“I am tasting the stars!” cried Dom Perignon, the monk for whom one of the world's most celebrated vineyards is named, after taking a bubbly sip of champagne. Indeed, if the idea of a glass of honey-coloured fizz is enough to make your cork pop as much as Monsieur Perignon's, you just might need to plan a trip to France's Champagne region.
And you would not be alone in your love of the stuff: in 2021, consumption of this French sparkling wine increased by 13 percent across the United Kingdom, and over last year's festive period, online retailer Amazon made the rare claim to be completely out of stock of the popular champagne Bollinger throughout the country. This makes sense, as champagne has become synonymous with celebration, grand fêtes and the making of joyful memories – all things we need more of. Making the wine even more special is its rarefied position in the world of bubbles: The moniker of “champagne” is exclusively used for the wines produced in the region's unique terroir, or viticultural boundaries. Additionally, true champagne can only be made of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes and all other bubbly facsimiles must be referred to as ‘sparkling wine’, be they Crémant (from France), Prosecco (from Italy), Espumante (from Portugal) or Cava (from Spain).
With plenty of opportunities for cycling, vineyard and historic tours, wine tastings and Michelin-starred meals, there is plenty to do, and we've created a guide to help you plan your dreamy, sparkling stay to see how the fizzy bottled ‘stars’ are made (afterwards, do pour yourself a celebratory flute).
When should I visit Champagne?
Whilst champagne production never ceases, there are a few key periods around which you should plan your trip to the region. For the most part, winter months are out. Springtime brings in the first signs of grape growth, as well as the re-opening of vineyards' tasting centres. Late spring is an excellent time to plan a cycling tour around Champagne: great weather, fewer crowds and plenty of champagne from last year's harvest to taste and enjoy. The harvest season really kicks in come July, culminating in the region's special Fête du Cochelet, marking the end of the grape harvest (called les vendages in French) in early to mid-September.
For a more low-key Champagne experience, we'd recommend visiting ahead of the harvest season. However, for oenophiles (or for those simply seeking a good time), visiting during the harvest is a rewarding experience full of parties, canapés and, of course, lots of champagne.
How do you get to Champagne?
Luckily, the Champagne region is one of the most easily accessible for those hoping to venture further afield from the City of Lights. The primary transportation options are by train, bus and, for road-trippers, car. We recommend treating the region's capital, Reims (unintuitively pronounced like ‘rr-ense’), as your home base. Not only do many of the most popular champagne houses have tasting points in the city, but it is also a destination in its own right (check out the stained glass windows in the UNESCO-protected Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, one of which was created by the modernist artist Marc Chagall).
Less than forty minutes from Paris via the TGV INOUI high-speed train, those heading to the region can trade Paris' cobblestone streets for Champagne's vineyards in a pinch. With around 20 trains running per day leaving from Paris' Gare de l'Est train station, you needn't feel rushed. This option is also ideal for those who are not keen to get behind the wheel following a day of sipping the world's finest fizz.
The most economical option, the bus from Paris to the region's capital, Reims, costs only a few euros. However, the journey is much longer, at over three hours long. Of course, this option is perfect for those on a budget (or simply for those eager to meander through the French countryside).
Visitors planning on spending a few days in Champagne or doing a road trip may be interested in heading to the region by car. At just under two hours' driving time covering 160km (100 miles) of French country roads, the journey to Reims is not too long. However, do take care to save the number of a taxi service (we recommend using G7) – whilst it may be expensive, it is more important to prioritise safety after a lovely, long day spent vineyard hopping.
The region's other larger town, Epernay, is a bit further east, and is also accessible via train, bus and car; the first two from Reims' central public transport station.
How do you visit wineries in Champagne?
Depending on your willingness to travel by foot or by pedal, Champagne is relatively easy to navigate (take a peek at the Reims tourism board's helpful map of vineyards and see for yourself).
As it is the countryside, those without a car or bicycle (don't forget your helmet!) might face certain difficulties when trying to reach certain vineyards a tad too difficult to reach. For those unwilling to hire a taxi or rent a car or bicycle, we'd recommend sticking to the Champagne houses closer to the major city and town centres in Reims, Aÿ and Epernay.
For those willing to explore a bit more, we'd recommend heading on a cycling tour of the region: not only is it a beautiful way to get to know the area, but you are also much better equipped to visit vineyards further off the beaten track (resulting in, perhaps, finer champagne discoveries to last a lifetime). Truthfully, we feel as if there is no better way to explore Champagne.
If you're keen to get cycling, know first that there are two methods for this type of tour: self-guided, or as part of a group. For those interested in following a self-guided route, we'd recommend renting bicycles from Manu Loca Vélo in Reims and following the ‘Route touristique de Champagne’, whose pathways can be found on helpful cycling maps (paper versions are located in the Reims tourism office).
If you're interested in joining a larger tour – or simply working with a pre-planned tour where all you have to do is show up – we'd recommend Cycling for Softies' self-guided tour, which takes you across the iconic region, bouts of cycling interspersed with tastings, luxury hotel stays and visits to quaint French villages. For a larger group tour, My Wine Break has an excellent cycling tour which takes you from Reims to Epernay, stopping at some of the region's most beloved houses and vineyards.
How long should I spend in Champagne?
A lovely benefit to visiting Champagne is that you can have a marvellous time whether there for a few hours' stay or a longer holiday. There are five wine-producing districts in the province: Aube, Côte de Blancs, Côte de Sézanne, Montagne de Reims and Vallée de la Marne.
For those who only have a day or two to visit the area, we'd recommend sticking to Reims and its environs, planning visits to one to three champagne houses in the area, many of which are within walking distance of the train station and one another. Notable vineyards close to the capital city include Maison Mumm, Veuve Clicquot and Champagne Pommery (note that most will require an advance reservation, so do book ahead to avoid disappointment). For those wishing to see a bit more of the region beyond Reims, the above cycling tours are an efficient way to get around. If you have only an afternoon to spare, we'd recommend taking a mid-morning train to Reims and booking in for a brunch at Ruinart, which offers guided visits followed by a luxurious spread, or a lunch at one of the many excellent restaurants in the area, such as Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant Racine in and wine bar L'Epicerie Au Bon Manger, both in Reims.
For those able to spare a few more days, expect loads of champagne, beautiful countryside and excellent, Michelin-quality meals. We'd recommend visiting one to three champagne houses per day, tastings interspersed with visiting important cultural sites and sitting down to wonderful lunches, dinners and cheese boards. If you're unsure of which vineyards to visit, do consider participating in a days-long cycling tour of the region; not only will you see the most of the region, but also your only worry will be the sight of an empty glass.
If you are looking to splash out on more than bottles of bubbly, we'd recommend booking a stay and a champagne-infused spa treatment or two at the sleek and sumptuous Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa, perched high above the Vallée de la Marne (Marne Valley).
Which are the best Champagne houses to visit?
Currently, there are 370 houses that are members of the Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC);. Almost any true champagne you have sipped will have come from a member of the UMC, which makes tracing your wine's origins and understanding how it is made an easy job. In France, you can see a champagne bottle in a well-stocked off license one day and, after a high-speed train ride, take a tour of its vineyard the next.
Which vineyards you visit in Champagne depend wholly on your tastes, budget and time. Beyond those previously mentioned above, we've rounded up a few houses in particular we feel are the perfect additions to any Champagne itinerary:
A short walk from the centre of Reims is the 50-hectare Pommery estate, whose design was inspired by Paris' Jardin des Tuileries, the Louvre and la Place de la Concorde. Explore the UNESCO world heritage Gallo-Roman crayères (chalk pits), over 18 kilometres of cellar and the Villa Demoiselle, an Art Nouveau architectural masterpiece. The house offers self-guided tours of its cellars followed by a tasting of its Brut Royal vintage, as well as a sommelier-led masterclass and ‘Gastronomic visit’, which includes an deep-dive into the winemaking process, followed by a lunch or dinner in the House's restaurant, each course paired with a special Pommery vintage.
5 Place du Général Gouraud, 51100 Reims.
With its highly recognisable, orange-labelled bottles bringing with them a celebratory sense of glamour to any dinner party, Veuve Cliquot is perhaps one of the most iconic champagne houses in the world. A stone's throw from central Reims, the house offers a wide range of touring and tasting opportunities, including cellar and vineyard tours, food experiences and prestigious, private tastings with some of the world's top sommeliers. Private events – from weddings to tastings – can be arranged, mostly held in the romantic Manoir de Verzy.
1 rue Albert Thomas, 51100 Reims.
In the town of Epernay, whose main street is simply referred to as l'avenue de Champagne due to its high concentrations of champagne houses, the 200-year-old Perrier-Jouët is perhaps one of the street's most esteemed destinations. Open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday, the house allows for vineyard and cellar tours, as well as plenty of opportunities for culinary experiences ranging from smartly affordable at champagne bar, Cellier to a full-on, regal multi-course bonanza at the exclusive Maison Belle Époque.
11 Avenue de Champagne, 51200 Epernay.
An independent house, Piot-Sévillano is a destination for those keen to delve into the winemaking process and have a richer, more personalised tasting experience. The smaller label has remained in the same family for over 10 generations; its current proprietors, Christine Scher-Sévillano and her husband, Vincent, have focused on preserving the Sévillano family's work by practising low intervention viticulture and transitioning to organic farming methods. Vineyard and cellar tours, as well as tastings are offered, allowing visitors to enjoy the house's unique single-terroir champagnes. Those peckish after their tour can reserve a lunch at the house's new tasting centre, headed by decorated sommelier Frédéric Pagneux.
23 rue d'Argentelle, 51700 Vincelles.
Belmond, the luxury travel company behind the legendary Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express (one of the world's most spectacular train rides), has swapped tracks for rivers with the launch of its new one-of-a-kind luxury boat setting sail in Champagne from May 2023. Known as Coquelicot, Belmond's new ‘luxury barge’ has partnered with the world's oldest Champagne house Maison Ruinart to take up to six passengers on a week-long ‘cinematic journey' of the area. Meandering the calm waterways, the boat takes travellers to guided art tours of Champagne, a historic voyage of the area's historic castles, an active adventure on two wheels (if you so desire) and a series of epicurean visits to Europe’s ‘most celebrated and most secret’ wine producers.