The Ultimate Guide to Champagne Houses in Epernay

If you are a champagne lover, there is no better place to indulge than the Champagne houses in Épernay. Located 80 minutes from Paris by train and a short, 27 minute, train ride from Reims, Épernay is the heart of the Champagne region and the perfect destination for a day trip. This charming town is home to some of the world’s most prestigious champagne houses, each offering a unique glimpse into the artistry behind France’s famous sparkling wine.

A Brief Introduction to the Champagne Houses in Epernay

Champagne is one of the world's most luxurious and revered wines, produced exclusively in the Champagne region of France, a protected designation under strict French and European Union regulations. This historic winemaking area, located about 90 miles northeast of Paris, includes five key subregions: Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs, Côte de Sézanne, and Côte des Bar (also called Aube). The Champagne region, which includes the towns of Troyes, Reims, and, of course, Epernay, has a cool climate and chalky soil which create the ideal conditions for champagne production. 

Epernay is the self-proclaimed "Capital of Champagne," making the town a must-visit among champagne connoisseurs and wine lovers. Home to the world's largest producer of champagne, and arguably the most well-known, Moët & Chandon, Epernay stands at the heart of the Champagne region, where centuries of tradition, craftsmanship, and innovation have shaped some of the finest sparkling wines in the world. Moët & Chandon is just the beginning; there are a number of champagne houses in Epernay, all located along the Avenue de Champagne (L'Avenue de Champagne).

The Avenue de Champagne in Epernay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, part of the larger UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Champagne Hillsides, Houses, and Cellars. Stretching for approximately 0.93 miles (1.5 kilometers), this street is lined with some of the most renowned champagne houses in Epernay, including: Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët, Pol Roger, de Venoge, Boizel, and Mercier. What lies beneath the pavement and grand mansions, however, is the real attraction in Epernay! A vast network of over 68 miles (110 kilometers) of underground champagne cellars, carved from chalk, holding millions of aging bottles of champagne, making the Avenue de Champagne just as impressive below ground as it is above. While not all of the champagne houses in Epernay are open to the public, many are, offering guided tours and tasting rooms. These experiences at the champagne houses in Epernay allow you to learn more about champagne production and the history of each house, all while sampling some truly delicious champagne. 

How to Visit the Champagne Houses in Epernay 

Epernay is located 17 miles (27.5 kilometers) from Reims and 90 miles (145 kilometers) from Paris, making the town a great destination for a day trip. 

Transportation to/from Epernay 

Epernay is best reached by train! The train from Paris to Epernay takes approximately 80 minutes. Trains to Epernay depart from Paris Gare de l'Est Station (Paris Est), with multiple trains throughout the day linking the two cities. Trains from Reims to Epernay are much shorter, taking only 27 minutes and depart from Reims Maison Blanche Station. The train between Reims and Epernay is a local, TER train, which makes a number of stops in Champagne along the way. 

All trains coming into Epernay arrive at Epernay Station (Gare d'Epernay), the only train station in Epernay. Epernay Station is centrally located in town, only a seven minute walk to Moët & Chandon and the Avenue de Champagne. 

I highly recommend booking your train tickets ahead of your trip to Epernay online, using the SNCF Connect website and/or app, since trains can fill up in advance. When booking your train tickets, make sure you select a train that is direct, for the shortest travel time.

Getting Around Epernay 

The best part, in my opinion, about visiting the champagne houses in Epernay is that the town is extremely walkable. Upon your arrival into Epernay Station, Moët & Chandon is only a seven minute walk. Clear signage will direct you to the Avenue de Champagne, past the beautiful Notre Dame d'Epernay Church. I use Moët & Chandon here as my "North Star" since the champagne house is the first house on the Avenue de Champagne, closest to town. The rest of the champagne houses in Epernay are located along the Avenue de Champagne. 

Additional Information for Visiting the Champagne Houses in Epernay

• While Epernay does not normally see large crowds like Paris, or even nearby Reims, the busiest season to visit the champagne houses in Epernay is during the summer months, particularly July.
• Guided tours and tastings at the champagne houses in Epernay should be booked ahead of your visit. Guided tours for Moët & Chandon, in particular, sell out weeks in advance. Guided tours and tastings can be booked directly through each champagne house in Epernay. 
• As previously mentioned, not all of the champagne houses in Epernay are open to the public. For example, one of the renowned champagne houses in Epernay is Pol Roger, famously favored by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Unfortunately, Pol Roger is not open to the public, but it remains a notable presence in the town of Epernay. Additionally, champagne houses in Epernay may close to visitors during the harvest season (September and October), as well as during the slower winter months (late December through March). For example, Moët & Chandon is closed from December 30th to March 1st, annually. If you are looking to visit any of the champagne houses in Epernay from September through March, be sure to check the opening hours in-advance of your visit.
• If you are embarking on any cellar tours during your visit to the champagne houses in Epernay, I highly recommend bringing a jacket or warm clothing, even during the summer months. The champagne cellars are located nearly 100 feet (30 meters) below ground, with a constant temperature between 50-54°F (10-12°C). I also suggest wearing comfortable, closed-toe shoes or sneakers when visiting the champagne houses in Epernay. Exploring Epernay always involves a fair amount of walking and numerous stairs, particularly during the tours of the champagne cellars.
• Guided tours of the champagne houses in Epernay may not be offered in English every day. Most champagne houses in Epernay offer guided tours in English, Spanish, and, of course, French.  
• If you are visiting the champagne houses in Epernay on a day trip, whether it be from Reims or Paris, I recommend booking two tours of champagne houses in Epernay and then, if time allows, visiting a tasting room at a third champagne house to round-out your visit. 

The Must-Visit Champagne Houses in Epernay

The largest champagne houses in Epernay that are, in my opinion, the must-visit champagne houses in Epernay, include: Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët, and Mercier. 

Moët & Chandon

Moët & Chandon is the crown jewel of the champagne houses in Epernay and one of the most famous names in the world of champagne. Founded in 1743, this legendary champagne house has built a reputation for producing some of the finest sparkling wines, combining centuries of tradition with innovation. Moët & Chandon is also the largest champagne producer in the world, with an impressive output of more than 26 million bottles per year. Beyond its signature Moët Impérial Brut, the house is also responsible for the prestigious Dom Pérignon brand, an iconic vintage-only champagne named after the Benedictine monk credited with inventing champagne.

A visit to Moët & Chandon feels very corporate, in large part due to its sheer size and the marketing powerhouse of LVMH running behind the scenes. Yet, the true highlight of any visit to Moët & Chandon is its expansive chalk cellars, the largest in Epernay, stretching an impressive 17.4 miles (28 kilometers). The guided tour of Moët & Chandon takes you through a small portion of these cellars, allowing you to learn more about champagne production and Moët & Chandon's storied history. The champagne cellars also provide you with an inside look into the commercial side of Moët & Chandon. Here, you can witness countless bottles of champagne meticulously arranged in orderly rows and additional bottles of champagne being transported by forklifts, with workers actively buzzing about.

The included tasting at Moët & Chandon, which comes at the end of your tour, is rather unexciting. If you select the cheapest tour option (The Imperial Moment experience), the included tasting features a glass of the Moët Impérial Brut and the Moët Rosé Impérial. I had enjoyed both of these champagnes countless times before my visit, so they were nothing new. Other tours and experiences at Moët & Chandon are available, allowing you to taste vintages, but to be totally transparent, I do not think they are worth the cost. You visit Moët & Chandon when touring the champagne houses in Epernay because of its size and prestige, not necessarily because they have the best champagne (they do not in my opinion).  

The tour, overall, is engaging and you cannot visit Epernay without seeing its most famous champagne house. Tours and tastings at Moët & Chandon can be booked online, ahead of your planned visit on the Moët & Chandon website. Tours do frequently sell out, so I recommend booking your visit at least a month out, especially if you are visiting during the busier summer months. Please know that if you have mobility issues, the champagne cellars at Moët & Chandon are wheelchair accessible. Following your tour and tasting at Moët & Chandon, you can visit the on-site Moët & Chandon Bar, which is open to the public to enjoy another glass of champagne. For more information, please visit the Moët & Chandon Bar website. 

Moët & Chandon is open Thursday through Monday, from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. During the month of July, Moët & Chandon is open for tours and tastings, daily. Moët & Chandon is closed from December 24 to 26, annually. As previously mentioned, Moët & Chandon also closes for a winter break from December 31 to March 1, annually. 

Perrier-Jouët

Perrier-Jouët is another one of the large, well known champagne houses in Epernay, producing some 3,000,000 bottles of champagne annually. Unlike Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët does not offer a tour of their champagne cellars. However, they have a beautiful tasting room that is open to the public - no advance reservations required! Perrier-Jouët is located just across the street from Moët & Chandon, at the start of the Avenue de Champagne, making it a great place to either start or end your day in Epernay. 

Founded in 1811 by Pierre-Nicolas Perrier and Rose-Adélaïde Jouët, Perrier-Jouët is one of Epernay’s most prestigious champagne houses, known for its elegant champagnes and artistic heritage. Since its founding, the house focused on creating refined champagnes with a strong emphasis on Chardonnay, which gives their wines a signature lightness, finesse, and floral taste. (Perrier-Jouët's Blanc de Blancs champagne is one of my absolute favorites! It pairs perfectly with seafood, complete with a light, refreshing taste that also makes it an ideal choice for a hot summer day.) In the early 20th century, Perrier-Jouët revolutionized champagne production by being one of the first houses to create a Brut champagne (a dry champagne with a lower sugar content; originally, champagne was very sweet with a high sugar content), a style that has since become the industry standard.

Perrier-Jouët is also famous for its deep connection to the Art Nouveau movement, best represented by its Belle Époque bottle (the bottle of the house's vintage champagnes), which features hand-painted white Japanese anemone flowers. The now iconic floral design was created in 1902 by the French artist Émile Gallé. This distinctive design floral remains one of the most recognizable champagne bottles in the world today and a symbol of luxury.

Another notable feature of Perrier-Jouët is the champagne house's strong connection with nature and the environment. This connection is evident not only in the floral design of their Belle Époque champagne bottles, but also throughout the Perrier-Jouët estate in Epernay. The tasting room features a large outdoor garden and a beautifully decorated tasting room, infused with many natural elements, such as trees and flowers. The champagne house is also dedicated to environmental sustainability and, since 2020, has completely eliminated the use of herbicides in their vineyards. Additionally, Perrier-Jouët is at the forefront of regenerative viticulture, emphasizing the cultivation of healthy soil and promoting biodiversity within their vineyards.

In terms of the champagne houses in Epernay, Perrier-Jouët is my personal favorite. I find that their champagnes are crisp and refreshing! As I previously mentioned, Perrier-Jouët does not offer tours of their champagne cellars, but they do have a lovely tasting room that is open to the public. Perrier-Jouët also offers food and wine pairings, which do require advance reservations, and can be booked on the Perrier-Jouët website. Perrier-Jouët is closed to tourists in the winter, but reopens on each April. For additional information about visiting Perrier-Jouët, including opening hours, please visit the Perrier-Jouët website. 

Mercier 

Mercier is one of the most popular champagne houses in Epernay, and a must-visit thanks to their unique and innovative champagne cellar tours. Founded in 1858 by Eugène Mercier, when he was only 20 years old, the champagne house quickly gained a reputation for making high-quality champagne more accessible to a wider audience. Unlike many of the traditional champagne houses that focused on exclusivity, Mercier aimed to produce champagne that could be enjoyed by all, a philosophy that still defines the company today. Mercier produces some 6,000,000 bottles of champagne annually, making it one of the larger producers in Epernay. While Mercier does not have the same luxury brand recognition as Moët & Chandon, its champagnes remain well-regarded for their consistency, freshness, and affordable price. In fact, Mercier is one of the top selling champagnes in the domestic French market! Today, Mercier is a part of the LVMH family, alongside the champagne houses of Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Krug.

One of Mercier’s biggest attractions is its underground cellars, spanning an impressive 11 miles (18 kilometers) beneath Epernay. Unlike the other champagne houses in Epernay and Reims, Mercier offers a unique tour experience in which visitors ride through their vast chalk tunnels on an automated tram, making it one of the most engaging and family-friendly champagne tours in the region. During the tour, visitors can expect to learn about the house’s history, the champagne-making process, and the legacy of Eugène Mercier’s vision.

Mercier’s commitment to making champagne fun, accessible, and memorable has made it a favorite stop for visitors to Epernay. Whether you are drawn in by the history, the unique underground tram ride through its champagne cellars, or simply the chance to taste a refreshing glass of Mercier Brut, this house offers a lively and enjoyable way to experience champagne. Regrettably, during my visit to Epernay in September, Mercier was not offering any English language tours while I was in town. However, they are at the top of my list for my next trip to Epernay! Vineyard tours of Mercier are also available. Please keep in mind that tours for Mercier do fill-up, so I highly recommend booking your tour in advance of your visit. Mercier is open Wednesday through Sunday. For additional information, including opening hours and to book a tour, please visit the Mercier website.

Smaller Champagne Houses in Epernay 

So far, we have touched on three of the largest, and most well-known champagne houses in Epernay. However, there are plenty of smaller champagne houses in Epernay, open to the public, that produce some truly spectacular champagne. I recommend, should time allow it, that you visit at least one smaller champagne house while you are in Epernay. A few of the most popular, smaller champagne houses in Epernay are below. 

de Venoge 

Founded in 1837 by Henri-Marc de Venoge, this prestigious champagne house is known for its elegance and aristocratic branding. Originally established in the Vallée de la Marne, de Venoge later moved to Epernay, where it remains a key player on the Avenue de Champagne. The house is recognized for its Cordon Bleu Brut, inspired by the blue ribbon of the ancient Order of the Holy Spirit, a nod to its royal connections, as well as its Princes Brut and Princesse Rosé champagnes. The Princes line of champagnes at de Venoge are particularly notable for their unique champagne bottle design which resembles more of a crystal decanter than a traditional bottle of champagne. 

de Venoge produces around 600,000 bottles annually, a relatively small output compared to some of the larger champagne houses in Epernay, which allows for greater focus on quality and refinement. One of its most exclusive offerings is Louis XV, a prestige cuvée only produced in the best vintages, honoring the king who played a crucial role in the spread of champagne’s popularity. A statue of Louis XV is also on display outside of the entrance to the house. de Venoge also stands out for its beautifully restored 19th-century mansion in Epernay, which visitors can tour and even stay at the elegant guesthouse, Les Suites du 33.

de Venoge does not have chalk cellars in Epernay that are open to the public, so a tour of de Venoge is centered more on the beautifully restored mansion in which the brand is headquartered and the history of the champagne house. While the tour was interesting, I would skip it if I had to plan my trip to Epernay all over again.  de Venoge, however, does have a fantastic tasting room on-site that is open to the public. The tasting room has a small food menu, which I highly recommend so you are not drinking champagne on an empty stomach. de Venoge is open daily, including public holidays (with the exception of December 24, December 25, December 41, and January 1, annually). de Venoge has extended opening hours during the summer months. For additional information, please visit the de Venoge website. If you are interested in booking a tour and/or tasting of de Venoge, please visit the de Venoge website. 

Champagne Comtesse Lafond 

Champagne Comtesse Lafond is a lesser-known but highly refined champagne house in Epernay, owned by the Lafond family, who have deep roots in both winemaking and aristocracy. The house is named after Comtesse Lafond, a noblewoman whose passion for winemaking inspired the brand’s identity. The estate is housed in a stunning neo-Gothic château, one of the most picturesque buildings on the Avenue de Champagne.

While Champagne Comtesse Lafond is a boutique producer, producing significantly fewer bottles than the major champagne houses in Epernay, its champagnes are highly regarded for their finesse and harmony. Visitors can take a guided tour of the château and its cellars, making for a more intimate and luxurious champagne tour and tasting experience. 

Champagne Comtesse Lafond is open daily from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The house offers both tours and tastings. An additional, rather unique experience, offered by the champagne house is learning the art of sabrage, or the opening of a bottle of champagne with a sabre. To book a tasting or tour of the champagne cellars, please visit the Comtesse Lafond website.

Champagne Boizel 

Founded in 1834, Champagne Boizel is a family-run champagne house that has remained independent for six generations. Located on the Avenue de Champagne, just across from de Venoge, Boizel has built a strong reputation for precision, craftsmanship, and elegance. Unlike many of the large champagne houses in Epernay, Boizel focuses on meticulous vineyard selection, sourcing grapes from some of the finest Grand and Premier Cru sites in Champagne.

With an annual production of around 500,000 bottles, Boizel remains relatively small but highly respected. Their Joyau de France cuvée is one of their most distinguished offerings, aged for 15 years to develop complex, refined flavors. The house offers cellar tours and intimate tastings, where visitors can learn about its approach to winemaking while enjoying beautifully balanced champagnes. The tours of Boizel are small and intimate, but allow you to tour their cellars and taste some of their most prestigious champagnes. For the price, I would certainly recommend their Joyau tour. Boizel is open Thursday to Monday. Boizel also has a tasting room where you can try champagnes by the glass. For additional information, and to book a tour, please visit the Boizel website.

Champagne Houses in Epernay: In Summary

There are certainly more than six champagne houses in Epernay, but I believe that these six are the best to visit while you are in Epernay. Whether you are a self-proclaimed champagne connoisseur or simply looking to enjoy a glass of bubbly in the most authentic setting possible, the Champagne houses in Epernay offer an unforgettable experience. With its easy accessibility from both Paris and Reims, Epernay makes for a fantastic day trip. There really is no excuse not to raise a glass of bubbly in this amazing town! Santé!

Looking to learn more about the Champagne region of France? Reims is the largest city in Champagne and our favorite to visit! Check out our Reims Travel Guide for hotel recommendations, things to do, and more champagne houses in Reims!