REVIEW · PARIS
Paris: Two Reims Champagne Vineyards with Tastings and Lunch
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Champagne in Reims, without the hassle. I like the smart setup of comparing two champagne producers in one day, and I especially like the included traditional lunch in Lude that keeps the focus on real regional life. One thing to weigh: you’ll need to go down 130 steps in a cellar, with no elevator.
The trip also respects your time. You’ll take the high-speed train from Paris to Reims, then use short car transfers for the vineyard countryside, with guided city time for the Reims Cathedral exterior and a few key streetscapes along the way.
In This Review
- Key Things to Know Before You Go
- Why Reims Works for a Champagne Day Trip From Paris
- Price and What You Actually Get for $712
- Getting There: Gare de l’Est, the Fast Train, and Vineyard Car Transfers
- Reims in Two Quick Blocks: Porte de Mars and Cathedral Exterior Time
- Champagne GH Martel & Co: Cellars, Production, and the 5-Glass Tasting
- Mailly Grand Cru and the Practical Side of a Second Tasting Stop
- Lunch in Lude: Traditional French Food Without the Stop-and-Search Stress
- The Steep Cellar Reality: 130 Steps Without an Elevator
- Who This Private Tour Suits Best (and Who Should Skip It)
- Price vs. Comfort vs. Control: My Balanced Take
- Should You Book Two Reims Champagne Vineyards With Tastings and Lunch?
- FAQ
- Where do I meet the guide?
- How long is the tour?
- Is this a private tour?
- What languages are offered?
- How many champagne producers do you visit?
- Is lunch included?
- What does the champagne tasting include?
- How do you travel between Paris and Reims?
- Is there any part of the tour that requires stairs?
- Do I need hotel pickup and drop-off?
Key Things to Know Before You Go
- Two producers, not one: you get back-to-back vineyard and cellar perspectives in the same day.
- A structured tasting: the experience includes a 5-glass champagne tasting.
- Reims city stops are timed right: Porte de Mars and time by the Cathedral exterior without turning the day into a museum marathon.
- Lunch is part of the value: you’re not eating on the go; you’re sitting down at a family-run restaurant in Lude.
- Cellar steps are real: plan for steep stair descents if you want to enjoy the tour fully.
- Private-group pacing: your guide sets the rhythm, which can be great if you like flexibility.
Why Reims Works for a Champagne Day Trip From Paris
Reims is one of the easiest places to build a champagne day from Paris, and this plan uses that advantage. You’re not stuck in long transfers. The fast train gets you out of the city and into the champagne country quickly, so most of your day actually happens where the bubbles are made.
This tour is also a good match for people who don’t want a “one winery and done” outing. Two visits let you compare styles and production approaches more meaningfully than a single stop, especially when you get guided tours plus a formal tasting.
You can also read our reviews of more wine tours in Paris
Price and What You Actually Get for $712
At $712 per person, the cost isn’t low. But it’s not just champagne and a train ticket either. You’re paying for a private day with a local guide, return high-speed train tickets, private car transfers around Reims and the vineyard area, two guided producer experiences, an included lunch, and a guided city visit.
Where the value feels strongest is the combination:
- Time efficiency (high-speed train + targeted car transfers)
- Guided champagne instruction at two producers
- Included lunch rather than an improvisation meal between cellars
Where you should stay honest is the “private group” part. If you’re the kind of traveler who wants long, unstructured wandering, this itinerary is more structured than that. It’s designed to move, taste, and keep the day flowing.
Getting There: Gare de l’Est, the Fast Train, and Vineyard Car Transfers
You meet your guide at Gare de l’Est, at the entrance of Burger King. Then the day starts with a 1-hour high-speed train ride to Reims. That’s your big energy saver. Instead of a full day of road travel, you get real time back for the vineyards and lunch.
Once in Reims, you’re not hiking across the region. A private car handles the countryside connections between city time and the champagne houses. It’s the right kind of comfort for a day that includes cellar stairs and a tasting schedule.
Practical note: because the tour is private and scheduled, you’ll want to be ready on time. When a day includes cellars, tasting timing matters, and the plan is built around that.
Reims in Two Quick Blocks: Porte de Mars and Cathedral Exterior Time
Reims isn’t just a launch point for champagne. It’s a city with standout architecture, and this plan gives you just enough to feel oriented.
You start with La Porte de Mars (about 15 minutes). It’s a compact stop, but it helps you get your bearings fast before you move on to the bigger landmark.
Then you get a 1-hour guided visit to Reims Cathedral of Notre Dame from the outside. Even without going inside, it’s a major architectural moment. Gothic details are the point, and the guidance helps you notice what you’d otherwise miss if you were just walking past.
This city block is also where the day can either feel pleasant or feel rushed, depending on your guide’s pace. If you love architecture and want more time to slow down, you may wish for a longer exterior loop after the cathedral stop. Still, it’s a good use of time before returning to the vineyards.
Champagne GH Martel & Co: Cellars, Production, and the 5-Glass Tasting
Your first champagne producer stop is Champagne GH Martel & Co. You’ll get about 1 hour here, including a guided tour that covers the winemaking process and what makes their style work.
This is where the tour’s “champagne education” gear is on. You’re not just walking through a scenic place and pouring champagne; you’re learning the steps that lead to what ends up in your glass—then tasting the result.
The tasting portion is built into the day as a 5-glass selection of high-quality champagne. That’s a meaningful quantity for comparison. You’ll be able to notice differences in flavor and character, rather than treating the tasting as a quick sip-and-go.
Comfort reality check: cellars can be cool and tight. Bring a layer you don’t mind wearing. Also, focus on balance. With stairs and tastings stacked in one day, you want steady footing and calm pacing.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Paris
Mailly Grand Cru and the Practical Side of a Second Tasting Stop
After GH Martel & Co, the day shifts to a second producer: Champagne Mailly Grand Cru. The schedule gives you about 1 hour here for a visit.
Two-producer days can be fantastic, but they also expose the practical details that matter. Some cellar tasting areas don’t offer much room to sit or hang out. In other words, you’re likely to experience this stop more as a guided visit plus tasting moment than as a long, relaxed lounge break.
If you’re planning to buy bottles, think ahead. A second producer stop means you may have limited time to settle bottles safely or plan your carry. The good move is to treat any purchases as something you manage actively that day, not something you assume will be easy at the end.
Lunch in Lude: Traditional French Food Without the Stop-and-Search Stress
Between champagne and cathedral time, you stop for lunch in the village of Lude. You’ll eat at a charming family restaurant, and the meal is included.
The value of an included lunch here is simple: you don’t have to hunt for something that works with the tasting schedule. You get a traditional French meal designed for a day like this, which makes the day feel more local than a string of tours and transport.
Keep your lunch pace steady. After wine tastings, heavy pacing can make you feel worse later in the afternoon. I’d treat lunch as fuel, not a second tasting event.
The Steep Cellar Reality: 130 Steps Without an Elevator
One of the most important facts to know is also the least glamorous: you must go down 130 steps without an elevator in one of the cellars. If stairs are a challenge for you, this is a hard stop.
This isn’t the kind of activity where you can casually skip the stairs and still get the full experience. The cellar visit is part of the tour flow, and the steps are built into it.
My advice: if you’re on the fence, assess honestly before you book. Wear supportive shoes, move slowly, and plan for the cellar temperatures and surfaces.
Also, this tour is not suitable for wheelchair users based on the stated cellar access.
Who This Private Tour Suits Best (and Who Should Skip It)
This is a strong fit if you want:
- A private day with a local guide
- Two champagne producers and a real tasting (5 glasses)
- A structured, time-efficient schedule from Paris
- A mix of countryside views, cellar time, and a city landmark stop
It may not be the best fit if:
- You need long rests or lots of seating during tastings
- You avoid steep stair descents
- You want a very free-form itinerary with lots of extra time at each stop
Guide quality matters on a day like this. Some guides shine by connecting the champagne process to what you’re actually tasting. Others may keep it more surface-level. If you care a lot about learning the why behind the bubbles, this is where you’ll feel the difference.
On the positive side, this tour has a track record of guides who can make the region fun to understand. Names like Sebastian come up as standouts for people who want facts plus a good day vibe.
Price vs. Comfort vs. Control: My Balanced Take
Here’s the real tradeoff. You’re paying for a day that runs on rails: high-speed train, guided stops, planned vineyard transfers, and included lunch. That’s convenient, and it’s the main reason the day feels manageable.
But the same structure can limit your flexibility. If you want more wandering time after Reims Cathedral, or you want a more leisurely second tasting experience, you may feel the schedule compresses the afternoon. Also, cellar logistics and tasting-room space can influence how comfortable you feel during the second stop.
If you’re the kind of traveler who values smooth logistics and guided tastings over free time, the price starts to make sense. If you’re expecting a slow, lounge-heavy day, you’ll likely want a different style of champagne outing.
Should You Book Two Reims Champagne Vineyards With Tastings and Lunch?
Book it if you want a well-paced, guided champagne day that hits two producers, includes a formal tasting, and gives you a proper sit-down lunch in Lude, with a smart dose of Reims sights.
Consider skipping or shopping carefully if:
- You can’t handle steep stair descents in a cellar
- You prefer lots of downtime during tastings
- You’re planning to buy bottles and want maximum convenience around where you’re dropped off afterward
One last practical move: before the day starts, ask your guide to clarify where the return-side drop and meetup timing will work if you intend to bring purchased bottles. This is the kind of small detail that can turn mildly annoying into genuinely annoying if it’s not sorted.
If your main goal is two guided champagne tastings plus a classic Reims stop, this tour is built for exactly that.
FAQ
Where do I meet the guide?
Meet your guide at Gare de l’Est, at the entrance of Burger King.
How long is the tour?
The tour lasts 10 hours.
Is this a private tour?
Yes, it’s a private group tour.
What languages are offered?
The live guide speaks French, English, and Spanish.
How many champagne producers do you visit?
You visit two champagne producers in the Reims area.
Is lunch included?
Yes. You’ll have a traditional French lunch at a family-run restaurant in Lude.
What does the champagne tasting include?
The tour includes a tasting of 5 glasses of champagne.
How do you travel between Paris and Reims?
You take return high-speed train tickets between Paris and Reims.
Is there any part of the tour that requires stairs?
Yes. You have to go down 130 steps in a cellar, and there is no elevator. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Do I need hotel pickup and drop-off?
No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.
