1. Taittinger: The 13th-Century Crypt
Where: Reims | Cost: ~30-45 euros | Book ahead: Yes
Taittinger wins on atmosphere. The tour begins in chalk caves that were Gallo-Roman quarries, passes through a 13th-century Benedictine crypt (from the demolished Abbey of Saint-Nicaise), and ends in tunnels that sheltered Reims residents during World War I. The historical layers — Roman, medieval, wartime, winemaking — are visible in the same walls.
The wines are elegant rather than powerful. The Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs is one of the finest champagnes made, and the tasting at the end includes at least the Brut Reserve and often a vintage cuvee. The guides know their history and tell it well.
Why go: The crypt is genuinely medieval — stone arches, vaulted ceilings, the kind of space that makes you speak quietly without being asked.
2. Charles Heidsieck: 106 Steps to Champagne Charlie
Where: Reims | Cost: ~35-55 euros | Book ahead: Yes
One hundred and six steps down into Roman-era crayeres that were carved 2,000 years ago. The caves are cathedral-sized — some chambers are 30 meters high — and the tour tells the story of Charles-Henri Heidsieck, “Champagne Charlie,” who sailed to America in 1852, was imprisoned as a spy during the Civil War, escaped bankruptcy when he discovered he owned a third of Denver, and used the proceeds to rebuild his champagne house.
The story is so improbable that guides have to reassure visitors it’s true. Napoleon III and Abraham Lincoln both got involved. It might be the best narrative in the champagne region.
The wines are underrated — Charles Heidsieck consistently scores among the highest-rated non-vintage champagnes, and the Blanc des Millenaires is a collector’s bottle. Fewer visitors than Moet or Veuve means more personal attention.
Why go: The story. No other cellar tour makes you feel like you’re inside an adventure novel.
3. Pommery: The Art Gallery Underground
Where: Reims | Cost: ~25-45 euros | Book ahead: Recommended
Pommery is the most visually dramatic cellar in Champagne. Madame Pommery (another visionary widow) commissioned an Art Nouveau staircase carved directly into the chalk, connected 18 kilometers of tunnels, and installed contemporary art throughout the caves. The art changes — rotating installations in spaces that are part gallery, part winery, part underground cathedral.
The Elizabethan staircase — carved by stonemasons in 1868 — is architecturally stunning. The caves are the deepest in Champagne, reaching 30 meters below the surface. During WWI, these tunnels sheltered hundreds of civilians, and you can still see carvings and graffiti from that period on the walls.
Pommery’s Cuvee Louise is a prestige champagne that flies under the radar compared to Dom Perignon or Cristal, which makes it better value and arguably more interesting.
Why go: The combination of Madame Pommery’s ambition, the contemporary art program, and the sheer depth of the caves creates something that doesn’t exist at any other house.
4. Veuve Clicquot: The Widow’s Legacy
Where: Reims | Cost: ~35-65 euros | Book ahead: Essential (often sold out weeks ahead)
This is the most difficult major cellar to book and the one with the strongest story. Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin — widowed at 27, took over the business using a legal loophole that permitted widows to run companies — invented riddling, created the first vintage champagne, blended the first rose, smuggled champagne to Russia in coffee barrels, and died at 89 still wearing widow’s black.
The tour covers the riddling table (the Widow’s invention), the 25 kilometers of tunnels, and the history of the house. During WWI, 1,000+ staff and civilians sheltered in these caves while Reims was bombed. Schools and hospitals operated underground. (The full story of how champagne survived — and resisted — two World Wars is extraordinary.)
The wines are iconic — the Yellow Label is the world’s most recognized non-vintage champagne, and La Grande Dame (named after the Widow herself) is one of the great prestige cuvees.
Why go: The Widow’s story is one of the most remarkable in business history, and this is where it happened.
5. Bollinger: The Armchair and the Remueur
Where: Ay (15 min from Epernay) | Cost: By appointment | Book ahead: Essential
Bollinger is smaller, more exclusive, and more focused on winemaking than history — though the history is excellent. Madame Bollinger ran the house through WWII, gave the Nazi Weinfuhrer a chair too narrow for his girth (he never returned), and delivered the most quoted line in champagne: “I drink Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory.”
Bollinger is one of the few houses that still employs a traditional remueur — a hand-riddler who turns 40,000-75,000 bottles per day. If you’re lucky, you might see Florent Michel at work. The house also ferments in oak barrels (most use stainless steel) and maintains old ungrafted vines — the Vieilles Vignes Francaises bottling comes from pre-phylloxera vines that are over 150 years old.
This is also James Bond’s champagne — the partnership dates to 1973, and the La Grande Annee appears in multiple films.
Why go: The winemaking is more traditional here than anywhere else. If you want to understand how champagne was made 100 years ago, this is the place.
6. Moet & Chandon: Napoleon’s Cellars
Where: Epernay | Cost: ~30-55 euros | Book ahead: Yes
The most visited champagne cellar in the world, and for good reason. Twenty-eight kilometers of tunnels. A marble plaque from Napoleon’s 1807 visit. The connection to Jean-Remy Moet, who met Napoleon at military school in 1782 and supplied champagne before every campaign.
Moet is also where Dom Perignon — the brand, created in 1936 by Count Robert-Jean de Vogue — comes from. De Vogue, who was sentenced to death by the Nazis for leading the Champagne resistance, had previously created the first commercially available prestige cuvee. His story is told on the tour.
The tour is well-organized and multilingual. The caves are impressive by any standard. The Dom Perignon tasting (a separate, more expensive tour) is worth the premium if you’ve never tasted it properly.
Why go: The Napoleon connection, the de Vogue resistance story, and the sheer scale of the operation. This is champagne as history and industry combined.
7. Ruinart: The Oldest Champagne House
Where: Reims | Cost: ~45-80 euros | Book ahead: Essential
Ruinart was founded in 1729 — the oldest champagne house still operating. The caves are UNESCO-listed crayeres dating to the Gallo-Roman period, and the house has leaned into contemporary art and design more than any competitor. Artist collaborations, limited-edition packaging, and a tasting room that feels more like a gallery opening than a wine tour.
The wines are focused on Chardonnay — the Blanc de Blancs is the house signature — and tend toward elegance rather than power. The Dom Ruinart prestige cuvee is made entirely from grand cru Chardonnay and ages beautifully.
Ruinart is the hardest of the major houses to book (alongside Veuve Clicquot and Krug), partly because the capacity is small and partly because the demand is high. Book as far ahead as possible.
Why go: The oldest house, the finest caves, and an art-forward aesthetic that makes the experience feel contemporary rather than historical.
The Ones I’d Skip (and Why)
Mercier: The tourist train through the caves is gimmicky, and the wines are Moet’s budget line. Save your time for a grower visit instead.
Mumm: Decent tour, good wines (especially the RSRV line), but the caves and story are less compelling than the top seven. Visit if you’re a Formula 1 fan — Mumm is the official F1 champagne.
Castellane: The tower is a nice landmark, but the tour is basic compared to alternatives on the same street.
How to Book
Most houses take online reservations through their websites. Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, and Bollinger fill up weeks in advance during summer — book at least 2-3 weeks ahead from June through September. Taittinger, Pommery, and Charles Heidsieck are usually available with a few days’ notice. Moet takes same-week bookings in the off-season.
For a private, more in-depth experience, contact the houses directly by email. Some offer “deep cellar” visits or extended tastings that aren’t listed online. Our complete guide to visiting Champagne covers logistics, timing, and how to plan around harvest season.
The typical tour lasts 60-90 minutes and includes 2-3 tastings. Prices range from 25 to 80 euros. Wear a jacket — the caves are 10-12°C year-round, regardless of surface weather.
FAQ
Which champagne cellar is the best to visit?
Taittinger, for the atmosphere. The tour descends through Gallo-Roman chalk quarries, passes a 13th-century Benedictine crypt, and ends in tunnels that sheltered civilians during World War I. The historical layers — Roman, medieval, wartime, winemaking — are visible in the same walls. That said, Charles Heidsieck has the best story (a champagne salesman imprisoned as a spy, rescued by Lincoln, who discovered he owned a third of Denver), and Bollinger has the most traditional winemaking. The “best” depends on whether you want history, narrative, or craft.
How much does a champagne cellar tour cost?
Most cellar tours in Reims and Epernay cost between 25 and 80 euros per person, including 2-3 tastings. Pommery starts around 25 euros, Taittinger and Moet around 30, and Ruinart — the most expensive of the major houses — goes up to 80 euros for premium experiences. The Dom Perignon tasting at Moet is a separate, pricier tour but worth it if you’ve never tasted it properly. Bollinger is by appointment only and doesn’t list public pricing — contact them directly. For the best value, visit a grower in the villages outside Reims, where tastings are often free — see our secret champagne experiences for how to find them.
Do you need to book champagne cellar tours in advance?
Yes, and the timing matters. Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, and Bollinger fill up weeks in advance during summer — book at least 2-3 weeks ahead from June through September. Taittinger, Pommery, and Charles Heidsieck are usually available with a few days’ notice. Moet takes same-week bookings in the off-season. For the best experience, email the houses directly and ask about “deep cellar” visits or extended tastings that aren’t listed on their websites — several offer private options that are significantly more interesting than the standard tour.
How cold are the champagne caves?
The caves maintain a constant 10-12 degrees Celsius (50-54 degrees Fahrenheit) year-round, regardless of surface weather. This natural temperature stability is one reason the Romans quarried these chalk caves in the first place, and it’s the perfect temperature for aging champagne. Bring a jacket or sweater even in midsummer — you’ll be underground for 60-90 minutes, and the chill is noticeable within a few minutes. Pommery’s caves are the deepest in Champagne at 30 meters below the surface, making them among the coolest.
Sources: Comite Champagne (CIVC), Decanter — Champagne Cellar Guides, Jancis Robinson MW, Reims Tourism Office, Epernay Tourism, UNESCO World Heritage — Champagne Hillsides. Explore the full Champagne Odyssey trail or plan your trip with our visiting Champagne guide.
