Because luxury is also the art of receiving guests, Veuve Clicquot aims to share special moments in the historic sites of this famous champagne brand. Discover the tunnels carved from the white limestone, known as crayères, and follow in the footsteps of Madame Clicquot.

In 1909, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin acquired the underground white limestone quarries, known as crayères, located under Saint-Nicaise Hill on the outskirts of the city centre of Reims. Travel along this labyrinth, situated 20 m below the ground, and immerse yourself in the famous brand’s atmospheric underground tunnels and the heritage of the Champagne region. The temperature of the tunnels and their constant humidity, as well as the calm which reigns there, make the tunnels an ideal location for the production of champagne.

What counts in wine tasting? Listen to the way each champagne ‘speaks’ to your sensibility.

These underground galleries, listed as World Heritage sites by UNESCO, have also been the site of different types of human activities, which have shaped them over the centuries. The quarrymen, then the cellar workers, had a tradition of leaving their mark by carving graffiti, with different patterns, on the walls. The civil and military refugees of the First World War also recorded their thoughts on the white chalky limestone. 

Vaults were added to the first network of medieval tunnels in order to increase their storage capacity, thus making a 24-km underground network: the largest network of tunnels of all the champagne companies in Reims!

A fine portrait of la grande dame of Champagne

The visit concludes with a tasting of the emblematic champagne, the Brut Carte Jaune, and the vintage created in honour of la grande dame, Madame Clicquot herself! Created in 1972 to celebrate the bicentenary of the company, the champagne La Grande Dame doesn’t see the light of day unless Dominique Demarville, the cellar master, decides that the year’s harvest meets the high-quality demands of Madame Clicquot. As for the Brut Carte Jaune, it reflects the Veuve Clicquot vineyard, showcasing the continuity of its style and how the different wine districts complement each other.

What counts in wine tasting? Listening to the way each champagne ‘speaks’ to your sensibility. The essential instruments of wine tasting are the eyes, the nose, and then the mouth. The three key phases are the attack, the blooming, and the finale.

Moët & Chandon invites you to visit its wine cellars, the largest in the Champagne region. Discover endless underground galleries, filled with history, and round off your visit with a tasting of champagne!

The wine cellars of Moët & Chandon are located under the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay. They are an exceptional part of the company’s heritage, and offer a unique chance to witness several centuries of champagne production. This treasure trove, the largest network of underground wine cellars in the Champagne region, preserves the memory of the talent and work of generations. Enter the 28 km of underground tunnels, the oldest of which dates back to the foundation of the company in 1743.

Dug from the colossal white chalk stone of the Champagne region, the tunnels spread across several levels under the city and provide the coolness and humidity necessary for the slow maturing of the famous bubbles. It’s in the calm of these underground cellars that Moët & Chandon champagnes develop their unique style, which is full, generous and dynamic in character. 

In the half-light of this legendary underground labyrinth, explore the unique, intersecting tunnels!

Explore this legendary underground labyrinth and its numerous vaults. The bottles of the most famous vintages are kept well protected here. In the half-light, the guide leads the way through the intersecting tunnels, each slightly different from its neighbours.

Meet the wine experts, who will reveal the secrets of the making of Moët & Chandon wines and the heritage and craft which have been enriched and transferred across generations of wine-cellar masters. The wine-cellar visit ends with a champagne tasting session with the Moët & Chandon wine stewards, or sommeliers. 

Magical receptions in a sumptuous setting

Moët & Chandon hosts all types of receptions in the sumptuous setting of its wine cellars. The Napoleon Vault offers a unique atmosphere in an exceptional location, and is ideal for gala dinners, cocktails, parties, etc. It’s a magical place in which Jean-Rémy Moët, the then mayor of Epernay, received the Croix de la Légion d’Honneur award from the hands of Napoleon, his friend and loyal client.

Above the wine cellars, in the magnificent Moët & Chandon vineyard, the nineteenth-century Orangerie opens onto an elegant garden, which is perfect for holding special events. The heart of champagne beats in these historic locations. An essential visit for wine enthusiasts!

Along the 18 km of Mercier’s underground wine cellars, everything has been designed to impress the visitor: a panoramic elevator, huge low-relief sculptures carved into the wall, giant wine barrels … And, of course, you can round off the visit with a glass of champagne!

Founded in 1858, Mercier has a long history, and one that is different from the other champagne producers of the same period. A unique character, stemming from the colourful personality of Eugène Mercier. A visionary and nonconformist, Eugène Mercier challenged the traditions of the Champagne region by creating a ‘champagne for all occasions’. Champagne was no longer reserved for the elite, but retained its remarkable quality. 

Designed to impress, the Mercier underground wine cellars are among the most visited in the Champagne region, with more than 100,000 tourists each year.

To promote his brand, Mercier staged many events to attract publicity: a floating bar attached to a hot-air balloon and anchored to the foot of the Chateau de Vincennes (which strong winds transported as far away as Belgium); a film in collaboration with the cinema pioneers, the Lumière brothers …

At Epernay, the Mercier family have opened up their exceptional wine cellars, which were developed by their audacious grandfather, to the public. Designed to impress, the Mercier wine cellars remain the most visited cellars in the Champagne region, with more than 100,000 tourists each year. 

A panoramic elevator, huge sculptures and wine casks

The visit starts with a film which retraces the history of the founder Eugène Mercier. Take the panoramic elevator and find yourself 30 m above the ground! Aboard the little train, with your multilingual audioguide, you travel along the impressive 18 km of tunnels. The wine cellars are the first to have been designed on one level and are set out geometrically. They were inspired by the design of New York and are intended to be easily accessible to visitors!

These splendid galleries are decorated with sculptures, carved into the chalk stone walls by artist Gustave Navlet, which you see as you travel along the tunnels. In the high vaults you can see the famous giant barrel, which contains 213,000 bottles of champagne!

Returning to the surface, enjoy a glass of Mercier champagne. At the far end of the galleries, the Bacchus vault turns out to be a surprising reception room. Beneath the 15-m high ceilings, this sumptuous space is decorated with two gigantic frescos, carved into the chalk stone. An ideal location to prolong the pleasure during private or professional occasions: seminars, cocktail receptions, weddings, etc.

A world leader in Cognac, Hennessy has reinvented its visitor tours, offering a dynamic and multi-sensorial experience which will surprise and delight you. Refined, aesthetic and inspiring, this new tour, which follows the rhythms of the making of cognac, stimulates the sensations, between surprise and enchantment.

A cruise on the Charente River provides an unusual start to the new Hennessy tours at Cognac. Experts welcome the visitor on board for a private visit in a small group to the heart of the Hennessy universe. The first stage of the visit, to the cellar buildings, introduces a modern scenography with artistic and audacious intent, plunging the visitor into the multiple facets of the brand: the epic story of the Hennessy family, the discovery of the technical craft, the people who are woven into its history, and the many talents which make up the worlds of Hennessy.

It’s no coincidence that Hennessy was the winner of the 2019 Wine Tourism Awards (Special Jury Prize) in the "Engagement in wine tourism" category.

In 2024 it also won the Wine Tourism Award in the "Inovation favorite" category.

Taste cognac like a professional, in theory and in practice

In the busy traditional storage buildings, we enter the deepest level of the brandy universe. We see the noble rows of oak barrels, the walls of darkened stone and fragrances which whisper in the half-light ...
 
Back on the other side of the Charente River, it’s time for the rituals of the tasting. The only producer to have a Tasting Committee, Hennessy opens the doors to its workshop where you discover the secrets and different stages of the production of cognac and the Hennessy products. You then step into the shoes of a member of the Tasting Committee and try the different methods of tasting.
 
The one thing left to do is to perfect your discoveries in the shop, the only place in the world to unite all the Hennessy collections.
 
Les Visites Hennessy offer different types of visits to respond to all tastes and requirements, ranging from discovery tours lasting one and a half hours, for novices, to a full day behind the scenes of the company, for connoisseurs.