Champagne Lover Tour&Amazing Experience&With champagne sabering

This Champagne lover tour is interesting because it mixes real winemaking education with the kind of memorable moment you do not forget, cracking a bottle the traditional way with champagne sabering in Hautvillers. You also get a full day circuit instead of one quick stop, so you see different styles and different parts of the region.

I love how the day keeps you active. At La Maison Penet and at Daniel Dumont, you learn the process, then you get choice-based tastings where you pick what you want to try, including a vintage option at the first stop. I also like the way it layers the story of Champagne, with Dom Pérignon landmarks and then a hands-on finale in the same town.

One possible drawback to plan for: lunch time is built in, but lunch is not included in the price, so you will want some spending money. This is also a long tasting day, so if you want a relaxed pace, think about whether you are ready for several rounds of sampling across multiple houses.

Key points before you go

• Learn the craft first, then taste, including a vintage choice at La Maison Penet
• Roman-dug cellars at Champagne Daniel Dumont, tied to the area’s wartime history
• Hautvillers + Dom Pérignon, with a church visit, tomb, and a top viewpoint for the sabering
• Hands-on sabering with a keep-sake diploma, so the finale is more than a photo op
• Multiple tasting rounds across family and premier-cru focused houses, not just one stop
• Private tour feel with pickup available in Reims, Bezannes, and the Epernay train station area

A classic Champagne circuit, with the saber payoff in Hautvillers

The big idea here is simple. You spend the day moving through Champagne country, meeting producers who represent different styles, and then you end with the sabering moment in Hautvillers, the town strongly linked to Champagne’s origin story.

That mix matters because Champagne can feel like one long blur of bubbles if you only do the tourist basics. Here, you get a rhythm: learn, taste, learn again, taste again. By the time you are standing in Hautvillers for the show, you are not just watching the action, you are understanding what you are cracking and why it works so well with the region’s traditional méthode.

Also, the finale comes with a tangible souvenir. You receive a diploma after successfully cracking the champagne. That small detail turns it from a guided stunt into a personal milestone, and it is a nice keepsake to show friends later.

Getting there: pickup in Reims, Bezannes, and Epernay plus private-group comfort

This tour is built around convenience. You get pickup from hotels in Reims, Bezannes, and the Epernay train station area, and you are transported in an air-conditioned vehicle. It is described as luxury transportation, and in practice that usually means you are not crammed in with strangers, especially since this is a private tour/activity where only your group participates.

Duration is about 8 hours, so you are committing to a full morning-to-afternoon schedule with short travel legs between stops. The itinerary keeps most visits around 1 to 2 hours, which helps you avoid the common problem of Champagne tours that feel like bus time. You still have travel time, of course, but it is broken up by actual room time, cellars, tastings, and sights.

One practical note: the tour is offered in English, so if you want explanations that go beyond sipping, you should feel covered. You also receive a mobile ticket, which typically makes entry smoother when you arrive at the houses.

La Maison Penet: production lessons, then you choose 3 champagnes including a vintage

Your first stop is La Maison Penet, and this is a smart opener. It sets you up to taste with context instead of guesswork.

You start with a learn-first visit where you go through the steps involved in making sparkling wine. Even if you already like Champagne, this kind of walkthrough changes how you look at the bottles. Instead of thinking only in labels, you start thinking in craft choices and methods that affect taste and texture.

Then the tasting payoff arrives. After the visit, you get a chance to choose 3 different champagnes to taste, and one of those options includes a vintage. That matters because vintage Champagne tends to be more specific in character. It is a good way to compare styles within the same broad region, and it helps you decide what kind of Champagne you actually enjoy, not just what you think you should like.

A small drawback to keep in mind: since this is stop one, you may feel the morning momentum. If you are sensitive to early tastings, pace yourself from the first pour. In a day like this, good decision-making beats trying to power through.

Champagne Daniel Dumont: premier cru village focus and the Roman-dug cellar story

Stop two is Champagne Daniel Dumont. Here the tone shifts toward place and style.

The visit is framed around a premier cru village, and it specifically highlights Pinot Meunier as a key part of the character, with Champagne described as elegant and easy to drink for everyday moments. Whether you love crisp and dry flavors or you prefer something softer, this kind of focus can help you understand how grape choice and local expertise work together.

Then you see the cellars. One of the most specific, memorable elements here is that the cellars were dug by the Romans and were used as shelter during wartime. That is the kind of detail that makes the underground feel more than just a cool room. You are not only tasting; you are standing in a place shaped by long, complicated human history.

At tasting time, you again get choice. You pick 3 different champagnes to taste, with variations based on grape variety mixtures and different years. This gives you a clearer comparison map across the day. You can start noticing which traits show up again later, and which ones change depending on producer and year.

If you want a practical tip, this is where you should take mental notes. Not every tasting will hit the same. But if you track what you like by style, you will be much happier at the later stops where you can choose your pours again.

Hautvillers lunch and the Dom Pérignon church and tomb stop

Then you move into Hautvillers. This is the heart-of-story part of the day.

First, there is lunch time at a restaurant in Hautvillers. The emphasis is on local products with multiple choices of food, and you also have champagne options alongside the meal. The key practical truth is this: lunch is not included in the tour price, but you do get the scheduled break to eat in a setting built for enjoying Champagne properly.

After lunch time, the tour stays in Hautvillers for the Dom Pérignon portion. You visit his church and his tomb. That is a direct connection to how people talk about Champagne’s origins and how Hautvillers fits into the larger narrative.

Even if you do not memorize dates, this stop helps you feel the place. Hautvillers is compact and walkable, and the experience here is less about collecting facts and more about understanding why this town holds such emotional meaning for Champagne lovers.

The best viewpoint for sabering, plus the diploma keepsake

Now for the moment people remember: you go to a best view of the breathtaking region, and this is where the tour includes champagne sabering.

I like that the sabering is not treated like a random party trick. It is tied to the location and the story you just walked through in Hautvillers. You are standing where the scenery makes sense, and then you are learning to crack a bottle in the traditional way. The instruction and safety basics are part of the guided setup, and you receive a diploma afterward as proof you completed the sabering.

That diploma detail is more than cute. It gives you a reason to slow down and really finish the activity. It also gives you something to take home besides a handful of half-empty glasses.

One consideration for your day: this is a tasting-heavy itinerary, so try not to treat sabering like a sprint. You want your hands steady and your focus good, and you will enjoy the experience more if you keep a calm pace after lunch.

Champagne Philippe Martin: another family-house tasting with your own 3-glass picks

After the Hautvillers finale, the tour moves to Champagne Philippe Martin. This stop keeps the tasting momentum going without feeling repetitive.

Here you have another tasting in a family house, and again you get choice. You get 3 different glasses of champagne selected by yourself, based on different years and one or more grape varieties.

This matters because by now you already know what to look for. Early in the day you are learning how Champagne is made. Midday you are learning how place and cellar character influence style. In this stop you are matching your own preferences against the producer’s range.

If you liked the more elegant, Pinot Meunier-forward vibe earlier, you might gravitate toward glasses that match that personality. If you enjoyed the vintage option at Penet, you might seek the year-specific character again. Either way, the structure gives you a meaningful say.

Epernay Avenue de Champagne and the final drop near Reims or Épernay station

After the tastings, you get a change of pace with a quick visit to Epernay, described as the capital of Champagne.

You visit Avenue de Champagne, called the richest and most famous avenue in the world, and you see magnificent villa houses and castles along the way. The itinerary only gives about 30 minutes here, so you should use it for quick photos, a short look around, and a sense of scale for the wealth and history packed into this corridor.

Then you wrap up with a drop-off around Reims or Épernay at your hotel or train station area. That makes the day easier to connect with your plans for dinner or onward travel.

Price and value: what $228.78 gets you in a full day

At $228.78 per person, this is not a bargain-bucket outing. But it also is not a barebones Champagne sampler either.

You are paying for several things that add up on their own:

• Air-conditioned transport and a guide in English
• Guided tours and admission tickets included for the tasting houses
• Multiple tasting rounds across different producers
• A structured day with a clear arc, including sabering in Hautvillers
• Private-tour structure where only your group participates

What is not included matters just as much:

• Tips are not included
• Personal expenses are not included
• Lunch is not included, even though you have a lunch break in Hautvillers

So, the real question is whether you want a day where you taste repeatedly with guidance, and also do something hands-on with sabering. If your goal is to walk away with memories plus real understanding, this price starts to make sense.

If you only want one or two tastings, you could probably do cheaper on your own. But if you want the full circuit plus the saber moment, the package approach usually feels like good use of your time.

Timing-wise, it is booked on average about 45 days in advance. That signals steady demand, so it is wise to lock in your preferred date earlier rather than gambling on last-minute availability.

Who should book this Champagne lover tour

This tour fits best if you:

• Want multiple guided tastings where you can pick what to taste
• Like learning how Champagne is made, not just drinking it
• Want the Hautvillers story and the sabering finale in the same day
• Prefer a private-group feel with pickup and clear scheduling

It may feel like too much if you:

• Hate tasting-heavy days and prefer quiet, single-stop experiences
• Need a long sit-down lunch included in the price
• Are very budget sensitive and plan to eat and drink only lightly

It is also a good match for couples, friends, and anyone celebrating something. The sabering diploma gives the day a built-in “we did it” moment.

Should you book this tour?

I think it is worth booking if you are serious about Champagne and you want more than a quick tasting. The value comes from the combination: production education at La Maison Penet, Roman-dug cellar storytelling at Champagne Daniel Dumont, Dom Pérignon landmarks in Hautvillers, then sabering with a keepsake diploma, plus one more choice-driven tasting at Champagne Philippe Martin. It is a full, focused day.

But be honest about lunch and stamina. Bring spending money for lunch, plan for tastings across the whole day, and commit to the schedule. If you do that, you will likely leave with a clearer idea of what you like in Champagne, and with one unforgettable bottle-cracking story to share.

FAQ

How long is the Champagne Lover Tour?

The duration is approximately 8 hours.

How much does it cost per person?

The price is $228.78 per person.

Does the tour include pickup?

Yes. Pickup is offered from hotels in Reims, Bezannes, and from the Epernay train station as well.

Is the tour in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

Are tastings included?

Yes. Tours and tastings are included, with admission tickets included for the tasting stops.

Is lunch included?

Lunch time is part of the itinerary, but lunch is not included in the price.

Does the itinerary include sabering?

Yes. You will do champagne sabering in Hautvillers, and you receive a diploma after you crack the champagne.

Where do you get dropped off at the end?

You are dropped off around Reims or Épernay, typically at your hotel or train station.

Is this tour private?

Yes. It is private, with only your group participating.

Can I get a refund if I cancel?

No. This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.