A Champagne day trip from Paris is the best way to choose your New Year's Eve bottles where they were made. With a private chauffeur, you leave your hotel in the morning, taste in the cellars of Reims and Épernay, browse one of France's biggest Christmas markets, and are back in Paris by evening with the cases safely in the boot. Nobody has to drive after a tasting, and nobody has to carry six bottles onto a train.
This guide covers how the day works in winter 2026, which houses to visit, the best dates before December 31, and how to plan the trip with Luxberri.
Why go to Champagne before New Year's Eve
December is when Champagne makes the most sense. The region is quiet compared with summer, the cellars sit at a steady 10–12°C whatever the weather outside, and you can buy cuvées that are hard to find in Paris shops, including vintage bottles and magnums for a celebration dinner.
There is also a practical reason. A New Year's Eve party in Paris often means a dozen guests or more. Buying the bottles directly from a house or a grower lets you taste first, compare styles, and leave with exactly what you need. The chauffeur loads everything into the car, so the only thing you carry is your glass.
How far is Champagne from Paris?
Reims is about 145 km east of Paris. By car it takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes via the A4, depending on traffic leaving the city. Épernay, the other Champagne capital, is about 30 minutes south of Reims through the vineyards of the Montagne de Reims.
That makes a full day comfortable: around 2 hours each way, and 6 to 7 hours on the ground. A typical departure from central Paris is between 8:00 and 9:00, with a return between 18:00 and 20:00.
A suggested itinerary for a winter Champagne day
Morning: Reims and its cathedral. Start at Notre-Dame de Reims, where the kings of France were crowned for centuries. The Gothic façade and the Chagall stained-glass windows take about 45 minutes. Your chauffeur drops you at the square and waits nearby.
Late morning: a cellar visit in Reims. Reims is home to several of the great houses, including Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, Pommery, Ruinart and Mumm. Many of their cellars run through chalk pits dug in Roman times, some more than 20 metres underground. A guided visit with tasting usually lasts 60 to 90 minutes.
Lunch. Book a table in Reims or in a village restaurant in the vineyards. Champagne pairs well with local dishes such as Reims ham, Chaource cheese and the pink biscuits of Reims.
Afternoon: Épernay and the Avenue de Champagne. Drive through the vineyards to Épernay. The Avenue de Champagne is lined with the mansions of famous houses, including Moët & Chandon, whose cellars stretch for kilometres beneath the street. This is the moment to taste again and buy the bottles for New Year's Eve.
Early evening: the Reims Christmas market. On the way back, stop at the Christmas market in Reims, the third largest in France. In 2026 it runs from 25 November to late December on the Hautes-Promenades, close to the train station, with around 150 wooden chalets selling local food, gifts and crafts. Mulled wine at dusk, then the drive back to Paris.
Best dates for a New Year's Champagne trip
The best window is from early December to 30 December. Keep these points in mind:
- Avoid 25 December and 1 January. Most houses and many restaurants are closed.
- Book cellar visits early. Visits are limited and popular houses fill up in December, especially on weekends.
- Check winter hours. Some houses run reduced schedules in winter or close for a few days around the holidays. Confirm opening hours before you set the date.
- The school holidays start on 19 December. French families travel from that date to 4 January, so weekdays before 19 December are the quietest.
If you want the Christmas market and the cellars on the same day, choose a date between 25 November and 23 December.
Which Champagne houses to visit
A good day usually combines one famous house with one smaller producer.
- For a first visit: a large house in Reims or Épernay gives you the history, the chalk cellars and a polished tasting.
- For something more personal: small grower-producers in the villages around Épernay often receive guests at their own estate. You taste with the family that makes the wine, and prices are often lower than in the big houses.
- For a celebration: ask about vintage and prestige cuvées, magnums and gift boxes. Many houses also offer engraving or personalised packaging for corporate gifts.
Your chauffeur knows the routes between houses and can adjust the timing if a visit runs long.
Buying and carrying your bottles
One of the main advantages of going by car is the boot space. A Mercedes E-Class takes several cases comfortably, and a Mercedes V-Class or Cadillac Escalade is ideal if you are buying for a large party.
A few tips for the journey home:
- Ask the house to pack bottles in their original cartons.
- Winter temperatures keep wine in good condition during the drive.
- When you arrive, store the bottles lying down in a cool place and chill them on the day.
- Within the European Union, there is no fixed limit on wine bought for personal use.
Which vehicle is right for your group?
| Group | Recommended vehicle |
|---|---|
| Couple or small group | Mercedes E-Class or S-Class |
| Special occasion | Mercedes-Maybach |
| Family or friends, more luggage | Mercedes V-Class |
| Larger party with many cases | Cadillac Escalade or a second vehicle |
All trips include a professional chauffeur for the whole day. You can stop where you like, change the order of visits and taste freely.
Why a private chauffeur instead of the train
The TGV from Gare de l'Est reaches Reims quickly, but the station is only the start. Getting to Épernay, the vineyards and smaller producers by public transport takes time, and taxis are limited in rural Champagne. Carrying bottles adds another problem.
With a chauffeur, the day runs door to door. You are collected at your hotel or apartment, driven between every stop, and dropped back at the door with your cases. Everyone in the group can taste, and nobody has to watch the clock for the last train back.
Book your Champagne day trip with Luxberri
Luxberri organises private day trips from Paris to Reims and Champagne with a dedicated chauffeur and a choice of Mercedes, Maybach and Escalade vehicles. Tell us your preferred date, the houses you would like to visit and the size of your group, and we will prepare a fixed quote.
Arriving in Paris for the holidays? Combine the trip with a private airport transfer, or request a custom quote for the full itinerary. You can also check our current offers before you book.
