Epernay and Family Growers Afternoon Tour from Reims

The best part of this afternoon is the contrast: you pass the famous Champagne houses on Épernay’s main avenue, then spend time with smaller family producers whose bottles tell a more personal story. You’ll also see the vineyard slopes and visit Hautvillers, where Dom Pérignon is buried.

I like that the tour includes two family-run Champagne houses and six tastings, so you can compare different cuvées rather than making one cellar visit do all the work. I also like the short, varied route: vineyard views, Champagne Avenue, and a village church fit into a manageable afternoon from Reims.

The trade-off is time. From 14:00 to 18:30, you get a brisk introduction, not a slow study of Champagne, and tasting six glasses may not suit everyone. You’ll also need to arrive at the station meeting point yourself.

What to know before you go

1 / 7

2 / 7

3 / 7

4 / 7

5 / 7

6 / 7

7 / 7

1 / 7

• Two family-run houses: Learn about production and taste cuvées at both stops.
• Six tastings included: A useful way to compare styles, though the exact wines are not specified.
• Champagne Avenue: Pass celebrated names including Pol Roger and Moët & Chandon.
• A UNESCO-listed vineyard stop: Take in the Champagne slopes and hear about the region’s terroir.
• Hautvillers church: Visit the resting place of Dom Pérignon, a key figure in Champagne’s history.

👉 See our pick of the 8 Best Guided Tours In Reims

From Reims to the Champagne countryside

The tour leaves at 14:00 from the Office de Tourisme du Grand Reims at the train station, at Cour de la Gare. Arrive 10 minutes early, since the minivan leaves from the stated meeting point and hotel pick-up is not included.

The air-conditioned minivan makes this a practical choice if you don’t want to drive between villages and tasting rooms. You can watch the countryside pass without worrying about directions or who has to stay sober behind the wheel.

The tour returns to the same location at about 18:30. That gives you four and a half hours for the route, visits, and tastings, with the order or timing subject to traffic and weather.

An English-speaking guide accompanies the group and provides context on Champagne’s history and production. One reported outing had eight people, which gives you an idea of how a small group can feel, but the group size may vary.

Inside the family-run Champagne houses

The two estate visits are the heart of the tour. At a family-run Champagne house, you can explore production areas such as the press and tank room, then taste Champagne made by that producer. Those details help connect the glass to the work behind it: pressing grapes, managing fermentation, and shaping a house style.

The scale matters. At a family estate, the focus is on the people and methods behind a particular producer, rather than only on the grand public image of the region’s most famous brands. You’re there to learn how Champagne is made and to taste the result, not to tour every part of a large commercial site.

At the second family house, you taste several cuvées. A cuvée is a particular blend or bottling, and tasting different ones side by side gives you a better sense of how Champagne can vary in style. The exact cuvées are not promised in advance, so treat this as a chance to compare what the estate is pouring rather than as a fixed menu.

The tour includes six tastings in total. That’s a substantial tasting line-up for an afternoon, and you should plan your pace accordingly. France’s legal drinking age is 18, and you need valid ID as proof of age.

A cellar can be cool, too. The average temperature below ground is about 10°C, so bring a jacket even if the weather in Reims feels warm. It’s a small bit of preparation that can make the cellar stop more comfortable.

Épernay’s grand avenue and the smaller growers

Épernay’s Avenue de Champagne is a striking counterpoint to the family estates. From the minivan, you pass prestigious houses including Pol Roger and Moët & Chandon, names that show the international reach of this region’s wine trade.

This is a drive-by introduction, not a tour of those major houses. That distinction is worth keeping in mind if you’re hoping to go inside Moët & Chandon or another well-known producer. The emphasis here is on viewing the avenue, then spending tasting time with family-run makers.

That balance is the tour’s main appeal. The big names help you understand Champagne’s scale and reputation; the smaller houses bring the focus back to individual producers and their cuvées. If you’re deciding between a tour built around a single famous cellar and one that visits growers, this route favors variety and a more personal look at production.

Vineyard views and a stop in Hautvillers

The minivan also stops among the vineyards, where you can admire the slopes recognized as part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. The guide explains the local terroir, or the conditions that shape the grapes and, in turn, the wine.

This pause gives you something a cellar cannot: a sense of where the wine begins. You’ll see the rows and surrounding countryside, with a little time to take in the views and connect the place to the production details you hear at the estates. The stop is brief, so don’t expect a vineyard walk unless the guide and conditions allow for one.

Hautvillers adds a historical note to the afternoon. The tour visits the church where Dom Pérignon is buried, in the village closely associated with the origins of Champagne. It’s a meaningful stop for anyone curious about the people behind the region’s story, though this is a church visit rather than a long historical tour.

The mix of places keeps the outing from becoming a string of tastings. You move from production rooms to famous avenue, then vineyards and village history. Each stop offers a different way to understand Champagne, even if the pace leaves limited time at any one location.

How the pace and price add up

The package price is shown from US$145.59, while the tour summary gives a starting price of US$167.39. Check the amount for your chosen date and package before booking, since the figures differ. The price includes round-trip transport from the Reims meeting point, an English-speaking guide, admission to two family-run wineries, and six tastings.

That bundle can be good value if you want an organized way to see the countryside and taste Champagne without arranging multiple estate visits yourself. Transport between Reims, Épernay, the vineyards, and Hautvillers is included, as are the visits and tastings. Compare that with the time and planning involved in reaching two producers independently.

It is less compelling if you want a long, unhurried cellar visit, a meal, or a tasting focused on a single major brand. Meals, other drinks, and personal expenses are not included, and the tour does not pick you up from your hotel. Treat it as a compact afternoon introduction, not a full-day wine itinerary.

The outing needs at least two participants to run. If the minimum is not met, you can book another date or request a full refund. The provider may also cancel for extreme weather or unforeseen events, with the choice to reschedule or request a refund.

Who will enjoy this afternoon

I’d recommend this tour if you’re staying in Reims and want to see more of Champagne without renting a car. It suits curious first-time visitors who want a mix of production, tastings, scenery, and local history, and who value time with family-run producers over an extended visit to one famous house.

It can also work well for a short stay. The 14:00 departure leaves the morning open, and the 18:30 return brings you back to the station area. Just remember that the drive and stops are shared with the rest of the group, and the schedule can shift with road and weather conditions.

This is not the right fit if you need a wheelchair- or stroller-accessible tour. Animals are not allowed on shared tours, and children aged 12 and older are charged the adult rate. If you’re sensitive to alcohol, six tastings may be more than you want, even though the tour provides a broad comparison of cuvées.

The small amount of available feedback is very positive, praising the hospitality, clear explanations of local history and production, kind staff, and distinctive Champagnes. A group of eight was described as well arranged. That’s encouraging, but it is still a limited picture, so I’d judge the tour chiefly by its itinerary and what you want from an afternoon in Champagne.

Should you book the Épernay and Family Growers afternoon tour?

Book it if you want two family-estate visits, six tastings, vineyard scenery, and a little Champagne history in one half-day trip from Reims. The combination gives you more variety than a single-cellar visit, while keeping the logistics simple.

Skip it if you want to spend hours at one producer, tour the interiors of the famous houses on Avenue de Champagne, or include lunch. For a balanced introduction to the region’s people, production, and place, this is a sensible choice. Bring a jacket, valid ID if you’re 18 or older, and a plan for getting to the station meeting point on time.

FAQ

Where does the tour depart from?

It departs from the Office de Tourisme du Grand Reims at Cour de la Gare, by the Reims train station. Arrive 10 minutes before the 14:00 departure.

What time does the tour return?

The scheduled return is 18:30 at the same station-area meeting point. Traffic and weather may change the schedule.

How many Champagne tastings are included?

Six tastings are included across visits to two family-run Champagne houses.

Is transport from my hotel included?

No. Round-trip minivan transport from the meeting point is included, but hotel pick-up and drop-off are not.

What should I bring for the cellar visit?

Bring a jacket. The average cellar temperature is about 10°C. If you are 18 or older, bring valid ID to prove your age for the tastings.

Is the tour wheelchair- or stroller-accessible?

No. The tour is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible, and animals are not allowed on shared tours.