BackTrip · Hautvillers, Aÿ and Épernay
A sommelier-guide drives up to seven guests from their Paris hotels to Hautvillers, the Pressoria museum in Aÿ, the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay and a tasting in the vines. Pick it for the guide and the villages: more wine teaching and vineyard time than a standard day.
BackTrip skips Reims and spends the day in the valley of the Marne, where the vineyards are. The first stop is Hautvillers, the hill village where Dom Pérignon was cellarer, for a walk and the view over the slopes. Then Pressoria, a sensory museum that opened in 2021 in Pommery's former pressing centre, with rooms on chalk, vines and bubbles, an aperitif and a tasting. The listing gives it two hours.
The afternoon is Épernay. An optional 30-minute walk on the Avenue de Champagne, lunch and free time, then Moët & Chandon. Read the small print: the stop lasts an hour and the inclusions describe a gift-shop visit with tasting, not one of Moët's own cellar tours. The long visit is at Champagne Charles Mignon, a family house in Épernay that the listing calls sixth-generation, or at Mercier: two hours with a tour and tasting. The day closes with an hour's tasting among the Hautvillers vineyards.
Three caveats. Lunch is not included, despite the long free time. The prestigious tasting is "subject to availability", and the listing says cellar bookings are usually secured within 24 hours of departure, so the plan can shift late. And it is 12 to 13 hours, the longest day here, with no access for wheelchairs or people with reduced mobility. In return you get seven guests at most and a guide who is a trained sommelier.
About two hours by people carrier to Hautvillers for a guided walk and views over the slopes.
An aperitif, a guided tour of the sensory museum and a tasting.
An optional 30-minute walk on the Avenue de Champagne, then about 1.5 hours for lunch at your own cost.
A visit and tasting on the Avenue; the inclusions describe a gift-shop visit.
A guided tour and tasting at a family house in Épernay, or at Mercier.
A last glass among the Hautvillers vineyards, then about 1.5 hours back to Paris.
We had generous tastings at 3 houses ( Mercier, Moet/Chandon and Charles Mignon) that were not rushed
We learned so much, drank different champagne and enjoyed the most beautiful views.
Liviu was an absolute gem a brilliant driver, incredibly knowledgeable sommelier and such a warm, thoughtful host.
Alexandra is attentive to the needs of her clients. Punctual. Very friendly.
Read next:
A sensory museum about Champagne in Pommery's former pressing centre, opened in July 2021, according to the Hautvillers tourist office. Rooms cover the chalk, the vine's year and the bubbles, and the visit ends with a tasting.
It includes a one-hour Moët & Chandon visit and tasting, but the inclusions describe it as a gift-shop visit on the Avenue de Champagne. Do not expect the full cellar tour that the house sells on its own.
No. The listing's know-before-you-go section says lunch in Épernay is not included.
A family Champagne house in Épernay that the listing calls sixth-generation. Épernay Tourisme describes guided visits through its vat room and cellars, ending with a tasting.
Ready to book
Hautvillers, Aÿ and the Épernay cellars with a sommelier-guide, in a van of seven at most.
Champagne Day Trip with 8 Tastings & LunchA big house in the morning, a family estate or co-op after a long lunch, 8+ tastings in a van of eight.10 to 11 hours
Small-Group Champagne Day with Six TastingsThe lowest price from Paris: Reims Cathedral, a family winery, Nicolas Feuillatte and Hautvillers. Six glasses, max 8.11 hours
Small-Group Champagne Tour with PickupA family producer, a big house, a blind tasting and sabrage, with hotel pickup and eight guests at most. Lunch on your own.12 hours