Visiting grower champagne producers means calling on growers who make and market champagne from their own vines, rather than the large houses of Reims and Épernay. The Comité Champagne calls these growers récoltants-manipulants, and their labels carry the code RM.
Champagne has more than 16,000 growers, who own and tend nearly 90% of the area under vine. Most of their grapes are still sold to the houses, which make and market two-thirds of the wine.
This guide covers growers in the Montagne de Reims, the Marne Valley, the Côte des Blancs and the Côte des Bar: how to find them, how visits work, when they open and what they cost. For the large houses, see Booking Champagne House Visits.
Getting there
The fastest route from Paris is the direct TGV from Gare de l'Est to Reims-Centre, which takes 45 minutes. Direct trains from Gare de l'Est reach Épernay in 1 hour 20 minutes. For the Côte des Bar, about 10 direct trains a day leave Gare de l'Est on the Paris–Troyes–Bar-sur-Aube line, taking 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.
| Option | From | Time | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TGV to Reims-Centre | Paris Gare de l'Est | 45 min | 0 |
| Train to Épernay | Paris Gare de l'Est | 1h20 | 0 |
| Train to Troyes and Bar-sur-Aube | Paris Gare de l'Est | 1h30–2h | 0 |
| Car to Épernay (140 km) | Paris | 1h30 | — |
| Car to the Côte des Bar (A5) | Paris | 2h | — |
By car, Épernay is 140 km from Paris, about 1 hour 30 minutes. For the Côte des Bar, take the A5 and leave at exit 22 (Magnant) for Bar-sur-Seine or exit 23 (Ville-sous-la-Ferté) for Bar-sur-Aube. The Côte des Bar tourist office gives about 2 hours from Paris.
The Ligne des Bulles regional train between Reims and Épernay crosses the Montagne de Reims and stops at Rilly-la-Montagne, Germaine, Avenay-Val-d'Or and Aÿ-Champagne. Rilly-la-Montagne's village center is 5 minutes on foot from its station. See Reims to Épernay and Paris to Épernay by Train for timetables.
When to go
In 2026, Champagne Alfred Tritant, Roger Manceaux and Christophe Varlot open from January 1 to December 31, Michel Gonet from January 3 to December 30, and Robert-Allait from January 1 to December 20.
Joseph Desruets in Hautvillers opens from February 1 to December 22. In Les Riceys, Champagne Morize closes from August 14 to 23, 2026, and from December 23, 2026, to January 3, 2027.
The Épernay tourist office's Esprit de Champagne minibus runs from May 1 to October 31. Producers also pour free tastings at the tourist office from May 1 to December 5, 2026, every day in July and August.
Champagne is picked entirely by hand, and the harvest lasts two to three weeks. In 2026 the first vineyards began picking on August 6, and picking was widespread from August 17, the earliest harvest on record in Champagne.
Visiting the estates
Alfred Tritant, Morize and Morel take bookings on their own websites, and Louis Brochet takes them through the Reims tourist office.
To spot a grower, read the label. The Comité Champagne defines a récoltant-manipulant (RM) as a grower who makes and markets own-label champagne using only grapes from their own vineyards. The code sits before the registration number the Comité Champagne issues. NM marks a négociant-manipulant, which buys grapes, must or wine, CM a co-op, and RC a co-op grower selling co-op-made champagne under their own label.
The Comité Champagne's online directory of producers lists 542 cellars, searchable by name and town, with a map view. The Épernay tourist office's growers page covers Épernay and villages such as Avize, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Hautvillers, Damery, Rilly-la-Montagne and Mailly-Champagne, with filters for label, languages and price.
Écueil, Trépail and Rilly-la-Montagne
Champagne Louis Brochet in Écueil, 20 minutes from Reims, is a family estate that has harvested and made its own wine for 4 generations. Its booked visit covers the vineyard work, vinification, the aging cellar, the disgorging and bottling areas and the traditional press. It ends with three cuvées from the Montagne de Reims and the Vallée de l'Ardre, from €35 ($38).
Stéphanie and Christophe Varlot receive visitors in Trépail, a Premier cru village, and ferment in oak barrels. The visit and tasting are free for individuals, from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., with Sundays by appointment. Groups of up to 30 contact the estate first.
Champagne Roger Manceaux in Rilly-la-Montagne is run by Patrick, Claire, Alexis and Julien. Guided tours run on request, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Bouzy, Hautvillers and Aÿ
Champagne Alfred Tritant in Bouzy, founded in 1930, makes only Grand Cru champagnes from its own grapes in Bouzy and Ambonnay, plus a Coteaux Champenois, Bouzy Rouge. Its 2.71 hectares have been certified organic since April 2023.
Book Tritant online. The 1-hour Discovery visit introduces the estate with a tasting, and the 1-hour-30-minute Immersion visit adds the cellar. The 2-hour-30-minute Gastronomy visit pairs five champagnes and the Bouzy Rouge with local produce. Groups are capped at 20.
In Hautvillers, Champagne Joseph Desruets has made wine since 1888 from vines only on the village's hillsides, farmed organically since 2020. Its 19th-century press can be seen on request. It opens Monday, Tuesday and Thursday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
In Aÿ, Champagne Egrot & Filles receives visitors Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Avize and Vertus
Champagne Michel Gonet in Avize has grown vines for eight generations in the Côte des Blancs and specializes in chardonnay. Guided tours run on request every day from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Languages spoken are German, English, Spanish and French.
Champagne Charles Pougeoise, a family business for 4 generations, farms 9 hectares of Premier cru vines in Vertus and Bergères-lès-Vertus. From September 2 to December 23, 2026, guided tours are on request, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.
Marne Valley
Champagne Robert-Allait has been based in Villers-sous-Châtillon for 5 generations, with 13 hectares on southern hillsides across 6 communes of the Marne Valley, between Dormans and Épernay. Guided tours are on request, Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Les Riceys, Côte des Bar
The Côte des Bar has 5 valleys, and 63 of its villages lie in the Champagne production area. Les Riceys has 866 hectares of vines and is the only French commune with 3 AOCs: Champagne, Coteaux Champenois and Rosé des Riceys.
Champagne Morize receives visitors in an 11th-century Cistercian cellar. Booking on its website is mandatory, with departures Monday to Friday at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., and on Saturdays from March 14 to December 19, 2026. The 1-hour-15-minute discovery visit includes three champagnes, and visits run in English.
Champagne Morel, run by a family trio across five generations, has a tasting room opposite the church of Ricey-Haut. Its tasting of 2 champagnes and 1 Rosé des Riceys runs by booking Monday to Saturday, and a 1-hour visit of its 18th-century vaulted cellar runs every Friday at 2 p.m.
Without a car
The Esprit de Champagne minibus seats 8 and takes visitors to a tourist office partner, a champagne house or wine-tourism activity, for a visit or a tasting. It leaves the Épernay tourist office at 2:15 p.m. and the municipal campground at 10:15 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. Partners include Alfred Tritant, Roger Manceaux, Robert-Allait and Michel Gonet. See Champagne Without a Car.
What it costs
A grower visit with tasting costs €10–55 ($11–59), and some cost nothing. Morize and Morel in Les Riceys start at €10 ($11), and Morize's Grande Dégustation of the whole range costs €15 ($16) over 1 hour 30 minutes. Morel's Friday cellar visit costs €25 ($27).
At Alfred Tritant, the Discovery visit costs €12 ($13) with 3 champagnes or €24 ($26) with 6, and the Immersion visit €18 ($19) or €30 ($32). The Gastronomy visit costs €60 ($65). Under-18s go free on the Discovery visit and pay €6 ($6) for the Immersion visit.
Roger Manceaux charges €20 ($22) for a tour with tasting, Louis Brochet from €35 ($38), and Michel Gonet €55 ($59). At Joseph Desruets, a tasting costs €15–25 ($16–27) and a tour with tasting €25–35 ($27–38).
Robert-Allait's individual tastings start at €15 ($16). In Aÿ, Egrot & Filles charges €10 ($11) for a tasting and €18 ($19) for a tour. In Ambonnay, H. Billiot & Fils charges €15–40 ($16–43) for a tasting and €10–15 ($11–16) for a tour.
Christophe Varlot offers a free visit and tasting to individuals, and Charles Pougeoise a free tasting. The Esprit de Champagne minibus costs €20 ($22) per adult and €6.50 ($7) under 18, with return transport included. Confirm the price when you book.
Before you go
- Book a cellar visit before your stay, especially in high season, as the Épernay tourist office advises.
- Many growers close on Sundays, and some also close on Saturdays, Wednesdays or public holidays. The Côte des Bar tourist office publishes a list of cellars open on Sundays and public holidays.
- Arrange a designated driver or transport if you plan to taste, as Reims Tourisme advises.
Frequently asked questions
What does RM mean on a champagne label?
RM stands for récoltant-manipulant: a grower who makes and markets own-label champagne made only from grapes grown in their own vineyards. The two letters come before the registration number that the Comité Champagne issues. NM marks a house that buys in grapes, must or wine.
Do I need to book a grower champagne visit?
Usually, yes. The Épernay tourist office advises booking a cellar visit before your stay, above all in high season, and Champagne Morize in Les Riceys takes visitors only with a booking on its website. Christophe Varlot in Trépail receives individuals free of charge, with Sundays by appointment.
How much does a grower champagne tasting cost?
Expect €10–55 ($11–59) for a visit with tasting. Morize and Morel in Les Riceys start at €10 ($11), Roger Manceaux in Rilly-la-Montagne charges €20 ($22), and Michel Gonet in Avize €55 ($59). Varlot and Charles Pougeoise offer free tastings to individuals.
Can I visit champagne growers without a car?
Yes. From May 1 to October 31, 2026, the Épernay tourist office's Esprit de Champagne minibus takes visitors to partner estates for €20 ($22) per adult. The Ligne des Bulles train also stops at Rilly-la-Montagne, whose village center is 5 minutes on foot from the station.
Are champagne growers open in winter?
Many are. In 2026, Alfred Tritant in Bouzy and Roger Manceaux open through December 31, and Michel Gonet in Avize through December 30. In Les Riceys, Morize shuts from December 23, 2026, until January 3, 2027, and Robert-Allait closes after December 20.
