Reims and Champagne-Tasting Day Trip from Paris
Visit the city of Reims, where French kings were once crowned, on this Champagne region day trip from Paris. You'll see historic landmarks such as Reims Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and take in the vineyards of Champagne, home of the celebrated sparkling wine. Enjoy a lunch of wine tastings paired with regional dishes on this day tour that introduces you to French history, architecture, and culture. Hotel pickup and drop-off with transport by bus are included.
After hotel pickup in Paris, your day trip starts with the roughly 1.5-hour drive to Reims, the heart of France's Champagne region.
Once the 'city of kings,' Reims is known for its World Heritage–listed Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Reims, a perfect example of French Gothic architecture from the 13th century, where the kings of France were crowned. After about an hour in Reims, continue your day trip to the vineyards of Champagne.
You'll spend three hours learning about and sampling Champagne, the most renowned of sparkling wines around the world. Visit one of the most prestigious wineries in the region, and see the production process of this divine drink, from pruning the vines to pressing the grapes to blending and wine storage. You have the chance to see ancient cellars, which hold thousands of dusty bottles, and, of course, savor the taste of real Champagne.
Your tasting includes four different types of Champagne with pairings, giving you a unique regional lunch: local Reims ham prepared with dried tomatoes, apricots, and figs; two types of cheese from Champagne, le Langres and le Chaource, prepared hot; cold Champagne lentil salad with foie gras; and red-fruit tiramisu with pink biscuits from Reims. These pairings are based on what French nobility ate centuries ago—food and wine grown under the French sun and produced by local farmers, giving you an experience in the art de vivre, the art of life in the French style.
Your tour ends with return to Paris. You can purchase any of the wines you like at special prices during your tour (own expense).
