Sparkling Wine Tours in the Champagne region

Champagne appellations and grape varietals

Located in north-eastern France, the Champagne region is divided into several appellations, with the most noteworthy being Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs and Côte des Bar. The cool climate combined with chalky soils and specific grape varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) are what makes the sparkling wines produced in this region so distinctive and the only ones that can be labelled as “Champagne”, an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC).

The different Champagne styles can be classified as Non-Vintage (NV), Vintage, Blanc de Blancs (made from 100% Chardonnay), Blanc de Noirs (made from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) and Rosé. And what creates Champagne’s signature bubbles? It’s the Méthode Traditionnelle, the process used to make the wine, which undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle.

Indulge in the Champagne region’s gastronomy

Have you ever tried andouillette? It’s a local pork sausage that pairs nicely with Champagne. You might also like to sip on a glass of Champagne full of crisp fruity flavours when you try a local cheese such as Chaource or with a dessert like tarte au sucre. And on festive occasions, oysters are the perfect accompaniment with a glass of Champagne, too!

Champagne tour highlights

You’ve most likely heard of Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot and Dom Pérignon – some of the most famous houses whose vineyards and cellars can be explored on a weekend tour. But there are smaller, family-run producers as well who offer cellar tours, tastings and mini-workshops to learn about the Champagne-making process. If you fancy taking the scenic route through the region’s villages and vineyards, you won’t be disappointed! Make sure to take time out to visit the prestigious Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Reims or the famous Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, just 30 minutes south of Reims.

Getting to the Champagne region

By plane: fly into Paris, Strasbourg or Brussels and then make your way to the Champagne region by train or car.

By train: Reims and Épernay are the main cities for Champagne lovers to visit. The region is easily accessible by train from Paris (approx. 45 minutes) or Brussels.

By car: the Champagne region is just a 2-hour drive from Paris.