Top Tips for Visiting Champagne
I’ve been to Champagne multiple times now and LOVE this French wine region. It’s only about a 2 hour drive from Paris or you can get there easily by train (45 mins Paris to Reims). I personally recommend renting a car as there are over 300 villages around the Champagne region and some of the best champagne is found throughout these small towns and not in the larger cities of Epernay and Reims.
If you don’t want to rent a car, you can definitely book a local tour guide to take you around the region or just spend the afternoon tasting at larger Champagne Houses in Reims for the afternoon before taking the train back to Paris.
Try a variety of Producers!
Champagne is known for large Maisons, or Champagne Houses, like Veuve Cliquot, Mumm, Ruinart, Pommery, and more. But, the region has so much more to offer! Don’t miss trying local cooperatives and small grower/ producers who will have a very distinct styles unique to terroir around the region!
To learn more about Champagne, check out my Champagne 101 Episode:
2. Book Reservations in Advance
Smaller producers typically do not advertise tastings, but you can always email/ call ahead and try to book a tasting with the owner. Large Maisons are much easier to book with as they usually have a large staff for tours and tastings. This region is not as easy to book last minute, so definitely plan ahead and make reservations at the wineries you want to visit!
3. Epernay vs Reims - where to stay?
Epernay is a much smaller town, but it’s where you will find the infamous Avenue de Champagne with homes of some of the top houses in the world! It’s a very cute town with a few restaurants and shops to explore. If you prefer a quieter vibe in the evenings, sleepy streets, and all locals - Epernay is the spot for you!
If you’re staying for an extended time or you enjoy a bit more night life, then Reims may be a better pick. It’s a university town and has tons of options for shopping and dining. It’s still very walkable and I love their large Farmer’s Market on the weekends. Don’t skip visiting the beautiful Notre Dame de Reims Cathedral!
4. Visit an underground crayeres (Champagne Chalk quarries)
The Romans built a lot of the Champagne region by mining stone from deep beneath the street level. Centuries later, the Champenois used these tunnels to store wine and even hide from enemies during WW1 and WW2. The history is incredible and you cannot miss visiting some of these beautiful spots! I love the crayeres under GH Mumm, Pommery, and Charles Heidsieck.
5. When to visit?
The Champagne region is one of the most notherly wine regions in the world, so it will be very cold from November - April! Some years they will even have snow during the winter months. Another thing to consider is the harvest season (mid August - mid September). Champagne is one of the last regions in the world that requires hand harvesting, so the vineyard workers are very busy during harvest season. Many shops and restaurants will even shut down for a few weeks to help local producers with the harvest. My recommendation is to avoid traveling around harvest time as you are less likely to get time with smaller winemakers and producers.
6. Try some still wines too!
The region makes some amazing Cote Champenois, or still wines, in addition to their infamous sparkling wine. But it doesn’t typically leave the region as very little is produced. So be sure to try some when you visit!
I also recommend bringing some room in your suitcase with some wine skin bags because you will find amazing wines from small producers that you can’t get at home! Be sure to stock up before you return to the airport and don’t forget to check your country’s guidance on limits for purchasing wine abroad.
To get more tips or to listen to my full episode on this topic, check out my full YouTube Podcast episode on Tips for Visiting Champagne: