À la Française Champagne ! · From Reims or Épernay
À la Française Champagne ! drives you from Reims to Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, puts you on an e-bike for three hours through the vineyards, then sits you down at Le Clos Corbier for the cellar, four wines and lunch. Pick it if you'd rather see the slopes up close than through a van window, and you're steady on a bike.
Pickup is at 9:00am at the Reims Centre station tourist office, 9:35 at the Épernay tourist office, or 9:45 at the domain in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ if you get there yourself (no minivan then). After 45 minutes on the road you ride for three hours through the vineyards of Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, hillsides inscribed by UNESCO in 2015 with Hautvillers. The motor does the climbs. Then two hours at Le Clos Corbier: the cellar, four wines (two champagnes, a red and a ratafia) and lunch.
Le Clos Corbier is the visitor domain of Champagne Collard-Milesi. The Épernay tourist office lists three blanc de blancs there, a Premier Cru, a Grand Cru Extra Brut and a Grand Cru Vintage, and the domain sells them only to visitors. You know exactly where you'll taste, which is rare on these tours. A view over Aÿ and 30 minutes in Hautvillers close the day, with drop-off at 3:00pm in Mareuil, 3:15pm in Épernay or 4:00pm in Reims.
The rules are firm. No under-12s, nobody under 155 cm, and the guide can turn away anyone who can't handle the bike at the start; e-bikes are heavier than normal ones. In bad weather the ride becomes a minivan tour. There's no bottled water, for eco reasons, so bring your own. Free cancellation runs to 24 hours before, and dietary needs go in more than 24 hours ahead.
At the Reims Centre station tourist office. Épernay pickup is at 9:35, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ at 9:45.
45 minutes by minivan, then fitting and a check that you're steady on an e-bike.
Premier and Grand Cru slopes around Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, with the motor doing the climbs.
About two hours: the cellar, four wines and lunch.
A view over Aÿ, then 30 minutes in Hautvillers.
Mareuil-sur-Aÿ at 3:00, Épernay at 3:15, Reims at 4:00.
★★★★★What a great day! Everything exceeded our expectations....guide, tour, knowledge, bikes, food, champagne
★★★★★This was a great way to visit the Champagne vineyards. The e-bikes made the cycling part of the trip easy.
★★★★★Absolutely fantastic. A little rain, but it was just lovely. Good bikes and a great bike trail.
★★★★★The champagne tasting at La Clos de Corbier was excellent.
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Not very fit, but confident on a bike. The e-bike does the climbing, but it's heavier than a normal bike, and the guide may refuse riders who lack cycling experience at the start.
Four wines at Le Clos Corbier: two champagnes, a red still wine and a ratafia, with lunch.
The operator switches to a minivan tour in bad weather. Light rain doesn't always stop the ride; guests report riding through a shower.
Yes. Pickup is 9:35am at the Épernay tourist office, with drop-off there at 3:15pm. Our Reims or Épernay guide helps you pick a base.
Ready to book
Three hours on an e-bike through the UNESCO vineyards above Aÿ, then a cellar visit and lunch at a family domain.
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