Champagne Region: 3 Family Wineries & Tasting Day Trip

Summary

Reims to Épernay tasting day with cellar tours village walks & bistro lunch

You’ll wander vineyards near Reims with a local guide, taste nine Champagnes at three family wineries, explore Hautvillers village where Dom Pérignon lived, and linger over a relaxed bistro lunch in Épernay. Expect real stories, laughter over mispronounced French words, and moments that stick with you long after you’ve left those chalky cellars behind.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the way the light hit the vines just outside Reims — kind of soft and gold, like someone dialed down the world’s brightness for a minute. Our guide, Claire, was already chatting about how each little hill here makes its own flavor of Champagne. She handed me a glass before I’d even finished my first question (I think she knew what we needed). The cellar at our first stop was chilly and smelled faintly of apples and wet stone. I tried to listen to the winemaker’s story but got distracted by the tiny bubbles racing up the side of my glass — they looked almost nervous.

We piled back into the van (Mercedes, fancy but not showy) and drove through villages that felt like movie sets. Hautvillers was quieter than I expected; even the church where Dom Pérignon worked seemed to whisper instead of shout. Claire pointed out his grave with this odd mix of pride and affection — “He never called it Champagne,” she said, and then shrugged. Lunch in Épernay was one of those long French meals where you lose track of time. My starter tasted like spring — peas, mint, something creamy — and there was more Champagne (obviously). I tried to pronounce ‘bistronomique’ right but gave up halfway through; our waiter just grinned.

The afternoon blurred a bit — not from the wine (well, maybe a little), but because we stopped at two more small Champagne growers and each had their own way of doing things. One let us touch the chalky soil; another poured while telling stories about his grandmother hiding bottles during the war. There was laughter when someone tried to say ‘terroir’ with an American accent. By late afternoon, my hands were cold from holding so many glasses but my head felt warm — you know?

I keep thinking about that slow drive down Avenue de Champagne after lunch — sunlight flickering through plane trees, old mansions lined up like they were waiting for something big to happen. It wasn’t perfect (my French is still terrible), but that made it better somehow.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Champagne region tour and tastings

• Visit first winegrower and cellar
• Taste 3 Champagnes at first grower
• Walk through Hautvillers village
• Visit Church of Dom Pérignon
• Lunch at bistronomic restaurant in Épernay
• Drive through Champagne Avenue
• Visit second winegrower cellar
• Taste 3 Champagnes at second grower
• Visit third winegrower
• Taste 3 Champagnes at third grower

Top questions

How many Champagne tastings are included on this tour?

The tour includes nine Champagne tastings across three family-run wineries.

Does this Champagne day trip include lunch?

Yes, lunch at a bistronomic restaurant in Épernay is included with starter, main course, dessert, a glass of Champagne, coffee and water.

Is hotel pickup included for this Reims Champagne tour?

The tour includes pickup in Reims by Mercedes minivan with air conditioning.

What villages or towns do we visit on this day trip?

You’ll visit Hautvillers village and Épernay during the day trip from Reims.

How long does the full day Champagne region tour last?

The tour runs from 9:30am to 6pm—about eight and a half hours total.

Is this tour suitable for children or infants?

Infants and small children can join if they have a pram or stroller; public transport options are nearby too.

How many people are in each group?

This is a small group tour with a maximum of 8 people per group.

Are there any physical requirements for joining?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels but not recommended for pregnant travelers due to alcohol tastings.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup in Reims by air-conditioned Mercedes minivan, guided visits and tastings at three family-owned Champagne wineries outside Reims (with nine Champagnes total), entry fees for all cellars visited, plus a relaxed two-course bistro lunch in Épernay with dessert, coffee and water before heading back in the evening.