Moët & Chandon

Useful Information

Location:	20 Av. de Champagne, 51200 Épernay. (49.042655, 3.958840)
Open:	JAN to MAR Mon-Fri 9:30-17. APR to mid-NOV daily 9:30-17. [2023]
Fee:	Signature: Adults EUR 60, Children (10-17) EUR 13, Children (0-9) free. Moët Collection: Adults EUR 180. The Imperial Moment: Adults EUR 40, Children (10-17) EUR 13, Children (0-9) free. Grand Vintage: Adults EUR 75, Children (10-17) EUR 13, Children (0-9) free. [2023]
Classification:	Cellar
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=28,000 m, VR=30 m, T=1ß-12 °C.
Guided tours:	Signature: D=90 min, Max=12. Moët Collection: D=2 h, Max=10, MinAge=18. The Imperial Moment: D=90 min, Max=15. Grand Vintage: D=90 min, Max=10.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	Moët & Chandon, 20 avenue de Champagne, 51200 Épernay, Tel: +33-326-512020. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1743	founded.
2020	tasting sessions without cellar tours introduced.

Description

Moët & Chandon is one of the most important champagne houses. Thomas Jefferson was born in the founding year of the finery, and he was a lifelong fan of their champagne. In general the Unites States are an important market for this champagne for centuries now.

The cellars are now 28 km long, only a small part is visited. It is the part which is located below the Moët & Chandon Maison for obvious reasons. The first floor has a reception, shop, and ticket office. The cellar is the most historic part of the cellars, which has vaulted ceilings, old wooden casks, numerous tools and equipment for winemakers, and a huge numer of Champagne bottles. While the wooden casks are not used any more and are more like museum exhibits, the racks of Champagne bottles are actually real bottles, which are produced here despite the tours. The guides explain the history of Champagne, the company, the cellars, and the method how Champagne is actually made.

Tours are walking tours in French or English. Tours in other languages are available, but only by reservation. Individuals should use the online booking system to make a reservation, as there is the danger that the tours are booked out, especially during summer holidays and weekends. The city is in convenient day trip distance from Paris. Unlike most other cellars there is an elevator, and no steps in the cellar, so the tours are wheelchair accessible.

The cellar tour starts at the company's headquarters, a yellow-brick house in the center of Epernay. All the tours take exactly the same route through the cellars. The difference is the selection of the Champagne offered at the tasting sessions at the end of the tour. In other words you pay for the champagne, it is not free, and it is much more expansive than the tour. The tours were quite cheap 20 years ago, and the champagne was actually free, today the prices for the tours have more than doubled, and you have to pay for the wine. Unfortunately there is no possibility to make a tour without tasting, except if you are underage.