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Reims was a major commercial crossroads as far back as the Roman times and an important ciy where 25 Kings and Queens of France were corronated. The area surrounding it boasts of 9 Grands Crus villages and provides an ideal cool climate for growing Pinot Noir grapes, owing to its chalky terrain, which includes Ambonnay, Bouzy, Louvois, Mailly, Sillery, Verzenay, Verzy and premier villages Rilly, Ludes, Sacy, Chamery, and Chigny les Roses. A full day itinerary departing from Reims train station or accommodation might look like this:

Visit 1 ▸  Famous Cellar visit and tastings Reims
Visit one of the UNESCO heritage certified gallo-roman cellars of Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, Taittinger and Pommery for a tour and tasting.

Visit 2 ▸  Premier or Grand Cru Triple Tasting Comparison
The vineyards of Montagne de Reims stretch from Reims to Epernay and are characterized by chalk-based soils where predominant ;y Pinot Noir grapes are cultivated.

Visit 3 ▸  Immersive Visit & Lunch at a Grand Cru Family Vineyard
Enjoy an estate visit and walk in the vines ending with a casual family style meal paired with three single vineyard Grand Cru Pinot Noir cuvées.

Visit 4 ▸  Private vineyard and tasting visit in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy
Bouzy is located on the southern slope of the Montagne de Reims. The village covers 380 hectares mainly planted with Pinot Noir, of which 10% is dedicated to the production of still wine called Bouzy Rouge. Rosé champagnes are either a blend of white Champagne with still Pinot Noir AOC wines or Saigné ( "bleeding") by leaving the grape Musts to macerate for a few hours with the skin of the grapes during pressing


Veuve Clicquot
Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label has become one of the most recognized labels and colors in the world. Barbe Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, born in the village of Bouzy, took over the company in 1805 and is credited with major production breakthroughs. She created the first vintage champagne and blended rosé champagne plus invented the riddling table process to clarify champagne.

Ruinart
The first Champagne House, established in 1729. A top tier tour in small groups of 10 or less visit the chalk galleries. A unique experience and invitation to discover an atmosphere of silent intimacy ending in a tasting of 2 cuvees.

Taittinger
Founded in 1734, Taittinger Champagne House owns 650 acres of prime winemaking plots and finds it roots In the thirteenth century. The land belonged to Saint-Nicaise Abbey and the Benedictine monks cultivated grapes and produced wine until the French Revolution. In 2017, Taittinger became the first champagne house to plant vines in the UK and the winery owns Domaine Carneros in Napa.

Pommery
Champagne Vranken Pommery was founded in 1858 and run by Madame Pommery. She was an innovator and created the first "Brut" champagne. To achieve this, she transformed 18 kilometres of deep Roman chalk quarries into wine cellars with spectacular underground galleries made with barrel and rib vaults which you can visit. A superb staircase with 116 steps connects the cellars to the surface. The Domaine's buildings were designed in an Elizabethan neo-Gothic style with turrets, towers and red bricks.

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame at Reims has played a central role in French history of France for 800 years. It was the location for the baptism of Clovis, the first Frank king, on Christmas Day in 496 as well as the coronation of most of the kings of France so it is an appropriate place to start this tour. 25 royal coronations took place between 1223 and 1825, including the crowning of Charles VII thanks to the support of Joan of Arc.

Reims cathedral, was begun in 1211 replacing an earlier church and probably before that a Roman Bath. The construction project was overseen by four different architects over a period of 80 years. It is decorated with elegant masonry, sculpture, 2300 statues and is considered an artistic and engineering masterpieces of the French High Gothic period. One of the key structural developments was the soaring roof which allowed more light to pass though the original stained glass windows plus those of Chagall. The left portal on the west front carries the famous Smiling Angel statue. 

The Pinot Noir grape is distinctive for its dark purple and pine cone-shaped clusters first cultivated in Burgundy in the year AD 100. The words “pinot” and “noir”, which mean “pine” and “black” in French, refer to the grape’s tightly clustered bunches. Pinot Noir is also very sensitive to different production methods, which makes the grape variety highly reflective of its terroir. It provide both body and structure plus red fruit aromas, body, and power to a cuvée blend to a Champagne blend.