Visit the 8 most beautiful wineries of Champagne
A special kind of sightseeing is often offered by the Champagne Houses to satisfy the curiosity of their loyal customers. Whether in Reims, Épernay or in another city of Champagne, it is necessary to discover the most beautiful cellars from which come the legendary creations of the skilled cellar masters.
1. Maison Mercier
The House of Mercier is considered one of the most famous champagne houses in the world and also has one of the most beautiful cellars. Founded by Eugène Mercier in the 19th century, the House of Mercier reached its peak during the reign of Napoleon III.
The Maison Mercier cellar was built between 1871 and 1877 to complete the 18 km of underground tunnels. Eugène Mercier relied on his talent as a communicator to always impress his fans.
To process the grapes as quickly as possible, the cellar is only 30 meters from the vines. To visit the Maison Mercier, you need to board a train, because the winery is only an hour and a half from Paris and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition, the visit is possible in 11 languages.,
2. Maison Mumm
Located directly in Reims, the Maison Mumm has existed since 1827, founded to supply the royal courts. Under the motto "Only the best", this house is dedicated to the production of exceptional wines from the best of Champagne.
Mumm Champagnes are best known for their structure, complexity, freshness, and fruity richness of the Pinot Noir grape variety. Among the best known of its collection are Brut Champagne, Rosé Champagne, Vintage Champagne, and Magnum Champagne.
The vines are grown on nearly 218 hectares in the heart of Champagne. Excellence is achieved not only in the vineyards but also in the cellars and during the pressing and assemblage, the secrets of which only the house knows.
Cellar tours are offered at this exceptional place with guided tours. A visit lasts an average of 1.5 hours and is done on foot.
3. Maison Taittinger
Champagne lovers we do not need to introduce the house Taittinger. The Taittinger family has been at the helm of the house for almost a century now. With imposing marketing, the house produces exceptional champagnes that can be found in the best restaurants in the world.
In a family atmosphere, this house preserves both its long-standing know-how and its strong creativity in the development of new products. The tour of the cellars is available in two formats. First, you can go to the cellars of Reims for unique experiences, accompanied by a customized tasting.
But it is also possible to visit the cellar virtually to experience 2000 years of history told on a journey.
4. Maison Veuve Clicquot
The foundation of the House of Clicquot dates back to 1772. In 1805, Madame Clicquot took over the business of the house after the death of her husband at the age of 27. Today, the house owns one of the most important estates in Champagne, with 390 hectares distributed among 12 Grand of the 17 Grand Crus and 20 of the 44 Premier Crus sites in Champagne acquired by Madame Clicquot. Thus, the house still stands out today for exceptional champagnes with unique collections and innovations in the field. Madame Clicquot is credited with major breakthroughs, creating the first known vintage champagne in 1810, and inventing the riddling table process to clarify champagne in 1816. The creation of Rosé champagne is also part of her work.
The house offers you 6 tours. Each visit has its own special features and theme - and each visit includes a tasting.
Some include cellar tours, others even a tour of the vineyards. Tours can be booked through the website.
5. Maison Lanson
The Lanson House looks back on 260 years of history and was founded in 1760. This makes it one of the oldest champagne houses. The house supplies its champagne to more than 80 countries. The house has also been an official supplier to the Royal Court of England for 120 years. The house's expertise lies in the selection of high-quality grapes from the Champagne region, haute couture industrial tools, passionate cellar masters, and authentic style.
Guided tours take place in Reims. Here are the tours "from the vine to the flute", the experience "Prestige", the "Reserve" and the experience "Discovery".
6. Maison Moët & Chandon
The estates of Jean-Rémy Moët have existed in Épernay since 1746. Incidentally, the "sabering" of champagne bottles were invented here by Napoleon and his troops. Today, the Maison Moët & Chandon is known around the world for exceptional creations made in the heart of a cellar where new technologies and traditions meet.
Located under 10 to 30 meters of limestone soil, Moët & Chandon cellars are the largest in Champagne. At 28 km, they have a temperature of 10 to 12 °C.
There are three types of tours: Imperial Instant, The Iconic, and Ice Experience. There is always a tasting waiting at the end.
7. Maison Ruinart
The oldest champagne house ever. The Maison Ruinart was founded in 1729 and classified as a historic site in 1931. Ruinart champagnes are known all over the world for being true classics. They are produced in the historic cellars of Les Crayères. Reminder. The chalk pits are old quarries of white chalk dug into the limestone bedrock at a depth of almost 40 meters, offering the best storage facilities with cool temperatures.
Twenty in number, the chalk pits of the House of Ruinart offer optimal conditions for the maturation of its champagnes. Here you visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
8. Vranken Pommery
Das Haus Vranken Pommery hat sein 40-jähriges Bestehen der Kreation und Produktion von außergewöhnlichem Champagner gewidmet. Die Keller des Hauses sind nur wenige Schritte von der Kathedrale von Reims entfernt und bestehen aus 120 Kreidegruben, die durch 18 km unterirdische Stollen verbunden sind. Das Haus ist vor allem für die Kombination von Champagner und zeitgenössischer Kunst bekannt. In den Kellern stößt man deswegen auch oft auf dekorative Wandfresken. Das Haus bietet neben dem Landgut Pommery noch zwei weitere Sehenswürdigkeiten: Dies sind die berühmte Ville Demoiselle und die königliche Domäne von Jarras.