Private Full Day Tour to Champagne from Paris, Visit of 2 Champagne Producers

Fred, our tour guide, was knowledgeable and entertaining. We had two very different and excellent Champagne experiences - one at a large producer in Reims and the other a small operation in Epernay.

Our guide picked us up from our hotel in Paris and we drove two hours to the town of Reims, France to start our first tour at Taittinger Vineyard which was excellent. The tour was excellent. we then went to see the Notre Dame Cathedral in Reims which was breath taking to see. After a private two-hour lunch at a great restaurant, we then visited a small champagne producer and stayed for two hours tasting several different local champagnes. We then visited the spot where Dom Perignon was buried and then headed back for a long two ghour drive back into paris. Our guide Karim was excellent and very knowledgeable on several areas of history and on champagne production. My only negative comment was that we were promised that our trip to the Champagne region that we would be travelling in a Mercedes Class SUV for the trip and that didn't happen as we were picked up in our tour guide personal vehicle - a Volkswagen Jetta.

This excursion to Champagne was the highlight of our family trip to Paris. Our guide, Fred, was prompt and shared some of the history of the region since the first king of France (Clovis) as well as explaining the entire champagne making process on our way to Reims. He had a great sense of humor, and was very accommodating to our wishes, for a customized experience. We began our visit at le cathedrale de notre dame de Reims, and had a quick coffee and pastry at Paul patisserie. We visited Taitinger before lunch, stopped for lunch in town (not included), and then visited a small maison du champagne called Morlet, which was wonderful. Monsieur Morlet speaks only French and led us onto the “backstage” to observe every step of the art of producing champagne, including the turning, disgorging, corking, and of course, tasting, of fine champagne. He did this in such an animated way (with Fred translating) that my college aged sons were thoroughly enthralled. And the champagne and Ratafia (a sherry-like liquor only produced in the champagne region) were exquisite. I brought a few bottles home since this smallish operation does not export. Between the large and small champagne tours, we stopped for photos and to hear some of the history of other hamlets in the champagne area- Epernay, Ays, and others. Overall a lovely day and a memorable experience!