jamikins

Hello dear Fodorites!

Doing some planning for our trip to Champagne in May. We are driving down from Lille on Friday and staying in Epernay for 3 nights. We are thinking of spending Saturday in Epernay and Sunday in Reims. We'd like to visit at least a couple champagne houses in each place, but dont want to do a full tour at likely more than 1. Can we do tastings at the houses without doing the tours? We are happy to pay for tastings, but dont feel the need to see the caves etc at all of the places we taste at. Also any recommendations for the best tour? We were thinking Moet and Chandon?

Thanks so much!

nytraveler

Moet et Chandon tour is excellent. sorry - don;t have the answer on just tasting - have you checked the web sites of the houses you're interested in?

jamikins

Thanks nytraveler - the websites arent the most informative hahaha, some have the cellar tours on the website, others not so much, and nothing about whether you can pay for a flight or tasting that I can see. Hmmm...

Glad to hear Moet et Chandon is good!

Underhill

If you don't especially want to visit the Champagne houses, there's a tasting room in Reims near the cathedral.

Judy

We enjoyed the tour at Pommery.....loved the art in the caves!

ekscrunchy

Another vote for Pommery. I can't imagine why they would mind if you skip the tour..less work for them..

Krueg42

Big producers are great and I do love the Pommery or Veuve tour YET the BEST thing to do is to get outside the cities and see small producers!!

This way, you can get to see a bit of the vines, the ancient countryside and see the real deal Champagne process while being able to drink various cuvees at each house (instead of just one glass along with a video at the large tours).

You can use a company like this one to take you to 3 small producers, a Michelin star lunch and a foie gras, cheese or escargot farm. http://www.tastysidetolifetours.com/

kerouac

Since the tasting is done at the end of the tours, it is not impossible that you would pay for a tour that you did not take and then just join the others when they come out at the end.

Alec

Just a word or two about large 'commercial' cellar tours plus tasting and small growers in the countryside offering dégustation. In the former, as you are paying for the tour, there is no obligation to buy any bottles after the tasting. But if you go to a grower and enjoy free tastings, you are expected normally to buy at least a bottle or two, unless you have good reasons not to, such as champagnes weren't to your taste.
Going with an organised tour is a good idea, as you get an expert guide, usually English-speaking, without feeling obliged to purchase, as cellars get paid for your visit. Plus you won't be tempted to drink and drive.

CYESQ

Tattinger was very good. Tasting room is at the end of the tour.