For the Love of Fizz: 5 Best Champagne Houses in Reims, France

Are you planning champagne tasting in France and are wondering which are the best champagne houses in Reims to visit? With forward planning, it’s easy to put together a DIY champagne tour of Reims, even as a day trip from Paris.

Based on extensive empirical research conducted through cellar tours in Reims, this is where I can help you. It was a tough job but someone had to do it.

Hit the ground running with my guide to the best champagne houses to visit in Reims, how to tour them and what to expect.

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Champagne Cellars in Reims

Beneath Reims is a second city, a labyrinth of 200 km of caves, or crayères, that provide the perfect environment for the second fermentation of champagne. In 2015, UNESCO placed the crayères of Reims on the World Heritage list.

Each of Reims’ champagne houses has a slice of this prime subterranean real estate. These champagne houses range from behemoths like Veuve Clicquot to smaller boutique houses, and each has its own personality. 

Best Champagne Houses in Reims

1. Champagne Pommery: The Disneyland of Reims’ champagne houses

Pommery is not your typical Reims champagne tour.

Its vast caves are not only used for storing fermenting champagne bottles. They are also spaces for sound and light installations. What you lose in information about the intricacies of champagne production, you gain in a multisensory experience. 

Select the self-guided tour – the first of its kind in Reims – and you can rock up at any time during the cellars’ opening hours. This makes it super easy to shoehorn Pommery into your day of champagne tasting in Reims.

Unlike other champagne houses in Reims, there’s no need to book a ticket in advance. There are ticket machines in the lobby.

Download the audioguide by scanning the QR code at the information desk. An excellent printed guide is also provided.

Cellar tours at Pommery

• Visit Brut Royal – Self-guided or guided visits of cellars. One tasting (Pommery Brut Royal)
• Visit of the vineyard by the glass – A more in-depth guided tour. One tasting (Pommery Grand Cru Royal vintage)
• Master class Pommery – Cellar tour plus sommelier-led tastings. Three tastings (Pommery Apanage Brut, Pommery Grand Cru Royal vintage, Cuvée Louise vintage)
• Henry Vasnier – Includes a guided or self-guided cellar tour and a visit to Villa Demoiselle. Two tastings (Pommery Brut Apanage + Diamant Brut or Pommery Brut Royal + Demoiselle Tête de Cuvée)

I recommend the Henry Vasnier tour that I did.

Villa Desmoiselle is a gem of an Art Nouveau building, commissioned by Henry Vasnier, then director of Maison Pommery, in 1906. Sipping your champagne in the villa’s gorgeous garden after your tour is a bonus.

The Demoiselle Tête de Cuvée was also my favourite champagne in Reims.

2. Taittinger: The elegant champagne house

Walk five minutes from Pommery for a completely different champagne cellar tour.

From an elegant reception area that reminded me of a waiting room in a private clinic – chairs positioned against the wall and wood-panelled doors – you are ushered into a viewing room. Here, you are shown a short film about the history of champagne and of Taittinger house.

The hugely informative Taittinger cellar tour was the best of the bunch.

Taittinger cellar tours

All Taittinger packages include a guided cellar tour but are differentiated by the tasting selection.

• L’Instant Premier – One tasting
• L’Instant Rose – Two tastings (Brut Réserve + Prestige Rosé).
• Instant Gourmet – Two tastings (Prélude +  Brut Millésimé)
• L’Instant Signe – Two tastings (Brut Réserve + Comtes de Champagne Blanc)

3. Ruinart: The Grand Old Dame of Reims champagne houses

Established in 1729, Ruinart is the oldest champagne house in Reims.

This cellar tour began and ended with the group sitting around a circular table, laid with glasses and bottles of water. It felt like going into a board meeting.

However, this was by far the most social of the champagne tours in Reims, and an excellent choice if you are feeling the pangs of solo travel loneliness. Furthermore, Ingrid, our outstanding guide, asked each person a few questions by way of an icebreaker.

It was here that we learnt about the rich history of Ruinart before descending into the cellars. The whole experience lasted two hours which included tastings of vintage and non-vintage champagnes.

Although this was the most expensive of the champagne cellar tours in Reims, it was one of the best.

Cellar tours at Ruinart

Ruinart keeps it simple and offers just one tour, Discover The Crayères, which includes two tastings.

4. Veuve Clicquot: It’s all about the Widow Clicquot (and the colour yellow)

The life story of the formidable Mme Clicquot, the titular Veuve (Widow) Clicquot, is the narrative thread running through this one-hour cellar tour.

She was some lady. Amongst her claims to fame are the production of the first vintage champagne in 1810 and the invention of the tipping table. Prior to mechanisation in the 1970s, this contraption coaxed residual yeast from the second fermentation into the neck of the champagne bottle.

Founded in 1772, Veuve Clicquot has 24 km of crayères, the most extensive cave network in Reims and the second largest in the Champagne region. These caves double as a museum space and host an unusual installation.

The three grape varieties used in the house’s signature Yellow Label champagne – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier – are projected onto the cave’s wall. At the same time, a hidden machine pumps out the odour of the grape, with the aroma of the Yellow Label as the grand finale.

It’s like a slightly peculiar scratch-and-sniff experience.

Although this was a slick and professional operation – iPad support in different languages was available if needed – I found it the least compelling of the Reims champagne tours. The focus was more on the family and the widow than on the fizzy stuff.

The cellar tour concluded with a tasting of the Yellow Label champagne. 

And with this champagne house, it is all about yellow. The label first came into play in 1877, the colour representing happiness and optimism. If you want a vibrant Veuve Clicquot cushion, baseball hat or beach bag, simply visit the gift shop on your way out.

Cellar tours at Veuve Clicquot

• Veuve Clicquot’s Solaire Icon – Cellar tour and one tasting (Yellow Label)
• Taste the Vintage – Cellar tour and oenological workshop. Two tastings (Brut Carte Jaune + a vintage cuvee)

5. G.H. Martel: The Boutique Champagne House Experience

Sitting in the shadow of Saint Remi Basilica is one of the smaller champagne houses in Reims. Founded in 1869, it is none of the younger kids on the block.

Its cool cellars also double as a museum, displaying typical champenois tools and machinery, used for planting, maintaining the land and harvesting. The informative cellar tour lasts 60 minutes and ends with three tastings.

Cellar tours at G H Martel

• Initiation – Cellar tour and 3 tastings
• 150 years – Cellar tour and 3 tastings (2x non-vintage and 1x vintage)
• Prestige – Cellar tour and 3 tastings (3x prestige champagnes)

Getting to the Champagne Houses from Reims City Centre

The five champagne houses listed in this article are located in the Saint Remi area of Reims, a 30-minute-walk from the city centre. The houses are within a 5– 10-minute walk of each other.

Map of Reims champagne houses

For an interactive map, simply click here or on the image itself.

Tips for Visiting the Champagne Houses of Reims

• You need to book ahead for most of the champagne cellar tours in Reims
• When planning your DIY cellar tour, consider how long you will need to spend in each house and the time needed to move between cellars. Also factor in time for your tasting. You don’t want to have to knock back the bubbly.
• Although there is a restaurant opposite Saint Remi Basilica, there are no other places to eat or buy food near the champagne houses. The one exception is the pricey restaurant at Pommery. Pick up supplies before you head out for the day.
• Dress appropriately. As the cellars are at a constant 12 degrees year-round, bring layers even if it is blazing hot outside. Comfortable shoes are a given.

Other Cellar Tours in Reims

These are not the only cellar tours that you can do in Reims. Here are a few more to consider but they are not located in the Saint Remi area of the city. 

Charles de Cazanove is a five-minute walk from Reims train station.

G.H. Mumm is a ten-minute walk northeast of Charles Cazenove and offers a number of experiences.

Finally, Lanson is southwest of the city centre

Organised Champagne Tours of Reims

Joining an organised Champagne tour is useful if you want to visit Moet & Chandon in Épernay, combine more than one champagne house in a time-efficient way or wish to visit one of the small wineries in the region.

Here are a few to consider:

Veuve Clicquot & Family Winery Group Full-Day Tour

This excursion also includes a regional lunch in a restored champagne house and a champagne tasting class.

>>> CLICK HERE TO BOOK

E-Bike Champagne Tasting Tour and Lunch

This tour does it all. Cycling through champagne avenues in Épernay and the village of Hautvillers. Visiting two champagne producers including a family-run winery. And there’s also lunch and six tastings throughout the day.

>>> CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Moet et Chandon & Taittinger tour

Includes a sightseeing tour of Reims, Dom Perignon’s abbey in Hautvillers and Avenue de Champagne in Épernay.

>>> CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Day Trip to Épernay and Hautvillers from Paris

If you want to visit the Champagne houses from Paris and simply want someone to take care of the arrangements for you, this tour should tick a lot of the boxes. Over the course of the day, you will taste eight different types of champagnes in three Champagne houses. Lunch and a masterclass in the heart of the vineyard are also included.

>>> CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Reims and Champagne tasting from Paris

This ten-hour tour includes up to six tastings, lunch and a visit to Reims cathedral.

>>> CLICK HERE TO BOOK

How to Visit Reims as a Day Trip from Paris

It is very easy to get from Paris to Reims.

The non-stop TGV from Gare de L’Est reaches Reims in 45 minutes. Slower trains are also available.

Some people I talked to had also visited Épernay, another major centre of champagne production. There are swift and easy connections between the two cities.

You can check train times and costs here.

It is even possible to visit Reims as a day trip from London. Eurostar trains arrive at Gare du Nord, less than ten minutes’ walk from Gare de L’Est.

Where to Stay in Reims

That said, I do recommend staying at least one night in Reims. Not only will this give you a chance to visit the UNESCO-listed Reims Cathedral but the city itself is a pleasant place to spend a relaxing few days.

Mid-range – Best Western Premier Hotel de la Paix

I stayed at this 4-star hotel in the heart of the city. Recommended for its comfortable rooms, extensive breakfast buffet and indoor swimming pool and sun terrace.

>>> CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES & BOOK

Here are a few other places to stay that may suit other budgets and tastes

Splurge – Domaine les Crayères

This gorgeous property is the perfect excuse to blow the holiday budget. It is in the heart of champagne house territory, just 350 meters from Pommery.

>>> CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES & BOOK

Budget – Le Sacré, Au pied de la cathédrale

This centrally-located apartment has two bedrooms and is equipped with a washing machine.

>>> CLICK HERE TO CHECK RATES & BOOK

>>> None of these takes your fancy? Check other accommodation options in Reims here.

My Favourite Reims Champagne Houses

It was a close call but Ruinart was my favourite cellar tour. At €70 it wasn’t cheap, but the guide demonstrated a real passion for her subject and it was a welcoming and sociable environment.

Thanks to its comprehensive tour, Taittinger came a close second.

Pommery was stimulating and fun and also gives you the opportunity to visit the wonderful Villa Desmoiselle. As you don’t need to book ahead, it is also a very flexible option.

But whichever Reims’ cellar tours you select, you will come away knowing a lot more about champagne production and your preferred type of fizz. I’ll raise my glass to that.

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