Champagne Cellar Visits

Many of the Champagne Vineyard houses offer visits, usually with a glass of Champagne thrown in. Some charge a small admission. Many cellars and caves are quite spectacular, being set in old former Roman chalk mines, with elaborate bas-reliefs carved into the chalk face, and others are so large one can experience a tour on a train.

Visitors will not see the grapes being pressed unless you visit in September or October during the harvest, and even then, many houses' 'pressoirs' or presses are out in the countryside. Also, it is worth remembering some houses do not offer visits during the busy harvest period.

You may well see giant stainless steel storage tanks where the grape juice is stored prior to blending, and visitors will certainly see many millions of bottles of Champagne slumbering during the long maturation period. There are usually demonstrations of riddling and disgorgement which are the unique features of this 'methode champenoise'.

Some houses require visitors to make an appointment, and then you are more likely to be shown round in a small intimate group rather than with a coach party. It is better to try and arrange a tasting of a range of wines from a house to get the feel of a house style and to contrast different blends and vintages.

You are not obliged to buy Champagne, especially if you have paid for entrance, but it is worthwhile to purchase a bottle or two having watched the manufacturing process. Additionally, the houses have souvenir shops with all kinds of Champagne paraphernalia from ash trays to scarves to champagne buckets and bottle-stoppers.

Here's some of the best tour visits available:

Launois Père & Fils, Le Mesnil sur Oger

A magnificent collection of wine antiques and Champagne memorabilia within this museum of vine and wine. The tours are followed by a Wine tasting session and booking early is essential.

Mercier, Epernay

Admire the world's biggest barrel built in 1889 of which the visitor centre was built around. There is a audio-visual presentation and a train tour taking visitors through the 18km long galleries.

de Castelllane, Epernay

Shows visitors more of the production process of the Champagne wine industry, including bottling and labeling. The Castellane tower provides a panoramic view over the town of Epernay and the Marne valley and houses a small Champagne museum