Epernay Bubbles: Private Champagne Houses & Tastings
- Durée: 8 Heures (environ)
Explore the Sights and Sparkling Wines of the Champagne wine region
Pick up in Epernay
This morning, we will come and pick you up at your hotel, AirBnB or accommodation in Epernay or the surrounding area.
Meet your Expert Guide
Meet your English speaking guide who is an expert on Champagne Wines and who will go over the program and itinerary of your private wine tour with you. Then, board your Premium, air-conditioned vehicle and begin your private tour to discover the vineyards of the Champagne region.
Sightseeing of Avenue de Champagne in Epernay
Epernay is internationally known as the “Capital of Champagne”. Your full day tour will begin in Epernay. Epernay’s stunning main street appears like an exhibition of opulent mansions housing the most illustrious Maisons de Champagne: Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouet, Mercier, etc. Not to mention the 100km of tunnels under the pavement! After a short walk around town, it will be time to visit our first Champagne winery.
Guided tour and tasting at Maison de Champagne Moët & Chandon (or similar)
Founded in 1743 by Claude Möet, it became within 40 years the first international brand in the world. Its history is linked to some famous figures such as The Marquise de Pompadour and Napoleon 1st. This Champagne is also sold to many important historical events among which King Edwards VII’s coronation, Cannes Film Festival, the 120th anniversary of the Liberty Statue. It is probably nowadays the most famous Champagne brand around the world.
Your tour in Moët & Chandon winery is the Grand Vintage Tour. Every Vintage is the free and personal interpretation of the cellar-master, revealing the identity of the harvest. Following the visit of the cellars, fall in love with the smoothness and freshness of the Grand Vintage white and rosé by Moët & Chandon.
Optional Champagne tasting Lunch at a local domain
The estate dates back to the French revolution and has been photographed since the harvest of 1896. Pierre developed the family vineyard just after the first world war, at the same time becoming a grape broker and Champagne wine merchant. In 1929, Pierre set up his own pressing centre and started to make wine. In 1947 with his 2 sons Jacques and Jean-Guy he created the brand Champagne Jacquinot et Fils.
The family business was set up in the Epernay cellar. Jacques looked after sales and Jean-Guy developed the vineyard which today covers 17 ha and makes wines of the highest quality. Jean-Manuel, Jean-Guy’s son, oenologist in charge of production since 1998 is now running the Estate with the help of François Nicolet, Jacques’s son-in-law.
Hautvillers sightseeing
After lunch, we take you to the Marne Valley Champagne vineyards on a journey through the vineyard to meet with another prestigious figure: Dom Perignon who finalized the process to elaborate Champagne. He highly contributed to the fame of Champagne and is now buried in the church of the former Benedictine Abbey of Hautvillers.
Final Tour and Champagne tasting
Your small group Private Champagne Tour continues at a local domain in Damery. Established in 1912, in the heart of the Champagne vineyards that are classified Unesco World Heritage Site, close to Epernay, the Champagne House J. de Telmont is one of the last Family owned Champagne Houses.
In the heritage of a winegrowers’ family, the Champagne producer House J. de Telmont owns 36 hectares of vineyard located in prestigious villages, where they grow the 3 grape varieties of Champagne: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. For 4 generations now, J. de Telmont is keeping up with pleasure and dynamism in the Art of welcoming guests.
After the tasting, we will return to Epernay and that will be the end of our services.
Note : In the event that the Champagne House we had originally planned to visit is not available, it will be replaced with a similar Champagne House. The tour of the Champagne House may be conducted with other people, depending on the size of the group. This is common practice in order to provide everyone with an enjoyable and informative experience.