Cellar Tours in Champagne: The Complete Guide (Reims & Épernay)
Descending into a cellar carved from the chalk, feeling the constant coolness and seeing thousands of bottles aging on their laths: the cellar tour is the heart of the wine-tourism experience in Champagne. Here’s how to plan yours well.
What a cellar tour looks like
A typical tour lasts 1 to 2 hours and combines three moments:
- Exploring the cellars — often underground galleries, sometimes ancient Gallo-Roman chalk pits in Reims, where the temperature stays around 10–12°C all year round.
- The explanation of the method — from harvest to disgorging, you’ll hear how the effervescence comes to life (see our article on how Champagne is made).
- The tasting — one or several cuvées, depending on the option you choose.
Bring a cardigan or a jacket: it’s cool underground, even in summer.
Where to take a tour: Reims or Épernay?
- Reims is home to the major houses and the spectacular chalk pits (crayères) listed as UNESCO World Heritage. Many can be visited right in the city centre.
- Épernay lines up its houses along the famous Avenue de Champagne, over just a few hundred metres (see what to do in Épernay).
To choose a house by its style, browse our directory.
Major house or grower?
The major houses offer polished, sometimes theatrical tours with online booking. Growers (récoltants-manipulants) offer more intimate visits, often with the producer themselves — a more personal experience, best booked directly.
How much does it cost?
Prices vary depending on the house’s reputation and the number of cuvées tasted. Expect a wide range, from an accessible tour-and-tasting at a grower’s to premium experiences at a major house. The price almost always includes the tasting.
Our practical tips
- Book in advance, especially at weekends and in high season (May to September).
- Don’t drive if you’re tasting: arrange a designated driver or an excursion with transport.
- Do no more than two houses per half-day so you can really enjoy each one.
Fancy an all-in-one itinerary? Discover our ideas for wine-tasting stays and weekends and our guide to planning your visit.
