About this tour
Explore the Champagne region from Epernay in a restored 1960s–80s Renault Estafette, learning how the vines evolve through the seasons. Visit two family-run producers for nine tastings across their cellars, stop at the Abbey Church where Dom Pérignon worked, and enjoy a picnic or seasonal lunch surrounded by vineyards. You'll also learn to open a bottle using the traditional sabrage technique—sword and all.
Highlights
- Nine Champagne tastings at two independent producers' cellars
- Vintage French van ride through rolling vineyard landscapes
- Picnic or restaurant lunch among the vines
- Sabrage initiation: opening bottles the old-fashioned way
- Abbey Church of Hautvillers, birthplace of modern Champagne
- Seasonal vineyard photography stops with panoramic views
- Chat directly with winemakers about their craft
What to expect
Your morning begins with pick-up from your Epernay accommodation, then into the Estafette for a leisurely drive through chalk hillsides and terraced slopes. At the first cellar, a producer walks you through their methods—fermentation, ageing, blending—before pouring three glasses. Mid-morning stops let you photograph the landscape and absorb the regional history. Lunch happens either picnic-style on the property (bread, charcuterie, cheese, pink biscuits, Champagne) or at a restaurant depending on season. The afternoon repeats the cellar experience at a second producer with another three tastings, then wraps with a sabrage lesson—you'll use a sabre to crack open a bottle spectacularly.
Good to know
Seven and a half hours total, including travel. Wear comfortable shoes for cellar stairs and vineyard walks. Nine glasses across the day means pacing matters; food is provided. Pick-up covers Epernay and surroundings. Service animals welcome. No need for a car; public transport nearby.
Tour sold and operated by its supplier via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries, not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.