Champagne & Reims: Day Trip with Cellar Tastings & Lunch

Summary

Champagne’s grand houses, Reims cathedral light, vineyard lunch

You’ll slip into cool Champagne cellars near Épernay, taste sparkling wines poured by local families, share stories over a vineyard lunch, and stand quietly inside Reims Cathedral where history echoes off ancient stones. Expect laughter, new flavors, and maybe one or two surprises you’ll think about long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

“You know, Dom Pérignon didn’t invent champagne—he just made it better,” our guide Marc grinned as we ducked into the chilly cellars outside Épernay. I pulled my jacket tighter (it’s really cold down there, even in June) and tried to listen past the echo of our footsteps. The air smelled faintly of yeast and stone. Marc tapped a bottle resting in its cradle—he called it “sleeping”—and told us how some of these bottles have been aging longer than I’ve been alive. I’m not sure what I expected from a Champagne day trip from Paris, but it wasn’t this odd hush underground or the way everyone started whispering without meaning to.

Back up in daylight, we drove along Avenue de Champagne—honestly, it feels like you’re passing mansions built for royalty. The sun hit the pale stone and all those gold-lettered gates. We stopped at a family-run place later (I can’t pronounce their name), where the owner’s daughter poured us a glass and laughed when I tried to say “merci beaucoup” with my mouth full of biscuit rose. She explained how their vines survive frost and why her father still checks every barrel himself. There was something about her hands—stained pink from grapes—that stuck with me.

Lunch was three courses at a restaurant that looked plain from outside but turned out to be all wood beams and quiet chatter inside. I remember the smell—some kind of sauce bubbling—and Marc translating the menu for us because I froze at “andouillette.” Afterward, we wandered through Hautvillers’ vineyards while he pointed out which grapes go into which blend (I nodded like I understood). The view over the hills was hazy green and gold; honestly, I just stood there for a minute doing nothing at all.

Reims Cathedral felt almost too big for words. Light slanted through stained glass onto old stones where kings were crowned and Joan of Arc once stood—I tried to picture that but mostly just felt small. On the way back to Paris, someone fell asleep in the van and someone else kept talking about flavors they’d tasted that morning. It’s strange what sticks with you after a day like this.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Champagne region and Reims tour

• Pickup from hotel in Paris
• Travel to Épernay in air-conditioned minivan
• Guided tour of a grand champagne house
• Stroll the prestigious road with champagne houses
• Visit a local or family-owned champagne house
• Learn about grape varietals in the vineyards
• Enjoy panoramic vineyard views
• Transfer to Reims city
• Visit Reims Cathedral and learn its history
• Enjoy a 3-course lunch at a local restaurant

Top questions

How long is the Champagne & Reims day trip from Paris?

The tour lasts a full day, with about 2 hours each way by minivan between Paris and the Champagne region.

Is hotel pickup included for this Champagne tour?

Yes, pickup from your hotel or accommodation in Paris is included in your booking.

Which champagne houses are visited on this tour?

You’ll visit one grand house such as Moët & Chandon or Veuve Clicquot (depending on availability), plus a smaller family estate.

What is included for lunch during the tour?

A 3-course lunch at a local restaurant is included; menus may vary based on season and availability.

Are entry fees to champagne cellars covered?

Yes, all tickets and access fees to champagne houses are included in your tour price.

Is this Champagne day trip suitable for children?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels; under-18s will be offered nonalcoholic grape juices instead of wine tastings.

What should I wear for visiting champagne cellars?

The cellars are cold year-round (about 10°C/45°F), so bring warm clothes even in summer.

Does this tour include visiting Reims Cathedral?

Yes, you’ll visit Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims with time to see its Gothic architecture and learn about its history.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Paris, guided visits inside major champagne houses plus tastings at both grand estates and family-run producers, all entry fees covered, bottled water throughout the journey, an expert local guide sharing stories along the way, time exploring Hautvillers vineyards and Reims Cathedral—and a leisurely 3-course lunch at a regional restaurant before heading back to Paris in comfort.