Piper Heidsieck


Useful Information

Location: Reims
Open: MAR to DEC daily 9:30-12:30, 14-18.
Last tour 11:45 and 17.
[2007]
Fee:
Classification: SubterraneaCellar
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours: (Français - French English Deutsch - German Italiano - Italian Español - Spanish Netherlands - Dutch Japanese)
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Piper-Heidsieck, 51 bld Henry Vasnier, 51100 Reims, Tel: +33-326-844300, Fax: +33-326-844349. E-mail: contact
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

1785 founded.

Description

Like most other tours in the Champagne cellars, you will see Gallo-Romany quarries, Medieval cellars and the wine making tools of centuries. There are racks of champagne bottles and the wine shop at the end. Three thins make this tour special. First it is open almost all year and daily, so this is the ideal tour for the individual traveller, there is no need to make an appointment. Second, the underground tour is made in an electric buggy and the explanations are given from a tape in half a dozen languages. And at the end is mock up of Sam's Bar from the movie Casablanca. We have no idea why, as the Piper Heidsieck champagne was not shown in the movie. Probably the owners, Mr. Piper or Mr. Heidsieck, is Ingrid Bergman fan?

Some visitors call the tour Disneyesque, and probably it is not the typical French or continental style of wine cellar tour, but it is much appreciated by many British and American visitors, and it is definitely one of the best tours for families with kids.