About this tour
A 90-minute afternoon visit to a family-run Champagne house in Mareuil-sur-Ay combines cellar exploration, tasting tuition and a blind comparison of three vintages. You'll descend into 1850s chalk tunnels, learn production methods from a traditional press, then sit down for an olfactory training session and food pairing. Suited to anyone keen to move beyond casual sipping into how Champagne actually tastes and why.
Highlights
- Cellars dug in the 1850s with original winemaking equipment on display
- Blind tasting of three Champagnes including a Grand Cru Vintage
- Olfactory workshop to train your palate on aromas and flavours
- Local sweet treats and finger food paired with each tasting
- Small-group tasting class with competitive champagne quiz element
- Guided by a local expert who covers the full production process
- Afternoon timing: 4:00pm to 5:30pm
What to expect
You'll arrive at 4:00pm at Le Clos Corbier in the middle of working vineyards. After a brief welcome, your guide takes you down into the historic cellars, walking you through the chalk tunnels and explaining the traditional press and fermentation methods. Back at ground level, you'll move to the tasting room where the class begins with a champagne quiz to loosen everyone up.
Then comes the sensory training: you'll work through an olfactory workshop designed to sharpen your nose to the aromas and flavours in Champagne. The main event is a blind tasting where you'll identify three different champagnes from the house—including one Grand Cru Vintage—while nibbling local savouries and sweets that complement each pour. The experience wraps around 5:30pm.
What travellers say
- Proper teaching structure—not just pouring, but training your palate
- Historic cellars add genuine context to the production story
- Blind tasting keeps it fun and removes snobbery from the room
- Local expert guide knows the house and its range inside out
- Food pairings elevate the tasting beyond wine alone
- Under-18s excluded from tastings, limiting family attendance
- No transport included—you need your own way to the location
- Afternoon slot may clash with other local activities or late lunch
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This suits anyone from curious beginners to seasoned drinkers who want to understand what they're tasting rather than just drink it. No fitness demands—the cellar walk is gentle and the rest is seated. Bear in mind: kids under 18 can't participate in the tasting itself, though they may be welcome on the cellar tour (clarify when booking). Allergies and dietary restrictions can be accommodated in the food pairings if you flag them in advance. Transport to Mareuil-sur-Ay is not included, so arrange your own or check local shuttle options. Late afternoon timing suits those avoiding a full day commitment.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BookNow summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.