Living in the Champagne region but never tried champagne? Or are your parents visiting and prefer the finer things in life? Want to venture outside of St Mau in search of something more sophisticated?
Welcome to the Champagne Tasting Guide of an exchange student with too much free time. Having attended 25+ champagne tastings during my first semester in Reims, I can assure you that a tasting or two will help you see Reims in a new and (hopefully) fonder light.
To start with the basics: first produced in the 17th century, during which methods for making this sparkling wine were pioneered and refined, Champagne can only be made in this region. The drink became closely linked to French royalty, as French kings were crowned in Reims, establishing it as a drink of prestige and luxury. In essence, Reims is actually quite cool when considering its historic and cultural relevance in this international industry, and we as Sciences Po students should be enjoying this to the maximum.
We have a few types of tastings here in the Champagne Region. One starts with a tour, often taking you down stairs into the cellars of the house: a visual guide to the process, savoir-faire, and time taken to make each bottle of champagne. That’s when you start the tasting, often including a few glasses. This option is often longer (approximately 1 hour) and perfect for beginners as the guide allows you to ask questions and learn more about the wine style and production. The second option is better for those looking for a cheaper tasting, or who have been to cellars before. This brings you straight to the tasting room, cutting out the tour. But don’t fear: it is still beginner-friendly and you will still be able to ask questions. Now let’s discuss some of my favourite champagne houses to attend a tasting at:
Writer’s Choice: Daniel Dumont
First on the list, a tour and tasting of 2 or 3 champagnes, perfect for beginners as it takes you through the inner workings of an independent champagne house in Rilly-La-Montagne. A cheaper choice (€19-23 depending on the number of glasses) due to the fact that it is outside of Reims, yet still very accessible thanks to a 12-minute train! The tour is available in English and often run by the owner of the house himself, whose passion and love for his job shine through.
Summer Choice: Café Clicquot
With spring just around the corner, Café Clicquot will be the dream champagne experience in a few months’ time. At the only permanent Café Clicquot in the world, their full champagne collection is served along with coffee, pastries, and charcuterie under their iconic umbrellas. The perfect spot for a relaxing ‘apéritif’ when you don’t have classes, or a celebration after an exam. Located only a 15 minute walk from Sciences Po, this setting will surely be in everyone’s Instagram pictures soon.
Budget Choice: Delaunois et Fils
The cheapest champagne tasting I’ve attended (except at our own Sciences Po Champagne Tasting Club), Delaunois et Fils offers a no-fuss tasting of 3 glasses for €12! By skipping the tour but keeping the guided tasting, you quickly gather an understanding of what makes vintage champagnes stand out: champagnes from exceptional harvests aged for longer than the classic champagnes.Once again, nestled in Rilly-La-Montagne, it allows quick access to some beautiful scenic views and can be paired with a peaceful walk through the vines, promising to bloom again in the spring, adding to its picturesque setting.
Reims Favourite: Taittinger
Just 10 minutes from Sciences Po, this tasting takes you through the UNESCO-classified cellars of Taittinger, dug by the Romans in the 4th Century. The proximity to everything we know and love makes the tales of housing residents during World War 1 all the more striking. Starting from €40, this tasting is the priciest on this list yet provides a high-quality, prestigious and close-to-home experience for all its visitors. If you are looking for a thorough, expert-led journey through Champagne starting from the basics and delving into the history of the Maison, this is for you.
Reims Favourite: Taittinger
That wraps up the Champagne Tasting Guide that took us around Reims and surrounding villages, to both big brands and houses with just a few employees. While I’ve tried to give you a round-up of the closer and cheaper choices for Sciences Po’s broke and busy students, there is a whole world of other houses out there for the tasting, especially if you have time to venture to Epernay or Aÿ. Whatever your budget, time limit or taste, tasting champagne during your studies is a must, allowing your appreciation for our city to be situated in its long and beautiful history.
This article was first published as part of the Sundial Press printed edition in Spring 2026
Photo credit: Carmen Moya
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