Reims Vineyard Champagne Tasting: Learn to Taste Like a Sommelier

Champagne experts taste with their eyes, nose and mouth in a specific order, and you'll learn the gestures that go with each step.

A one-hour champagne tasting activity at a Premier Cru vineyard in the mountains of Reims, where you learn the three-step tasting method used by sommeliers and sample three cuvées from the house's first-press range. The vineyard sits on ten hectares of Chardonnay with views of Reims Cathedral. An English-speaking guide leads the session. Minors receive soft drinks instead of alcohol.

The experience

What separates a casual sip from a sommelier's tasting? The method. You'll stand in the vineyard itself (ten hectares of Chardonnay 1er Cru with the Cathedral of Reims visible across the landscape), and learn the progression: Eye first, to assess color and clarity; Nose second, to identify aromas; Mouth last, to taste and evaluate. Each step has its own gesture, and the guide walks you through them so you can apply the same approach to any champagne you encounter later. The house has ranked #1 among 380 Champagne vineyards on review sites since 2023, and all its cuvées come exclusively from the first press, the cuvée, which guarantees finesse and elegance across the range.

You'll choose three champagnes to taste from four options: Sun D'eden, Floresian Zest, Baies d'Alizés, and Vintage 2020. The guide explains the different economic actors in champagne production, the terroir of this specific plot, and what distinguishes this house's approach to winemaking. The tasting respects a progression of styles to avoid palate saturation, so the order matters. If you're traveling as a couple or in a group, you can coordinate your choices or each pick differently and compare notes.

What’s included

• Three champagnes from the house's Premier Cru first-press range, chosen from four cuvées.
• sommelier-led instruction in the three-step tasting method (eye, nose, mouth) with the associated gestures.
• access to the ten-hectare vineyard during the session.
• an English-speaking guide.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday, Thursday, Friday and SaturdayDepartures at 10:30 and 15:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (8 to 17 years) · Infant (under 8): free

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Champagne Lallement Massonnot

Is this one for you?Book this if you're tasting champagne with a partner or small group and want to learn a technique you can use anywhere, not just a one-off experience. The fixed one-hour format fits easily into a morning or afternoon in Reims without dominating the day.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 17 years); Infant (under 8): free.

How long does the tasting actually take?

The session runs one hour from start to finish, including the introduction to the vineyard and terroir, the sommelier technique instruction, and all three tastings.

Can I choose which champagnes I want to taste?

Yes. You pick three cuvées from a choice of four: Sun D'eden, Floresian Zest, Baies d'Alizés, and Vintage 2020. If you're with a companion or group, each person can select independently.

What happens if I'm under 18 or don't drink alcohol?

Minors and non-drinkers receive soft drinks instead of champagne, so everyone participates in the tasting method and the vineyard experience together.

Is the vineyard accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and the site is equipped to accommodate visitors with mobility needs.

What does the guide explain about the vineyard itself?

The guide covers the history and economics of champagne production, the terroir of this ten-hectare Chardonnay 1er Cru plot, and the house's approach to winemaking. The vineyard overlooks Reims Cathedral to the west.