Montagne de Reims

The Montagne de Reims is a wine area between Reims and Épernay, and one of the four terroirs of AOC Champagne. Its microclimates allow all three authorized Champagne grape varieties to be grown.

The wine

The Montagne de Reims hillside is one of the four terroirs that make up AOC Champagne. It lies between Reims and Épernay and is a "Vignobles & Découvertes" area.

What sets it apart is its microclimates. They allow all three authorized Champagne grape varieties to be grown here.

The village name matters in this area. Bouzy is a Grand Cru vineyard, and the tourist office describes Champagne Alain Vesselle as sitting on 100% Grand Cru terroir at Bouzy. Verzenay is home to a biodynamic estate and to a lighthouse built for a champagne brand.

The vines share the hillside with woodland and farmland. The Regional Nature Park spans 65 communes, with 21,000 ha of farmland, 20,000 ha of forest and 9,000 ha of vineyards. The park's highest point, near the Faux de Verzy, is 288 meters above sea level.

Visiting

Base yourself in Bouzy or Verzenay, the two villages where the estates below are listed. The tourist office presents the Montagne de Reims as an area to explore by car on the Route Touristique du Champagne, so plan your days around driving between villages.

Some thirty wineries and houses here carry the "Vignobles & Découvertes" label and open for tastings, tours or both. Whether an estate takes walk-ins or needs a booking, and what it charges for a tasting, varies. Ask the estate about fees and appointments when you plan your visit.

In Bouzy, Champagne Alain Vesselle and Champagne Fromentin Leclapart are both listed by the tourist office, the second as being in the Bouzy Grand Cru vineyard. In Verzenay, Champagne Hugues Godmé is a biodynamic estate that, according to the tourist office, offers a visit of its press.

Champagne Guy de Chassey also lists a "Visite & Dégustation Tradition" on the Reims Tourisme page for the Verzenay lighthouse. Ask the estate where it receives visitors.

Verzenay lighthouse and the Faux de Verzy

The Verzenay lighthouse was built in 1909 by Joseph Goulet to promote his champagne brand. It now houses a vine museum with an audio-guided tour of 1 hour 30 minutes, and 101 steps lead up to a 360° viewing platform.

The 2026 listing shows daily opening from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. only from April 1 to September 30, so check hours before visiting outside those months. Reims Tourisme has also announced embellishment works from November 4, with access to the lighthouse and panoramic garden closed, so confirm current access before going.

The Faux de Verzy are twisted beech trees. Reims Tourisme counts about 800 of them on 57 hectares.