Dom Perignon
The highlight of today's tour is a reserved private visit at Dom Perignon located deep inside the Moet et Chandon Cellar complex in Epernay followed by a private tasting of a Vintage or the rare Plenitude cuvee. No visit to Dom would be complete without a visit to pay homage to him at his gravestone in Hautvillers, a picturesque village 15 minutes drive away with panoramic views over the vineyards and a few vineyards for a tasting or even a quaint champagne bar for a tasting lunch.
Half Day Tour Depart Reims 9am or 1.45pm
On a half day tour we will pick you up from your accommodation or the railway station in Reims and will have additional time for a multi tasting stop at a small producer. Alternatively, you can skip Hautvillers and do a full estate visit and tasting at a vineyard.
Full Day Tour from Paris
Your driver will pick you up from your Paris accommodation around 7.45am or take the train departing from Paris Gare de l'Est and we'll pick you up from Reims Ville or Champagne Ardenne TGV station. If driving, to Epernay you may like to discover vineyards in the Marne Valley specialising in Pinot Meunier.
Full Day Tour from Reims
Departing from Reims we can focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the 2 grapes used to make Dom Perignon Champagne. In the afternoon you might like a Cellar visit and tasting at Ruinart or Billecart Salmon if you are booked somewhat in advance.
Lunch Options
Tour and paired tasting at a Grand Cru producer
Gastronomic lunch with a view over the vineyards
Bistro in Epernay
Lunch at Chateau Rill
Dom Perignon - The Legend
In the late 17th century Dom Perignon, cellar master at the Benedictine abbey of Hautvillers near Epernay, discovered that giving the wine a second fermentation could produce a wine that had lots more sparkle as the legend goes. None of it is true. At the time these bubbles were considered an imperfection. Pierre Perignon spent most of his time blending grapes from different vineyards, mixing wines from different harvests, to improve the overall quality, consistency, and uniformity of the wine.