Reims Trip Overview
Do you know that my village of Aÿ (only 5 min. from Epernay and 35 min. from Reims) was the main center of the Champagne industry and has a very special place ? The kings of France had their own presses there from the 16th century. Its historic hillsides are classified as World Heritage by UNESCO and the vineyard is classified Grand cru. You will also visit all the other famous 1st Cru villages and vineyards with exceptional panoramas around Aÿ : Mutigny and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ (Mont du Gruguet) and taste the 3 local spirits : Ratafia, Fine and Marc.
We will meet a family of independent producer/grower who will open the doors of their cellar to discover the Champagne making process and their specificities, which will be followed by a tasting of 3 Champagnes.
Do you know who Dom Pérignon really is? I will show you in the vineyards where the first Champagne cellars he dug is located and we will go then thank him in the church where he officiated during 40 years and where he rests.
Additional Info
Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes
Starts: Reims, France
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Reims Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Reims, Grand Est, France
Do you know that my village of Aÿ (only 5 min. from Epernay and 35 min. from Reims) was the main center of the Champagne industry and has a very special place ? The kings of France had their own presses there from the 16th century. Its historic hillsides are classified as World Heritage by UNESCO and the vineyard is classified Grand cru. You will also visit all the other famous 1st Cru villages and vineyards with exceptional panoramas around Aÿ : Mutigny and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ (Mont du Gruguet) and taste the 3 local spirits : Ratafia, Fine and Marc.
We will meet a family of independent producer/grower who will open the doors of their cellar to discover the Champagne making process and their specificities, which will be followed by a tasting of 3 Champagnes.
Do you know who Dom Pérignon really is? I will show you in the vineyards where the first Champagne cellars he dug is located and we will go then thank him in the church where he officiated during 40 years and where he rests.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Ay-Champagne, Ay-Champagne, Marne, Grand Est
You will discover the historic hillsides of Aÿ which are classified as World Heritage by UNESCO and its Grand Cru vineyards.
Did you know that the village of Aÿ (just 5 mins from Epernay and 35 mins from Reims) was the main center of the champagne industry and still has a very special place?
The kings of France had their own presses there from the 16th century and the wines of Champagne were formerly called « Wines of Aÿ”.
This is where I will take you, to discover the historic village and its famous vineyard where I will tell you about the work of the vines, the grape varieties, this exceptional Terroir, sustainable viticulture…
We will also stop in front of the headquarters of famous Champagne Houses of Aÿ such as Bollinger, Deutz, Ayala…
You will also taste the 3 famous Champagne spirits from the Goyard Distillery in Aÿ, which is the 1st Champagne Distillery founded in 1911: Ratafia of Champagne, Fine of Marne, Marc of Champagne.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Mareuil-sur-Ay, Mareuil-sur-Ay, Ay-Champagne, Marne, Grand Est
We will also pass through this 1st Cru village with historic hillsides classified as World Heritage by Unesco and mainly planted with Pinot Noir, in front of the estates since 1818 of Champagne Billecart-Salmon and Philipponnat.
We will stop in the heart of the vineyards at the “Site du Mont du Gruguet” to contemplate one of the most beautiful views of Champagne on the “Côte des Blancs”. I will explain to you here the landscapes of Champagne where the first vines were planted in these historic hillsides of Champagne on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Hautvillers, Hautvillers, Marne, Grand Est
We will not forget to thank Dom Pérignon by visiting the church where he officiated for 40 years in the famous village of Hautvillers called the “cradle of Champagne” where he now rests forever.
I will tell you his story and you will finally know whether or not he is the inventor of Champagne !
We will also not fail to stop in the hillsides classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, in front of one of the most beautiful panoramic views of Champagne, exactly where Dom Pérignon conducted his experiments…
We will visit one of the 1 family of independent producer/grower with explanation of the Champagne making process, visit of the presses, winery and cellar.
You will taste there during a commented tasting 3 different Champagnes mainly composed of Pinot Noir*.
*depending on the season and availability, this visit/tastings may take place in a village on the “Côte des Blancs” or in Aÿ-Champagne or Mareuil-Sur-Aÿ.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Pass By: Avenue de Champagne, 51200, Epernay France
Another must-see Champagne UNESCO World Heritage Site that we will cross is the “Avenue de Champagne” in Epernay, the capital of the Champagne vineyards.
It is considered the most expensive Avenue in the world with its prestigious champagne houses (Moët et Chandon, Perrier Jouët, Pol Roger…), its mansions and its 100 kilometers of cellars which hide 200 million bottles !
Pass By: Parc Naturel Regional de la Montagne de Reims, D386, 51480 Pourcy France
To reach Epernay from Reims, we will cross the famous “Montagne de Reims” with its national forest and its vines mainly planted with Pinot Noir.
