during commented tastings of the bubbly wine itself.

Have you always dreamed about spending the perfect day tasting Champagne right there in the only region where it is produced? In this tour I will help you have an unforgettable moment, with two visits with tastings to Boutique Champagne Growers! We will delve into the surroundings of Reims and Epernay (with its world-renowned Champagne Avenue), where the most famous Champagne Houses are found, talking about the industry and its techniques. We will visit its monuments like Reims Notre-Dame, and we will discuss Dom Pérignon's history by walking into the church where he is buried in Hautvillers. I choose carefully the Champage growers to visit: they are family businesses that take pride in their traditions and in their product. Each one has a distinct style, be it more Pinot noir, more aging in oak, a special Rosé... You will delight in breathing their culture and hearing what they believe makes Champagne what it is. I am a certified History guide, and a passionate Sommelier student!