Sommelier Guide, Museum Stop

Paris: Champagne Cellars Tour and Tastings with a Sommelier

★ 4.9 143 reviews

12 hours, pickup included, free cancellation.

from $291 per person

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Duration: 12 hours
Meeting point: Confirmed after booking
Cancellation: Free cancellation
Run by: BackTrip

Overview

This twelve-hour day trip from Paris is built around a sommelier guide who drives a small group of no more than seven people from hotel to hotel in a minivan. The route runs from Paris to Hautvillers, the village where Dom Pérignon lived and which now sits within a UNESCO World Heritage area, then on to Aÿ-Champagne and Épernay before returning. Reviewers praise the knowledgeable guides and the tastings, though the review summary notes some found the schedule tight toward the end of the day.

The core stops are Pressoria, the old Pommery pressing centre in Aÿ now run as a champagne museum with a tasting, and the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, where the group walks past the great houses and stops at the Moët et Chandon shop. A guided tour and tasting at Charles Mignon or Mercier follows. The day closes back in Hautvillers with a vineyard visit and tasting overlooking the Marne Valley.

It suits travellers who want the logistics handled. Pickup and drop-off at the Paris hotel remove the train-and-taxi puzzle, and reviewers repeatedly describe guides who are knowledgeable, friendly and happy to answer questions. Anyone hoping to walk into the Moët cellars themselves should read the fine print: cellar visits are limited, secured shortly before departure, and a prestigious house tasting is guaranteed instead.

What's Included

Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off from Paris in luxury minivan, small group of max 7 by van
Guided tour and tasting of Pressoria, Pressing Center of Pommery in Aÿ-champagne (part of LVMH)
Visit of Moët et Chandon gift shop on Avenue de champagne (part of LVMH)
Visit and tasting in a Hautvillers vineyard
Guided tour of Avenue de champagne in Epernay
Guided tour and tasting of Charles Mignon Champagne or Mercier Champagne, in Épernay

Not Included

Lunch
Coffee or soft drinks

Itinerary

Hotel pickup in ParisThe guide collects the group from Paris hotels in a luxury minivan, with a group of no more than seven.
Drive to ChampagneA van transfer of about 2 hours into the Champagne countryside.
Hautvillers villageA 40-minute stop with a guided walk, photo stop and scenic views in Dom Pérignon's UNESCO-listed village.
Pressoria museum, AÿTwo hours at the Pommery pressing centre, with a guided tour, an aperitif and a champagne tasting.
Avenue de ChampagneA 30-minute guided walk along the avenue in Épernay. This stop is optional.
Lunch in ÉpernayOne and a half hours of free time for lunch and shopping. Optional and at your own expense, since lunch is not included.
Moët et ChandonA one-hour stop with a photo stop, shop visit and a champagne tasting.
Charles MignonA two-hour guided tour and tasting at this family-run house in Épernay, with time for shopping.
Hautvillers vineyardAfter a short 10-minute drive, an hour in a Hautvillers vineyard with a tasting overlooking the Marne Valley, then a 1.5-hour drive back to Paris.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points, drawn from the listing and from what travellers report, will help you prepare for a long day built around tastings and walking.

What to wear. The listing asks for comfortable shoes. The day involves guided walks in Hautvillers, Épernay and a vineyard, so plan footwear accordingly.
Very long day. Plan for twelve hours door to door, with about two hours of driving to Champagne and one and a half hours back. One reviewer described an early 7am start, and several mention a late finish, so book nothing for the evening.
Lunch on your own. Lunch is not included. You get roughly 1.5 hours of free time in Épernay, and one reviewer suggested using that break for any drink at the avenue's houses, since the tour segments may not leave time for one.
Small group feel. The van carries at most seven guests. Several reviews describe guides who are attentive, punctual and generous with their time, and who answer questions throughout the drive.
Generous tastings. Reviews describe tastings at multiple houses, and one traveller called them generous and not rushed. Under-18s are served non-alcoholic grape juice, so families can still join.
Bring for the van. Coffee and soft drinks are not included, so buy any drinks during the lunch break. One reviewer noted the van was well air-conditioned on a very hot day, which matters in summer.

Common issues. Lunch and other drinks are not included, and the return to Paris can run late: the review summary notes some travellers found the pacing, especially around lunch, rushed toward the end. The guaranteed prestige element is a tasting at a house such as Veuve Clicquot, Moët et Chandon or Perrier-Jouët, not a cellar visit, since cellar slots are scarce and only confirmed close to departure. One reviewer said they would have preferred a fully working, integrated champagne house over the stops offered. Oversize luggage, large bags, non-folding wheelchairs and non-folding strollers are not allowed on the van.

Common Questions

Is Hotel Pickup Included?

Yes, pickup and drop-off at your Paris hotel are included, in a luxury minivan carrying a small group of at most seven. One reviewer names this as one of the reasons they chose the tour.

How Long Is The Tour?

The full day runs twelve hours, including about two hours of driving from Paris to Champagne and about one and a half hours back. Expect an early start and a return in the evening.

Is Lunch Included?

No. You get around one and a half hours of free time in Épernay, where the guide can suggest local restaurants. Joining is optional, and coffee and soft drinks are also at your own expense.

Can Children Join?

Yes, and guests under 18 are served non-alcoholic grape juice instead of champagne. Note that non-folding strollers are not allowed in the van.

Which Champagne Houses Are Visited?

The itinerary covers Pressoria, the former Pommery pressing centre in Aÿ, the Moët et Chandon shop on the Avenue de Champagne, and a guided tasting at Charles Mignon or Mercier in Épernay. BackTrip guarantees a tasting at a prestigious house such as Veuve Clicquot, Moët et Chandon or Perrier-Jouët, subject to availability, but actual cellar visits are rare and only confirmed shortly before departure.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. For anything closer to departure, check the booking page for the terms that apply.