Maison Pommery Champagne

Reims, France

A fantastical ensemble of neo-Tudor buildings, their red-brick façades offset by a whimsical shade of forget-me-not blue, Maison Pommery is a Champagne house that exudes history from each one of its crenellated towers and turrets. This was once the domain of Madame Pommery: an enterprising widow who not only had the nous to transform her late husband's business, but who also changed the face of winemaking forever by creating the first commercially successful brut c The estate's real treasure is to be found underground; book a cellar tour, and you'll descend 116 steps to a network of Gallo-Roman chalk pits called crayères, connected by order of Madame Pommery to create a set of incomparable champagne cellars. No fewer than 20 million bottles are housed here, amid monumental chalk bas-reliefs carved by candlelight in the late 19th century – as well as an array of contemporary artworks, courtesy of the house's ever-changing exhibitions.

Key Information

• Opening times: Sun – Thu 10am-6pm, Fri – Sat 10am-7pm
• Signature wine: Brut Royal
• Wines produced: Sparkling
• Grape varieties: Chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot meunier
• Tasting options
• Time from airport: 30 mins from Paris-Vatry Airport; 1 hour 30 mins from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
• Visit Maison Pommery Champagne's website

Location

5 Place du Général Gouraud, Reims, 51100