Three days. Eighteen champagnes. Sixteen bottle caps. Two caves. Eight champagne houses.
One unforgettable journey to the capital of champagne – the beautiful city of Reims.
Now, don’t get me wrong – we weren’t tipsy the entire time. We came prepared… with electrolytes. But in all seriousness, despite tasting eighteen different champagnes (yes, that’s eighteen glasses), it wasn’t until an evening at Vranken-Pommery that we felt even slightly lightheaded. No hangovers, no headaches, no regrets – just a deeper appreciation for champagne, for the houses and their heritage, and for the immense craftsmanship behind this drink of celebration.
So, what awaits you in this article?
A cascade of photos capturing Reims – from its charming streets and rooftops to its grand buildings; a sprinkle of food; a generous pour of champagne; glimpses into the champagne houses we explored; and, for good measure, a stunning Audi RS6.
We arrived in Reims by train – first the TGV from Brussels Midi to Champagne-Ardenne TGV station, then a quick hop on a local train straight into the city. Bright and early, we watched as Reims slowly came to life. With check-in only at 15:00, we had hours to fill… and plenty of opportunities for exploring (and tasting) before we could even think about setting our bags down. Naturally, a quick wrist check before setting off – priorities, after all.
Champagne Jacquart
Our champagne journey began with Jacquart – unexpectedly my wife’s favorite (or at least a very close runner-up) of the trip. We hadn’t planned to visit. We were simply wandering when my nose picked up the scent of champagne. My wife insists it was roses nearby; I respectfully disagree. To my surprise – and slight heartbreak – the source turned out to be my favorite champagne house: Louis Roederer. Why heartbreak? Because Roederer offers no tastings and no tours. I double-checked their website and even scoured Google Reviews – nothing. Still, I was standing right next to the building where my beloved champagne is made.
Then my wife spotted Jacquart, just across the street. We stepped inside, glanced at the menu, and there it was – Blanc de Blancs. Our first glass in Reims. Our first champagne of the trip. I won’t pretend to describe every champagne we had – they were all, in their own way, wonderful – but the Blanc de Blancs was a bright, memorable start. Being our first stop in Reims, Jacquart now holds a special place in our hearts.
Champagne G.H. Mumm
A couple of days before the trip, I managed to book us a visit to G.H. Mumm – and I’m so glad I did. G.H. Mumm was the very first champagne I was ever gifted, so I already had a soft spot for the brand. Our visit included a tour of the cellars and a tasting of two Grand Crus. What we didn’t know – and what genuinely surprised us – is that their cellars stretch an incredible 25 kilometers. Perhaps not as jaw-dropping as those at Vranken-Pommery, but still deeply impressive. We also bought our first bottle of the trip here. Highly recommended.
Reims Cathedral
Two champagne houses down, and it was time to refresh the nose and the palate – with the Reims Cathedral. No tasting notes here, just admiration. A breathtaking monument in every sense.
After G.H. Mumm and the Cathedral, we wandered through the city a bit more before slowly making our way to the hotel. No new champagne houses for the rest of day one – just the anticipation of what was to come.
The main event of day two was the grand tour and dinner at Vranken-Pommery. This house is special to us – it was the champagne we opened to celebrate our arrival in Brussels. For my wife, it had been her favorite (at least until this trip), which only added to the excitement.
Champagne G.H. Martel & Co.
Before heading to Vranken-Pommery, we made an unscheduled stop at a smaller house – G.H. Martel & Co. We were only their second visitors of the day and, having never tried their champagne before, we happily accepted the invitation to taste. At 11:00 in the morning, three glasses in, we were feeling pleasantly content.
Now, to clarify – G.H. Martel & Co. typically offers two glasses for their tastings. We had three because our sommelier accidentally served us something different from what we had ordered for the first round. Upon realizing the mix-up, he graciously brought us the correct champagne as well, and added another for good measure. A mistake handled with style, and an extra glass handled with gratitude.
Basilica of Saint-Remi
From there, we made our way to the Basilica of Saint-Remi – beautiful, grand, majestic, vast, and utterly breathtaking.
Green-water canal
After the Basilica, a quick glance at Google Maps revealed a nearby body of water. Being naturally drawn to rivers and canals, we followed the path down and discovered a lovely green-water canal – a peaceful interlude before the next tasting.
Champagne Veuve Clicquot
Now, normally I don’t buy champagne from houses that pour massive budgets into marketing. Veuve Clicquot, for me, has always felt like a marketing champagne. First, it’s only Pinot Noir – so no Blanc de Blancs. Second, the whole experience feels more like Silicon Valley than Champagne-Ardenne (and I’m not talking about microchips). Not that I’m complaining, but it did explain why the champagne itself felt… dull. At least the burger was satisfying – two cheap cuts of meat, a generous dose of salt and oil, and a token sprinkle of greens. I can now say I’ve tried Veuve Clicquot, and I’m glad I hadn’t previously splurged on a bottle.
After Veuve Clicquot, we returned to the hotel to rest and prepare for the evening at Vranken-Pommery.
Domaine Vranken-Pommery
Three things about that evening: first, the dinner was fantastic – a three-course meal with beef, perfectly paired with champagne. Second, we tasted five champagnes instead of the planned four. The reason? Our sommelier, in the flurry of service, forgot about us before dessert. To make it up, he offered a choice: revisit one of the champagnes we had already tried, or discover something new. Naturally, we chose something new.
The third thing – the caves. Just… wow. Words hardly do them justice. If I’m not mistaken, Vranken-Pommery’s cellars stretch for 18 kilometers, with chambers boasting ceilings 30 meters high. These spaces date back to the Romans and have stood through both World Wars. Majestic, imposing, unforgettable. Suddenly, the crowded parking lot outside made sense. And here’s a little fun fact: Vranken-Pommery is currently owned by a Belgian – as if I needed another reason to love Belgium.
So, was Pommery worthy of being our main event? Did it live up to our expectations? Yes and no. The cellars were magnificent. But the champagne? Well… day three changed everything.
Nutrition
Normally, I would also share what we – or just I – ate during our trip. You’ve already had a small glimpse, but here’s a little more. Let me just say… the best is yet to come. Although, to be fair, the steak above was very good.
Our train back to Brussels was scheduled for 17:36 (later delayed to 20:00 – but that’s another story). We had hours to spare, which meant more exploring.
Champagne Charles de Cazanove
First stop: a lesser-known house, Charles de Cazanove. Located right next to the train station, it lacks a cellar but makes up for it with a large storage space and – importantly – Blanc de Blancs on the menu. Good? Yes. Life-changing? Not quite. Still, worth the visit.
Champagne Taittinger
Then came Taittinger. We had passed by the day before, but for reasons unknown, assumed it was tasting-by-tour only. Thankfully, we decided to check. This became the first house where we were served one of their champagnes from a Magnum, and the tasting experience was the most modern of all we’d had in Reims. We had planned to buy our second bottle to take home at Vranken-Pommery, but I’m glad we waited – Taittinger outshone it in every way. Even without a tour, the tasting was superb.
If you were to ask me which article on this blog is my favorite, I’d say: the next one. The same goes for trips, pens, watches, and – as it turns out – champagne. Standing at Taittinger, I wouldn’t have guessed my favorite champagne in Reims would come from Maison Ruinart.
I wouldn’t have guessed… because I hadn’t tasted Ruinart.
Maison Ruinart
If Taittinger felt modern, then Maison Ruinart felt ultra-modern – a seamless blend of 21st-century freshness and 19th-century heritage. Everything gleamed: clean lines, bright light, contemporary elegance wrapped around historic roots. We decided to sit, take it in, and see what was on the menu. Two croque-monsieurs, two cakes infused with champagne, and – of course – two glasses of Blanc de Blancs. Pure joy. Possibly the most delicious croque I’ve ever eaten, and, dare I say it, the best champagne of the trip. Not my all-time favorite – that honor still belongs to Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs Magnum – but comfortably in my top three.
We didn’t visit the cellars at Maison Ruinart or Taittinger, which leaves us with at least two excellent reasons to return to Reims. At Vranken-Pommery, I learned that the largest cellars in the city belong to Vranken-Pommery and Maison Ruinart – and given they’re practically neighbors, it’s only right we’ve now tasted both and seen one. Next time, we’ll complete the set.
Eighteen glasses of champagne. Eight champagne houses. Four tired legs. Two happy hearts.
The beauty of Reims
To finish, here’s a glimpse of Reims itself – a city where the past meets the future, the old embraces the new, and every corner seems to have a story to tell.
Don’t wait for a special occasion to drink champagne. Every day is worth celebrating. No, you don’t need to drink it daily like Churchill did during the Second World War – but even the little things deserve a toast. So go on. Celebrate. Drink champagne.
Kindly,
Olaaf
P.S. I did promise an Audi RS6, didn’t I? Well, here it is – parked alongside a white Porsche, a silver Harley, and a blue sports car that roared like it had just escaped a racetrack.
Photos were taken with FUJIFILM X-S10 with XF 80mm 1:2.8 R LM OIS WR MACRO, Apple iPhone 13 mini, and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
