Itinerary: a day trip to Épernay in Champagne region

Immerse yourself in the wine education and luxurious champagne houses of Épernay, just a short train ride from Paris.

You’ve spent a couple of days in Paris and want a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. This day trip to Champagne Region combines wine and food with a slower-paced day, and a chance to meet like-minded travellers on your tours.

Épernay is home to the Avenue de Champagne, lined with famous champagne houses. There is so much to learn about champagne, the traditional process and each producer’s style. In this day trip itinerary, I’ve suggested three champagne houses – including two large producer tours and a smaller tasting. All of it pairs perfectly with a picnic lunch, sitting right beside the vineyards that grow a famous champagne.

An overview of the day

This day trip itinerary is well-paced, entirely walkable and gives lots of time to meander down the Avenue de Champagne and find hidden gems. Here’s what you’ll do:

• Ride the train through 18km of wine tunnels at Champagne Mercier, and learn the process of making champagne
• Have a picnic lunch outside beside the vineyards
• Visit Champagne Comtesse Lafond for a relaxed tasting of different champagne levels
• Finish your day in the beautiful halls of Moët et Chandon, and learn the history of Dom Perignon

Your day trip to Épernay

Arriving in Épernay

When exiting the train station, you’ll walk right through the small town. Stop at a little grocery store for bread, cheese and meats for your picnic lunch later.

Visit Champagne Mercier

The level of education is why I recommend visiting Champagne Mercier as the first stop on your champagne tour – it gives an excellent baseline for the rest of the day.

Arriving at Champagne Mercier, you can explore the history of this historic champagne house while walking through the lobby. Check in at the front desk for your first guided tour – we did the “Bubble Talk” tour – which took us down into the cellars and onto the train.

Moving through the dark underground tunnels, an expert guide teaches you all about the aging process of champagne. There are 18km of tunnels where all the champagne is kept to age over the years.

When your tour is done, it’s time to go upstairs and try two different champagnes in Mercier’s modern tasting room!

Take a break with a picnic lunch near a vineyard

Walk outside and find a bench or a small area near the vineyards for the most beautiful spot to have a baguette and cheese. Take a little break before your next tasting.

Enjoy a tasting in the showroom at Château Comtesse Lafond

This beautiful tasting was a relaxed experience, with a lovely sommelier and the chance to taste different champagne styles.

We made our way from Brut Nature to Brut, and tasted a Rosé Champagne. The tasting was dynamic, and the sommelier helping us understand what we like in a champagne.

Visit Moët et Chandon

If you haven’t heard of Moët, I’m sure you’ve heard of Dom Perignon, which comes from this renowned champagne house.

An expert walked us through the building, teaching us the history of the Moët family and the founder, as well as the history and rules of champagne making. We then went through the underground cellars, and had a tasting in a luxurious gold room.

Fun fact to know: it is pronounced with the “T” at the end – Moët’s founder was Dutch, not French.

I just learned that Mercier and Moët et Chandon are owned by the same company – where Mercier focuses on accessibility, Moët focuses on luxury. Make this elevated experience your final tasting before heading back to Paris.

Head back to the train station and make your way back to Paris, or stay overnight at a cute Airbnb.

How to get to Épernay

A super easy train ride! Start at Gare de l’Est in Paris, and take the ~1:30 train to Épernay. We left on the 8am train, getting to our first tour for 11:30 with plenty of time to shop for our picnic lunch.

Champagne facts

Between my champagne visit and my wine classes, I’ve learned quite a bit about champagne which is useful to know when going to the region!

• Champagne is made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier (yes, two red grapes!)
• There are several levels of champagne based on sweetness – starting at Brut Nature, Extra Brut, then Brut – the most popular that you probably see at home
• If you speak French, the levels can be confusing, because “Sec” translates to “Dry”, but Dry and Extra Dry champagne are actually sweeter than Brut
• Champagne can only be called Champagne when it’s grown in this region – sparkling wines around the world have other names
• Champagne is made in the Methode Traditionelle, which means it’s fermented in a barrel and in a bottle afterwards
• My favourite thing to learn about during my visit was the Remuage step – pay attention when they teach you about riddling the bottles

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