Self-drive Champagne

France self-drive holidays

France self-drive holiday

At a glance

Region:Champagne
Type of Tour:
Duration:3/4 Days
Guide Price:From £972 to £1576 per person
Number of Meals:2 breakfasts + 1 lunch (3 Days)
3 breakfasts + 2 lunches + 1 light dinner (4 Days)
Number of Winery Visits:3 Champagne Houses (3 Days)
5 Champagne Houses (4 Days)
Number of Wines Tasted:Approximately 11 (3 Days)
Approximately 18 (4 Days)
Tour Transport:Full day guided and transported tour on a private basis (3 Days)
Full day guided and transported tour on a private basis + e-bike hire (4 Days)
Dates / Availability:Please note this tour features Château de Rilly which is currently closed. This tour will be possible based at an alternative 4* or 5* accommodation in Champagne. Please get in touch to discuss options with our team.

Available mid-week and weekends throughout the year

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Trip Summary

France self-drive holidays to Champagne

Please note this tour features Château de Rilly which is currently closed. This tour will be possible based at an alternative 4* or 5* accommodation in Champagne. Please get in touch to discuss options with our team.

Our self-drive Champagne break offers the perfect short break in the region, with accommodation at the beautiful 4* Château de Rilly, located in a Champagne-making village in the countryside, away from the busy towns and cities.

On day one of your trip, drive from the UK to the Champagne region, taking the Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais. You have the complete freedom to choose your preferred crossing time, and the drive to from Calais to the Champagne region is a speedy 2 ½ hours. Upon arrival at Château de Rilly, check into your spacious room with its own private balcony or terrace, and spend a relaxing afternoon enjoying your pleasant surroundings.

Paris Wine tour
moet and chandon tour -©J.K.

This evening, you may wish to dine in the Château’s on-site gourmet restaurant or alternatively, we would be very pleased to reserve you a table at one of our partner restaurants in Epernay, which is a 20 minutes’ drive from the Château.

After breakfast on day two, you will be met at the Château by an English-speaking specialist driver/guide, who will accompany you throughout the day on a private basis. You will be transported in a spacious Mercedes Viano-style vehicle and your guide will follow the necessary safety procedures whilst regaling you with tales and anecdotes of the history of Champagne and its vineyards, introducing you to the particularities of the region. You will firstly stop in a vineyard to learn about the work undertaken here, and the tour is designed to be as hands-on as possible. Here, your guide will explain the grape varieties permitted in Champagne and the yearly cycle of the work carried out in the vineyards. You will also pass through Hautvillers, the famous hilltop village where Dom Pérignon himself lived and is buried.

moet and chandon tour
France self-drive holidays ©-Lucky-Studio

You will then visit a small, family-run producer of Champagnes for a private tour of the fascinating Champagne-making process from press to bottle, and at least three tastings. A lunch with a glass of wine, water and coffee will then be served in a local restaurant. After lunch, your guide will take you to another family-run estate, situated in another of the principle regions of Champagne. After a private tour of the House, you will taste Champagnes in contrasting style to those tasted during the morning.

For the last visit of the day guests are free to choose their favourite large, prestigious Champagne House in Reims for a tour and a flute or two of their Champagnes. There are several options subject to your preference and availabilities, including Taittinger, GH Mumm, Pommery, Ruinart and Veuve Clicquot. Please note that a number of the more exclusive estates do not tend to receive visitors at weekends and some of them do not receive visitors at all. We would be pleased to discuss the various options with you and contact the individual estates accordingly.

In the evening, we will reserve you a table for dinner in Château de Rilly’s restaurant. You will be able to order à la carte and payment can be made locally.

Champagne tour from Paris
France self-drive holidays

For those who would like an additional day of activities and opt for the four night package, e-bikes will be delivered to the Château on the morning of day three. From here, take a picturesque 10km ride through the vineyards (if you would prefer a private driver instead, just let us know and we will provide you with the relevant supplement). Your ride will conclude with a visit to a premium, up-and-coming boutique Champagne House. Your private tour will be followed by a delicious three course lunch served in the private dining room, alongside a selection of three of the estate’s Champagnes. After cycling back to the village, enjoy a second private tour and tasting at a Champagne House located close to the Château. In the evening, a light dinner of platters of cheeses and meats will be served with a final glass of Champagne at the Château (on your own balcony or terrace if preferred).

After a leisurely breakfast and check out on day three, drive back to the UK, taking the Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais. If you would like to extend your trip to France and visit other regions (for more wine or just to relax), we would be delighted to provide inspiration.

France self-drive holidays- Credits Boschmann
France self-drive holidays- Credits Boschmann

Region Map

Champagne House accommodation- credits Vine Escape
France self-drive holidays

Outline Itinerary

France self-drive holidays to Champagne

Day One

  • Drive from the UK to the Champagne region, taking the Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais. You are free to choose your crossing time.
  • Upon arrival, check into your spacious room with its own private balcony or terrace at the 4* Château de Rilly.
  • Free afternoon and evening to relax and enjoy your pleasant surroundings.
  • For dinner this evening, we can reserve you a table in the Château’s gourmet restaurant or alternatively, we can recommend a restaurant in nearby Epernay.

Day Two

  • After breakfast, you will be met at the hotel by an English-speaking specialist/driver guide, who will accompany you throughout the day in a spacious Mercedes Viano-style vehicle. Your tour day will comprise of:
  • A private tour and tasting at a small, family-run Champagne house.
  • Time in the hilltop village of Hautvillers including a visit to the Church where Dom Pérignon is buried.
  • Lunch with a glass of wine, water and coffee in a local restaurant.
  • A private tour at a second boutique Champagne House
  • A visit to your preferred large, prestigious Champagne House in Reims for a tour of their cellars and a glass or two of their Champagnes.
  • This evening, we will reserve you a table for dinner in Château de Rilly’s restaurant.
France driving holiday
France self drive holidays-©GH-Mumm

Day Three (optional)

  • After breakfast, e-bikes will be delivered to the Château. Your tour day will comprise of:
  • A private tour and three course lunch with tastings at a boutique Champagne House.
  • A private tour and tastings at a second Champagne House.
  • In the evening, a light dinner with a glass of Champagne will be served at the Château.

Final Day

  • After a leisurely breakfast, check out of the hotel and make your way back to the UK, taking the Eurotunnel from Calais to Folkestone.

 

(ii) The outline itinerary is indicative and is subject to minor changes depending on supplier availability. Availability cannot be guaranteed until we have received a confirmed booking, together with the deposit payment (or payment in full where the dates of travel are in less than 60 days). If the named accommodation / visits are not available, we will endeavour to find suitable alternatives of a similar grade; this may be subject to a supplement or a rebate depending on the price available.

Dom Perignon visit
France self-drive holidays

Accommodation

The owner was very attentive and chatty which was nice.

Karen- Newcastle, UK

Package Prices

  • Please note this tour features Château de Rilly which is currently closed. This tour will be possible based at an alternative 4* or 5* accommodation in Champagne. Please get in touch to discuss options with our team.
  • These prices are per person and based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin or double room.
  • These are realistic guide prices, based on travel in standard season (usually April to the end of October). Discounts often apply for travel out of season (usually November to the end of March) or if there are more than two of you travelling together. Please let us know your preferred travel dates for a definitive price.
  • Although we propose specific hotels as part of our standard packages, we enjoy excellent relationships and preferential rates at the majority of the hotels in each of our featured destinations. Therefore if you would prefer to stay in a different hotel, this can be arranged. Please contact us for the relevant supplements/discounts.
  • Other room grades are available at most of the hotels that we work with. Just let us know which hotel you prefer and we will send you the relevant supplements for the various room grades.
  • Single supplements and extra night prices are available upon request.
Hotel NameRoom GradeStar RatingDurationPrice Per Person
Le Château de Rilly - Rilly-la-MontagneTerrace/Balcony4*3 Days£972Book Now
Le Château de Rilly - Rilly-la-MontagneTerrace/Balcony4*4 Days£1576Book Now
Self-drive holidays France ©C. Manquillet
Self-drive holidays France

Enhance your Experience/Tour Upgrades

If you would like to make your Grape Escapes holiday even more special, there are a number of additional activities that we can arrange for you. To complement the experience, these could be arranged to fit in/around your current itinerary or we can arrange additional nights and room upgrades at your hotel, as well as your travel arrangements, a stop-over en route and even a visit to another part of the country! See below for some of the most popular upgrades.

  • Stay longer! Just let us know your preferred hotel and room grade, and we will provide you with the relevant supplement for extra nights with breakfast.
  • Additional tours and activities! We would be delighted to provide inspiration for more wine tours and cultural activities. The possibilities are endless!
  • Experience the region’s gastronomy. The wine regions are brimming with unique gastronomic dining opportunities and what better way to enjoy a glass than with a mouth-watering meal? We offer a variety of menus to suit every budget. Contact us for prices.
  • Tailor-made tour extensions. The team at Grape Escapes have travelled extensively in Europe, not just in the wine regions and can therefore recommend and arrange tailor-made tour extensions to other regions and cities, for example Paris in France or Bilbao in Spain.
France self-drive holiday
France self-drive holidays

Further Information

Travel to our Self-Drive Holidays in France

The price of this package includes Folkestone to Calais Eurotunnel crossings. Please see our travel page for other travel options and further information about travelling to our self-drive holidays in France.

Self-Drive Breaks

For more information on our Self-Drive breaks please see our Self-Drive page.

Further Information / To Book

To secure your booking, a deposit of £100 per person is required (or 20% if the price of your trip exceeds £500 per person). Your remaining balance will then be due 60 days before travel. Please call us on +44 (0) 1920 46 86 66 or email info@grapeescapes.net to request a booking form.

Champagne tour from Paris

Exceeded our expectations, nothing was left to chance, perfectly planned, an amazing trip, thank you Grape Escapes!

Hector- Bristol, UK

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