9 Top Champagne Houses in Reims You’ll Love

If you’re a fan of champagne, then you’ll definitely want to visit the Champagne region of France. One of the best places to experience the magic of champagne is in the city of Reims, where you can visit some of the most famous champagne houses in the world. From Veuve Clicquot to Pommery to Taittinger, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Getting to Reims and Getting Around

Reims train station is on the high-speed TGV train line to Paris and it takes just over one hour to get between the two. Champagne’s second largest town, Epernay, is on the same train line. Trains between Epernay and Reims run roughly once an hour and take about 20 minutes.

The train stations for both Epernay and Reims are only a short walk from the town centers, so train travel is a great option to get between the two towns. 

Many visiting the champagne region choose to stay in Reims as it is the largest city and a beautiful medieval town. I’ve written a detailed article about the best hotels in Reims. However, nearby Epernay also has some good hotel options. Personally, I chose to stay in Reims for both of my visits to Champagne and have then visited Epernay by train.

By car, Reims is easily accessible via well-maintained highways. Take the A4 motorway from Paris east towards Reims and follow the signs.

I also used uber during my stay and I generally didn’t have to wait too long for rides. However, Uber availability and costs can fluctuate extensively.

Once you arrive in Reims it is relatively easy to get around on foot. As you will see in my article, three Champagne houses are essentially located in the town center. Five of the most famous Champagne houses in Reims are located near each other about a 25 minute walk from the town center. Or an easy uber ride which is what I did. 

If it is a special occasion you might want to look at private tours like hiring your own guide/driver to take you around Reims. 

It is also very easy to visit Reims as a day trip to Paris. Book your train tickets and champagne tastings or go on one of these organised day trips from Paris to Champagne.

9 Top Champagne Houses in Reims

My Top 3 Picks

In my opinion, these are three of the best champagne houses to visit in Reims.

Champagne Houses in the Centre of Reims

Three Champagne houses are located within a 15 minute walk of Reims station. This makes them great options if you only visit Reims as a day trip from Paris. 

1. Charles de Cazanove (6 minute walk from Reims station)

Charles de Cazanove is a Champagne house that was founded in 1811. This was my favourite tasting experience and my favourite Champagne when I visited Reims. The brand was a traditional history but it has also experimented quite a bit over the year. 

The house itself has a cellar etc for tours but there is also a bar where you can book a tasting or just walk in and grab a tasting or a drink. The bar feels ornate but very comfortable. 

In my opinion, this was also one of the best value Champagne tasting options in Reims. 

2. GH Mumm (15 minute walk from Reims station)

GH Mumm is another well-known champagne house in Reims. The champagne produced by GH Mumm is known for its bold, full-bodied flavor and its rich, golden color. The house dates back to 1827 and there are 25 million bottles in its cellars.

Tasting Options:

1. Cordon Rouge Mumm Experience: Tour and taste 1 vintage champagne
2. 100% Grand Cru Experience: Tour and taste 2 Grand Cru champagnes 

3. Pol Couronne (12 minute walk from Reims station)

Pol Couronne is a Champagne house that was founded in 1887 and the only Champagne house with a tasting room in the center of Reims near its famous cathedral. Today, the house is still family owned and led by the fifth generation, Jean-Baptiste Prévost.

This makes it the perfect location for a champagne tasting if you are visiting Reims as a day trip or short on time. Or if you are staying in Reims Pol Couronne is open to 7pm most days and till 8pm on Saturdays. This allows you to fit in another champagne tasting! 

Champagne Houses near the N51 in Reims

These five world-famous champagne houses are located near each other a short walk from Reims town centre.

4. Veuve Clicquot

Veuve Clicquot, located in Reims, is one of the world’s most well-known champagne houses. Veuve Clicquot is one of the most impressive Reims champagne houses and was run by the formidable Madame Clicquot from 1805.

Depending on what time of year you visit, there is a broad range of activities, from strolling through the vineyards to picnics of lunch on the terrace at Cafe Clicquot. They also have a fantastic very orange gift shop with loads of good merchandise.

Tasting Options:

1. Cellar tour, workshop and tasting of two cuvee champagne wines
2. Visit the Vineyards and taste a confidential cuvee

5. Pommery

The Pommery estate became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, and this pastel castle is certainly one of the most impressive-looking champagne houses. In 1858, Madame Pommery took over the house following the death of her husband. She was very successful in growing the brand and created the first brut champagne to experience commercial success.

Today Champagne Pommery has a rich history and is home to over 18 kilometers of cellars and chalk pits as well as Les Clos Pompadour, 25 hectares of walled vineyard within the estate. 

NB: The beautiful Villa Demoiselle is located next door to Pommery. 

6. Ruinart

Ruinart is the oldest champagne house in Reims, and it has been producing champagne since 1729. Its natural chalk cellars are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They offer just one tour which involves visiting the cellars and tasting two champagnes. From May each year, Ruinart also offers a brunch experience on the weekends. 

➡️ Book Your Tasting at Ruinart

7. Taittinger

Taittinger is a family-owned champagne house in Reims that has been operating for over 100 years with stunning chalk cellars. 

Unfortunately, the main house is currently closed, but you can still visit Demeure des Comtes de Champagne in the heart of Reims and try a unique experience called “À la table de Thibaud IV”. You’ll learn about the history of this 13th-century building and the dynasty of the Counts of Champagne.

8. GH Martel

G.H. Martel & C° is a Champagne house that was founded in 1869 in Epernay. Today its cellars and crayeres are located in Reims and are UNESCO World Heritage sites. The cellars are 22 meters deep and were dug between the 4th and 15th centuries. 

Tasting Options:

1. Guided tour of the cellar and crayeres and taste three non-vintage champagnes
2. As above but tasting one vintage champagne and two non vintage

And across the river in Reims on its own is Champagne Lanson.

9. Lanson

Lanson is a Champagne house that was founded in 1760 and is one of the oldest champagne houses in the region. A time corridor takes visitors through some of Lanson’s highlights, from Napoleon spending the night at the estate to a royal warrant from Queen Victoria, which has been in place since 1900. 

The tour covers some actual vines on the property, the stainless steel tanks containing current first fermentations, the barrel room and, best of all, the stunning cellars. 

The cellars cover an area of 7 kilometers and contain 25 million bottles of champagne kept at 90% humidity. They are very atmospheric (and photogenic) with their golden glow. There is even a Paradis Lanson in the cellars, which contains their best champagnes. 

My Top Tips for Visiting Reims

• Book all of your tastings ahead of time particularly if you are visiting on a weekend or during the summer
• Check out my guide to Visiting Champagne France before your trip
• If you’re interesting in staying in Reims, check out my guide to the best hotels in Reims
• If you’re interested in staying in Epernay, check out my guide to the best hotels in Epernay.
• If it is a special occasion why not get your own private tour guide to take you around Champagne?
• If you’re looking for some good French brasseries that won’t break the bank, I recommend Brasserie du Boulingrin and L’Apostrophe have had excellent meals at both. Make sure you order the caramel profiteroles at Brasserie du Boulingrin.
• There are several really cute wine bars in Reims that offer some great opportunities to taste more champagne. I loved Les Coudes sur la table (which translates as elbows on the table). 
• If you are thinking about staying in the town of French Kings Reims you might want to read my guide on the top things to do in Reims 

There are many ways to enjoy the delicious wines of Reims. One of the best things to do whilst in Reims is to mix things up visit a wine bar as well as a couple of champagne houses plus of course a local restaurant or two. Or take a wine tour of these famous wine regions and have tour guides take you through a wine tasting. 

I covered all of the costs involved in putting together this guide to champagne houses in Reims. However, this article does contain affiliate links. That means if you click through on some of the links and end up making a purchase I may receive a small commission.