Paris: Ruinart and Veuve Clicquot Champagne Tour by Mercedes

Reims gives this day its real appeal: you visit Ruinart, founded in 1729, then Veuve Clicquot, two famous houses with very different stories and tasting programs. Between them, you get time for lunch and a look inside the cathedral where French kings were crowned.

I like the small private format and the comfortable Mercedes transport, especially since the ride from Paris takes about two hours each way. I also like the choice of Veuve Clicquot tastings, from a four-cuvée introduction to rare older Champagne. The drawback is the price, $808 per person, and the long day, which leaves little room for wandering around Reims.

Key points

• Ruinart’s UNESCO-listed cellars: Tour the underground chalk cellars of Champagne’s oldest house and taste two glasses.
• Several Veuve Clicquot tasting levels: Choose between the 1.5-hour Une Seule Qualite, the Madame Clicquot comparison, or higher-level options by request.
• Private Mercedes transport: Ride in an E220 for two or three people, or a Mercedes minivan for three to seven.
• A useful Reims pause: Lunch is independent, with restaurant booking available if you want help.
• A short cathedral visit: See Reims Cathedral, linked to the coronation of many French kings.
• Flexible arrangements: Hotel or Airbnb pickup and drop-off are included, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.

From Paris to the Champagne vineyards

Your driver collects you at 7:30 in the morning from your hotel entrance or Airbnb address. The pickup information lists Paris 75001, so confirm the exact address and meeting point when you book.

The trip to Reims covers about 140 kilometers and takes roughly two hours, with one stop at a rest area. Part of the route passes through Champagne country, so the drive is not simply motorway time. You get glimpses of the vineyards that give this region its identity, though the day is built around cellar visits rather than long vineyard walks.

The vehicle depends on your party size. Two or three people ride in a Mercedes E220 business-class car. Groups of three to seven use a Mercedes minivan. That makes this a good setup for couples, families with older children, or a group of friends who want their own schedule instead of joining a large coach.

The private format also matters after a Champagne tasting. You do not need to worry about driving back to Paris, and the driver handles the long return journey. Food is not allowed in the vehicle, and alcohol and drugs are prohibited, so keep snacks for the stops rather than the car.

Ruinart and the oldest cellar visit

The first major stop is Champagne Ruinart, reached at about 10:00. Founded in 1729, Ruinart is presented as the oldest Champagne house, and its underground cellars are listed by UNESCO.

The cellar tour is the heart of the visit. Underground Champagne cellars explain the practical side of production better than a polished tasting room alone. You see where bottles are stored and gain a clearer sense of the time, space, and careful handling required before Champagne reaches a glass.

The Ruinart visit lasts about two hours and includes a tasting of two glasses. That is enough to compare wines without turning the morning into a blur of samples. Pay attention to the contrast between the cellar experience and the tasting itself. The cool underground setting gives context to what you are drinking, while the tasting lets you focus on the house style.

Ruinart is also a useful first stop because it sets a reference point for Veuve Clicquot later in the day. You will have visited one of the region’s oldest houses before moving to a much larger producer. The two visits are not just duplicate stops with different labels.

The exact tasting presentation can depend on the house schedule, but the included information confirms two glasses at Ruinart. If you want a day built around many samples, the Veuve Clicquot option you choose will matter more than the Ruinart portion.

Lunch in Reims, with room to choose

After Ruinart, you have about 90 minutes for lunch in Reims, from approximately 12:00 to 13:30. This meal is not included, and drinks are not included either.

That arrangement gives you freedom, but it also means you should plan ahead. You can choose your own restaurant, or request a reservation through the tour company. A reservation is worth considering if you want a proper sit-down meal and do not want to spend your short break searching for a table.

Do not expect a long city tour during this pause. Reims is the regional capital, but the schedule gives you a compact lunch window before the cathedral and Veuve Clicquot. Use the time for a meal and a quick orientation rather than trying to cover the city on foot.

The timing is sensible after a morning tasting. You have time to eat, reset, and drink water before the afternoon visit. Bottled water is included throughout the tour, but lunch and any extra drinks are your responsibility.

Reims Cathedral in thirty minutes

At about 13:40, you visit Reims Cathedral for roughly 30 minutes. The stop is self-guided, so there is no dedicated cathedral guide included.

The cathedral matters because many French kings were crowned there. Even with only half an hour, you can take in the scale of the building and connect the city’s religious past with the royal ceremonies that took place inside.

This is a brief visit, not a full architectural study. If you like to read every panel, inspect every chapel, or sit quietly for a while, the timing will feel tight. Still, it breaks up the Champagne schedule and gives the day a cultural stop beyond wine.

The cathedral also helps you see Reims as more than a base for cellar tours. You are visiting a city with its own significance, even if the main purpose of the trip is Champagne.

Veuve Clicquot and the tasting choice

Veuve Clicquot is only a short drive from the cathedral, with the afternoon visit scheduled from about 14:15 to 16:30. The house dates to 1772 and now produces more than 22 million bottles a year, making it one of the region’s largest producers.

The guided cellar visit is led by Veuve Clicquot staff. You learn about the house, its production method, and its long history before moving into the tasting portion. Because this is a large producer, the visit gives you a useful contrast with Ruinart. You are not simply seeing another small cellar operation.

The main choice is between two high-level programs, with two more deluxe options available on request. Check the exact selection and availability before paying, since the options differ sharply in time, number of wines, and level of access.

Option 1: Une Seule Qualite

This 1.5-hour program includes four cuvées:

• Brut Carte Jaune
• Extra Brut Extra Old
• Vintage 2015
• Vintage Rosé 2015

This is the strongest choice if you want broad comparison in a manageable format. You taste the familiar Yellow Label style alongside an extra-brut wine and two 2015 vintage wines. The four-glass structure gives you more range than the standard Ruinart tasting.

It is also the most straightforward option for people who want to understand how different styles and vintages change the character of Champagne. The program stays within the normal afternoon schedule.

Option 2: Madame Clicquot

This 1.5-hour program compares Yellow Label served from a magnum with La Grande Dame 2015.

The focus here is narrower but more prestigious. Rather than tasting four different cuvées, you compare a well-known house Champagne in a larger bottle with one of Veuve Clicquot’s flagship wines. Choose this if you prefer a focused comparison and want to spend time with a premium label.

The description does not specify the number of glasses beyond the comparative tasting, so ask for the exact serving details when confirming your booking.

Option 3: L’art du vieillissement

This VIP option lasts two hours and compares four cuvées:

• Vintage Brut 2015
• Vintage Brut Rosé 2015
• Vintage Brut 2002 in magnum
• Cave Privée 1990

This is the clearest choice for serious Champagne fans. The tasting centers on age, vintage character, rosé, large-format bottle aging, and an older Cave Privée wine. It also runs longer than the two standard 1.5-hour options.

Because this program is offered upon request, confirm availability before you build your plans around it. It is a higher-level option, and the tour schedule may need adjustment.

Option 4: La Grande Dame, la vitrine d’excellence de la Maison

The highest-level choice lasts four hours and includes vineyard and cellar visits, plus tastings of Brut Carte Jaune, La Grande Dame, and La Grande Dame Rosé.

This is not a small upgrade to the standard visit. It adds two hours to the Veuve Clicquot program and makes the overall trip about 1.5 hours longer. If you choose it, expect a later return to Paris.

For someone who wants the most complete Veuve Clicquot program available here, this is the option to ask about. For anyone who mainly wants a comfortable day trip with two house visits, the extra time may be too much.

The return to Paris

The vehicle leaves Reims at about 16:30 after the standard Veuve Clicquot schedule. The return drive covers another 140 kilometers and takes about 2.5 hours, placing you back at your hotel around 19:00.

That makes this a 690-minute day, or roughly 11.5 hours. The early pickup and evening arrival are the main tradeoff for seeing both houses in one day. You get a full Champagne program without changing hotels, but you will not have much energy left for a late Paris dinner.

The Mercedes is a real benefit here. After cellar tours and tastings, a private, comfortable ride is much easier than finding a train connection or managing a rental car. A rest stop is included on the outward journey, and the driver speaks English.

If a house cannot accept the booking on your selected date, the company says it will offer a relevant alternative or a higher-level experience in advance. You can accept the change or cancel without charge. That policy is useful because Champagne house availability can shape the day.

Is $808 per person good value?

At $808 per person, this is an expensive day trip. You are paying for private Mercedes transportation, hotel pickup and drop-off, a full-day driver, cellar tours at two major houses, tastings, taxes, water, and the ability to choose a private group rather than join a coach.

The value improves for a small group of two to seven people that wants comfort and convenience. Splitting a private vehicle among several people can make the cost feel more reasonable, especially when you consider the long drive and the difficulty of arranging two major Champagne house visits independently.

The price is harder to justify if you mainly want to see Reims or taste inexpensive Champagne. Lunch is extra, the cathedral visit is short, and the tour does not include a broad city tour. You should book this for access, structure, and premium tastings, not as a low-cost way to reach the region.

Your Veuve Clicquot selection also affects the value. Une Seule Qualite gives you four wines and fits the basic schedule. The deluxe choices provide more specialized tasting content, but may add time and cost depending on the booking arrangement.

Who should book this day?

I would choose this for a couple, family group, or circle of friends who want a private Champagne day and do not want to manage trains, taxis, cellar reservations, and a rental car.

It suits people who care about famous Champagne houses and want guided cellar visits rather than only a tasting-room stop. The contrast between Ruinart and Veuve Clicquot gives the day substance, while Reims Cathedral adds a non-wine highlight.

It is less suitable if you want a slow day in the vineyards, a long lunch, or extensive time in Reims. The schedule is fixed and full. Children under six are not allowed, and the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.

The small number of published ratings means you should also treat the strong scores as encouraging rather than a complete record of performance. The most useful practical point is that the company handled a Ruinart schedule change by arranging alternatives, including a small-producer tasting, a church linked to Dom Perignon, and a vineyard visit. That kind of flexibility can protect your day if a house changes its timing.

Should you book the Ruinart and Veuve Clicquot tour?

Book it if you want two major Champagne houses in one private day, comfortable transport, and a choice of serious Veuve Clicquot tastings. The Ruinart cellars, the four-wine Une Seule Qualite option, and the private Mercedes make this more than a quick Reims outing.

Think twice if $808 feels high, if you dislike early starts, or if you want plenty of unplanned time. For the right small group, the convenience and cellar access can justify the cost. Choose your Veuve Clicquot program carefully, confirm the exact date and tasting availability, and keep your expectations focused on Champagne rather than a leisurely city tour.

FAQ

Where does the tour pick me up?

Pickup is included from the entrance of your hotel or your Airbnb address at 7:30. The listed pickup location is Paris 75001, so confirm the exact address when booking.

How long does the full day last?

The advertised duration is 690 minutes, or about 11.5 hours. The standard schedule runs from 7:30 until approximately 19:00.

What vehicle is used?

Two or three people ride in a Mercedes E220 business-class car. Groups of three to seven use a Mercedes minivan.

Is the tour private?

Yes. The group is private, with a maximum group size of seven people based on the listed vehicle options.

What is included at Ruinart?

The Ruinart visit includes a guided tour and a tasting of two glasses. It also includes access to the UNESCO-listed underground cellars.

Which Veuve Clicquot tastings can I choose?

The listed options are Une Seule Qualite, Madame Clicquot, L’art du vieillissement, and La Grande Dame, la vitrine d’excellence de la Maison. The last two are offered upon request.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch and drinks are not included. You have about 1.5 hours in Reims, and a restaurant reservation can be requested.

Is Reims Cathedral guided?

No. The cathedral visit is self-guided and lasts about 30 minutes.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.