Your Champagne Questions, Answered
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What's included in a private tour?
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Your day organised and guided by me, a qualified oenologist, with tastings at two small family growers and a glass or two of Champagne in the vines. Your driver and lunch are paid separately.
Why aren't the driver and lunch included?
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Because your day should fit you, not a package. Your car is matched to your group, from a luxury electric sedan for two to a Mercedes minivan for friends, and lunch can be a relaxed bistro or a Michelin-starred table. You pay the driver and restaurant directly at their real price, with no markup added, so you get more of the day you want for less.
How do you choose the growers?
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Around what you love to drink. Whether you prefer something crisp and elegant or rich and bold, I'll match you with small family growers whose Champagnes suit your taste, often hosted by the winemaker themselves.
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Can we visit a well-known Champagne house?
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Why a private driver?
What does a typical day look like?
Why are your tours private?
How far in advance should we book?
What's a self-guided itinerary?
How does booking work?
Of course. Simply swap one grower for the house of your dreams, and I'll book it and build the rest of the day around it. Tasting fees at well-known houses or certain growers are paid separately, and I'll always let you know ahead of time.
In France, anyone driving paying guests must hold a VTC licence, the official licence for professional private drivers. Every driver I work with is VTC-licensed, fully insured and trained, so you're in safe, legal hands all day. They pick you up, wait outside every stop and bring you home, so everyone can relax and enjoy every glass
Your driver picks you up between 9:00 and 9:30, and we start the morning with your first grower and a glass of Champagne overlooking the vines. In Champagne, growers and houses close between 12:00 and 14:00 and no tastings are possible during those hours, so we use that time for a relaxed lunch at the restaurant of your choice. In the afternoon we visit your second grower and a landmark or hidden corner along the way, and you'll be back where you're staying between 5 and 6 pm, with a few surprises I like to keep up my sleeve
For now, every Wine & Wonderlust tour is private, because it lets me focus entirely on you. Whether you're a couple, a family or a small group of friends, a private day feels more personal and more intimate, and it gives us time to really dive into Champagne together. You can ask anything, as often as you like, and the day is shaped around your pace, your tastes and what you'd love to learn.
As early as you can, especially for weekends, harvest season and summer, when dates fill quickly. If you'd love to include a well-known Champagne house, booking early matters even more, as some book up months ahead. That said, if your trip is coming up soon, send me your dates anyway and I'll see what I can do.
If you'd rather explore on your own but don't know where to start, I'll plan your whole day around the Champagnes you love: the growers, the route and distances between them, your lunch booking and the viewpoints worth stopping at along the way. All you need to do is enjoy it. Tastings, meals and transport are paid separately.
Send me your dates, number of guests and where you're staying, and I'll reply with availability and options for your day. I'll then introduce you to your driver and hold your date for 48 hours while you pay their deposit, and you're booked! Closer to the time, I'll share my favourite restaurants so you can choose your lunch spot, and the evening before, we'll set up a group chat with your producers and pick-up time.