Paris: Ruinart and Veuve Clicquot Champagne Tour by Mercedes

A day in Champagne can mean two famous cellar visits without worrying about trains, driving, or fitting the stops together. This private Mercedes trip from Paris takes you to Ruinart, founded in 1729, and Veuve Clicquot, with guided cellar tours and tastings at both houses.

I like the private door-to-door transport, which makes a long day simpler, and the choice of Veuve Clicquot tastings, from four cuvées to a rare-vintage comparison. The trade-off is a 7:30 a.m. start and a full day on the road, with lunch at your own expense.

The day in brief

• Ruinart’s cellars are the morning anchor: The guided visit includes UNESCO-listed underground cellars and two glasses of Champagne.
• Veuve Clicquot offers distinct tasting levels: Choose a four-cuvée tasting, a two-wine comparison, or one of two higher-level experiences available on request.
• Your private Mercedes takes the strain out of the route: An E220 serves groups of two or three; a minivan is used for groups of three to seven.
• Reims gets a useful pause: You have time for lunch and a short, self-guided visit to the cathedral.
• The schedule is long but structured: Plan on roughly 11.5 hours, from hotel pickup at 7:30 a.m. to return around 7 p.m.
• The price is substantial: At $808 per person, the value rests on private transport, two major Champagne-house visits, and the tasting level you choose.

From Paris to the Champagne region

Pickup is at your hotel entrance or Airbnb address at 7:30 a.m. The drive to Reims takes about two hours and covers roughly 140 kilometers. A rest-area stop is planned, and part of the route passes Champagne vineyards. The English-speaking driver handles the journey, while staff at each house lead the cellar visits.

The vehicle depends on your party size: a Mercedes E220 business-class car for two or three people, or a Mercedes minivan for groups of three to seven. Because this is a private group, you are not sharing the ride with unrelated passengers. That is a real advantage on a long day, especially if you value privacy and a hotel pickup more than a lower-cost group departure.

The return drive is listed as about two and a half hours, with arrival back in Paris around 7 p.m. Traffic can affect road journeys, so treat the listed return time as a plan rather than a guarantee. Still, having the driver take care of the route lets you focus on the visits, and no one in your party needs to drive after tasting Champagne.

Ruinart’s underground cellars and two-glass tasting

The first house visit runs from about 10 a.m. to noon. Ruinart was founded in 1729 and is described as the oldest Champagne house. Its guided visit includes its UNESCO-listed underground cellars and a tasting of two glasses.

The cellar tour gives the morning more substance than a tasting-room stop alone. You get an introduction to the house and Champagne production, followed by the chance to taste the result. The tour information does not specify the exact wines served at Ruinart, so if a particular cuvée matters to you, ask before booking rather than assuming which bottles are included.

Ruinart is a major reason to choose this particular day trip. Pairing it with Veuve Clicquot gives you two established houses in one outing, but each cellar visit also takes time. The schedule allows about two hours at Ruinart, including the guided tour and tasting. That is enough to make the visit a proper part of the day, though it leaves less room for unplanned wandering.

Lunch and a short stop at Reims Cathedral

After Ruinart, you have about 90 minutes for lunch in Reims. You can make your own plans, or the provider can arrange a restaurant reservation. Meals and drinks are not included, so budget separately for lunch and any extra wine or beverages you order.

A reservation may be useful if you have a particular place in mind or want to make the most of a fixed break. The available details do not name a restaurant or include a meal, so treat the reservation as help with planning, not part of the package. One traveler’s schedule change turned out well because the driver helped arrange a restaurant and filled the unexpected gap with other Champagne-related stops. That kind of flexibility was a bonus, not a promised part of the standard itinerary.

The cathedral visit is scheduled for roughly 2:40 p.m. and lasts 30 minutes. Reims Cathedral is associated with the coronation of many French kings. Your visit is self-guided, so you can look around at your own pace, but this is a brief stop rather than a full tour of the building.

There is a small timing wrinkle in the published schedule: it places the cathedral before Veuve Clicquot, while the itinerary summary lists Veuve Clicquot before the cathedral. The detailed timetable has you leave for the Champagne house after the cathedral. Confirm the day’s sequence with the provider if the order matters to you.

Choosing your Veuve Clicquot tasting

Veuve Clicquot was founded in 1772 and now produces more than 22 million bottles a year, according to the tour details. The guided cellar visit is led by Veuve Clicquot staff and covers the house’s history and Champagne production. The visit and tasting generally occupy about two hours, though the exact duration depends on the option you select.

The standard choices offer different ways to taste:

• Une Seule Qualité: A 90-minute tasting of four cuvées: Brut Carte Jaune, Extra Brut Extra Old, Vintage 2015, and Vintage Rosé 2015.
• Madame Clicquot: A 90-minute comparison of Brut Yellow Label served from a magnum and La Grande Dame 2015.

Two more elaborate options are available on request:

• L’art du vieillissement: A two-hour comparison of four cuvées: Vintage Brut 2015, Vintage Brut Rosé 2015, Vintage Brut 2002 in magnum, and Cave Privée 1990.
• La Grande Dame, la vitrine d’excellence de la Maison: A four-hour visit that includes vineyards and cellars, with tastings of Brut Carte Jaune, La Grande Dame, and La Grande Dame Rosé. It adds about 90 minutes to the overall trip.

The choices are not interchangeable. The first option gives you four different cuvées, while Madame Clicquot focuses on a comparison between two wines and formats. The two request-only options are aimed at a more in-depth tasting, and the four-hour La Grande Dame visit changes the rhythm of the day. If you want the standard return time, check which option fits the schedule before you book.

The experience summary refers to two different Veuve Clicquot experiences, but the details describe four possible options. The first two are presented as the main choices; the higher-level tastings are available on request. Confirm the exact selection and availability rather than assuming every option is offered on every date.

What $808 per person buys

At $808 per person, this is a premium day trip, not a budget way to get to Reims. The price includes private Mercedes transport, pickup and drop-off, guided cellar visits and tastings at Ruinart and Veuve Clicquot, the Reims Cathedral stop, bottled water, and fees and taxes. The Veuve Clicquot tasting level affects what you get from the second house, so it is worth checking precisely which option is included in your price.

The practical value comes from combining two major Champagne houses in one day without arranging transport between them yourself. Train travel can get you to Reims, but you would still need to coordinate the cellar visits and local transfers. Here, the driver manages the long stretches, and your pickup and drop-off are at your address.

Still, the price is easier to justify for a small party that values private transport and a tailored tasting than for someone mainly looking for a low-cost Champagne outing. Lunch is extra, and the overall day is long. If you are traveling alone or as a couple on a tight budget, compare the cost with other day-trip options before committing.

One reassuring detail is the provider’s approach if a Champagne house cannot host your visit on the chosen date. You are offered a relevant alternative or a higher-level experience in advance, and you can accept it or cancel without charge. That does not remove the need to confirm your preferred tasting, but it gives you a choice rather than leaving the change until the day.

How to decide if this day suits you

This tour makes the most sense if you want to visit both Ruinart and Veuve Clicquot, prefer a private vehicle, and are comfortable spending most of the day on a planned schedule. It is particularly appealing to a small group that wants the convenience of hotel pickup and the chance to choose a more specialized Veuve Clicquot tasting.

It is less suited to anyone hoping for a slow, open-ended day in Reims. The cathedral visit is only 30 minutes, lunch lasts about 90 minutes, and most of the day is tied to cellar visits and road travel. Children under six are not allowed, and the activity is not suitable for wheelchair users. Food is not allowed in the vehicle, and alcohol and drugs are prohibited.

The overall rating is 4 out of 5 from five reviews, with three written ratings provided. The strongest praise is for the vehicle and driver. One traveler also described a Ruinart schedule change that led to a free tasting at a small producer, a visit to the church where Dom Pérignon is buried, and a vineyard stop. That extra time turned a disruption into an unexpected bonus, but those added stops are not part of the standard itinerary and should not be counted on.

Book this trip if the private Mercedes, two guided cellar visits, and choice of tastings are worth the premium to you. Before paying, confirm which Veuve Clicquot option is included, how the schedule runs on your date, and whether the longer La Grande Dame visit is available. If you would rather have more unstructured time or spend less, look at other Champagne day trips.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The scheduled day lasts about 690 minutes, or 11.5 hours. Pickup is at 7:30 a.m., with return to Paris planned for around 7 p.m.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is at your hotel entrance or Airbnb address. The listed pickup location is in the 75001 area of Paris.

What vehicle is used?

Groups of two or three use a Mercedes E220 business-class car. Groups of three to seven use a Mercedes minivan.

Are the cellar visits guided?

Yes. Ruinart includes a guided visit, and Veuve Clicquot’s cellar tour is guided by its staff. The cathedral visit is self-guided.

How many Champagne tastings are included?

Ruinart includes a tasting of two glasses. The number and selection of wines at Veuve Clicquot depend on the option chosen.

Which Veuve Clicquot tasting options are available?

The choices described are Une Seule Qualité, Madame Clicquot, L’art du vieillissement, and La Grande Dame, la vitrine d’excellence de la Maison. The last two are available on request.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch and other meals and drinks are not included. You have about 90 minutes in Reims and can make your own plans or request a restaurant reservation.

Is the Reims Cathedral visit guided?

No. The visit is self-guided and scheduled for about 30 minutes.

Can the tour change if a Champagne house is unavailable?

If one house cannot host the visit on your date, you are offered a relevant alternative or a higher-level experience in advance. You can accept the change or cancel free of charge.

Can children under six or wheelchair users join?

Children under six are not suitable for this activity, and it is not suitable for wheelchair users.