A trip to the Champagne region north-east of Paris in France, wouldn’t be complete without a visit to some of its famously spectacular Champagne Maison. But big houses aside there are grower champagnes well worth a visit in addition. So here is a recommendation list of smaller houses open to the public worth visiting.
Visiting grower champagne houses offers a unique experience for several reasons; the possibility of meeting the makers: you’ll likely be welcomed by the winemakers themselves or their families, giving you a more personalized and intimate experience. Hear their stories: Learn first hand about the family history, winemaking philosophy, and the unique terroir of their vineyards. Discover hidden gems: You’ll taste Champagnes you won’t find in your average supermarket, often made with meticulous care and in limited quantities.
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What is a Grower Champagne?
Champagne produced by the same estate that owns the vineyards where the grapes are grown is called Grower Champagne. The French term for a grower is ‘Récoltant-Manipulant’ and Grower Champagnes can be identified by the initials ‘RM’ on their back labels. Although there are some 16,000 growers in Champagne, they account for a small proportion of the export market. The very best Grower Champagnes are extremely sought after and can be incredibly difficult to source. Now, while grower Champagnes are still not exactly mainstream, not least of all because the volumes are usually much smaller than the Grandes Marques you can usually find some good ones in most retailers.
Best Champagne growers to visit
Champagne Vilmart – Reims
Champagne Vilmart is a highly respected grower-producer based in Rilly-la-Montagne, on the Montagne de Reims. Founded in 1890 and still family-run, Vilmart is celebrated for its meticulous vineyard work and dedication to quality, producing Champagnes that combine precision, depth, and elegance. A trip to Vilmart offers the chance to experience some of Champagne’s finest grower wines, crafted with a strong focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from premier terroirs. Visitors can discover the estate’s unique style—marked by richness, freshness, and complexity—while enjoying a more intimate, family-driven approach compared to the larger Champagne houses.
Address: 4 – 5, rue des Gravières – 51500 Rilly-la-Montagne, France
Champagne Pierre Peters – Mesnil-sur-Oger
Champagne Pierre Péters, based in the Grand Cru village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs, is a family-run domaine renowned for its mastery of Chardonnay. Since 1919, the Péters family has focused exclusively on blanc de blancs Champagnes, sourced from some of the finest chalky vineyards in Le Mesnil and neighboring villages. A visit to Champagne Pierre Péters is a chance to experience benchmark blanc de blancs Champagnes—wines of precision, purity, and remarkable aging potential. Guests can explore the family’s long history, learn about their deep connection to the terroir, and taste elegant, mineral-driven Champagnes that epitomize the Côte des Blancs style.
Address: 9 rue de l’Eglise, 51190 Le Mesnil sur Oger, France
Champagne Pierre Gimmonet & Fils – Côte des Blancs
Champagne Pierre Gimonnet & Fils, based in the Côte des Blancs, is a historic grower-producer specializing in Chardonnay. The Gimonnet family has cultivated vineyards here since the 18th century, and today the estate is run by Pierre’s descendants, who farm over 28 hectares across some of the Côte’s most prized Grand Cru and Premier Cru villages, including Cuis, Cramant, and Chouilly. A visit to Champagne Pierre Gimonnet offers the chance to explore some of the purest expressions of Chardonnay in Champagne. Guests can taste elegant, mineral-driven blanc de blancs Champagnes that reflect the diversity of terroirs across the Côte des Blancs, while learning from a family deeply rooted in tradition yet committed to precise, thoughtful winemaking.
Address: 1, rue de la République, 51530, France
Champagne Girard Bonnet- Côte des Blancs
Champagne Girard-Bonnet, located in the prestigious Côte des Blancs, is a family-run grower-producer with vineyards in some of the region’s most renowned villages, including Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, and Vertus. The estate focuses on Chardonnay, crafting Champagnes that highlight the finesse and minerality of this iconic terroir. A visit to Champagne Girard-Bonnet is an opportunity to discover artisanal, terroir-driven Champagnes made with care and precision. Guests can experience the purity and elegance of Côte des Blancs Chardonnay while enjoying the welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere of a true grower estate.
Address: 1, 2 Rue Persault Maheu, 51190 Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, France
Champagne Dhondt Grellet- Côte des Blancs
Champagne Dhondt-Grellet, based in Flavigny in the Côte des Blancs, is a dynamic grower-producer led by Adrien Dhondt, who represents the new generation of winemakers in Champagne. Farming biodynamically and focusing on old-vine Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Premier and Grand Cru vineyards, the estate produces low-dosage, terroir-driven Champagnes with remarkable precision and energy. A visit to Champagne Dhondt-Grellet offers the chance to experience cutting-edge grower Champagne. Guests can taste vibrant, mineral-rich wines that reflect both traditional craftsmanship and modern innovation, while learning how Adrien’s biodynamic approach brings out the full character of the Côte des Blancs terroir.
Address: Le Moulin, 51190 Flavigny, France
Egly-Ouriet – Ambonnay
Egly-Ouriet is a highly respected, family-run Champagne producer based in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay, on the Montagne de Reims. Led by Francis Egly, the estate is renowned for its meticulous vineyard management, low yields, and extended lees aging — practices more akin to fine Burgundy than traditional Champagne production. Working almost entirely with estate-grown fruit from Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites, Egly-Ouriet produces rich, complex, and terroir-driven Champagnes that highlight the depth and precision of Pinot Noir from Ambonnay. Widely regarded as one of the benchmarks for grower Champagne, the house combines power and elegance in every bottle.
Address: 15 Rue de Trepail, 51150 Ambonnay, France
Nicolas Maillart – Montagne de Reims
Champagne Nicolas Maillart is a family-run estate based in the Premier Cru village of Écueil on the Montagne de Reims, with a winemaking heritage that dates back to 1753. Today, Nicolas Maillart continues the family tradition as the ninth generation at the helm, producing refined, terroir-driven Champagnes primarily from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown in Premier and Grand Cru vineyards. The estate is known for its sustainable viticulture, focus on expressing individual parcels, and use of oak to bring texture and depth to the wines. The result is a range of Champagnes that balance richness and precision, showcasing the character and vitality of the Montagne de Reims.
Address: 5 Rue de Villers aux Nœuds, 51500 Écueil, France
Champagne Penet – Verzy
Champagne Penet, based in Verzy on the Montagne de Reims, is a family-owned grower-producer with roots in the region dating back over 400 years. Today, Alexandre Penet leads the estate, focusing on low-dosage and extra brut styles that highlight the purity and expression of Grand Cru Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. A visit to Champagne Penet offers a chance to taste precise, terroir-driven Champagnes that reflect the house’s commitment to minimal intervention and authenticity. Guests can explore the philosophy behind their bold, low-dosage approach and enjoy wines that showcase the true character of Verzy and Verzenay’s exceptional Grand Cru vineyards.
Address: La Maison Penet, 12 rue Gambetta, 51380 Verzy, France
Champagne Pierre Paillard – Bouzy
Champagne Pierre Paillard, located in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy on the Montagne de Reims, is an eighth-generation family estate known for its deep roots and dedication to terroir. The Paillard family cultivates 11 hectares exclusively in Bouzy, with a focus on Pinot Noir balanced by Chardonnay, producing Champagnes of structure, elegance, and precision. Visiting Champagne Pierre Paillard offers the opportunity to discover wines that combine Bouzy’s power with a refined, mineral-driven style. Guests can learn about the family’s sustainable vineyard practices, taste a range of carefully crafted cuvées, and experience the heritage of a true grower-producer devoted to expressing one of Champagne’s most renowned terroirs.
Visit Champagne Pierre Paillard
Address: 2 rue du Vingtième siècle, 51150 Bouzy, France
Champagne Domaine La Borderie- Côte des Bar
Champagne Domaine La Borderie, located in the Côte des Bar, is a young and ambitious grower estate founded in 2013 by brother-and-sister team Marie and Simon Normand. Farming 11 hectares across the villages of Bar-sur-Seine and Merrey-sur-Arce, they focus on sustainable viticulture and parcel-based vinification, producing Champagnes that highlight the diversity and potential of the Côte des Bar terroir. A visit to Domaine La Borderie is a chance to discover one of Champagne’s rising stars. Guests can explore how a new generation is redefining the region with precise, expressive wines, while enjoying the warm, hands-on hospitality of a family estate that combines modern vision with deep respect for the land.
Address: Chemin de la ferme de la Folie, 10110 Bar-sur-Seine, France
Champagne Alexandre Bonnet – Côte des Bar
Champagne Alexandre Bonnet, based in the village of Les Riceys in the Côte des Bar, is renowned for its extensive vineyards and expertise with Pinot Noir. The estate cultivates over 45 hectares, making it one of the most important domaines in the area, and is celebrated for producing both refined Champagnes and still Rosé des Riceys wines, a local specialty. A visit to Champagne Alexandre Bonnet offers the chance to explore the unique character of Les Riceys, where Pinot Noir thrives on diverse soils. Guests can taste a wide range of Champagnes and discover the rare Rosé des Riceys, while learning how the estate combines tradition, scale, and craftsmanship to showcase the richness of the Côte des Bar.
Visit Champagne Alexandre Bonnet
Address: 138, rue Général de Gaulle, 10340 Les Riceys, France
Champagne Drappier – Côte des Bar
Champagne Drappier family goes back to the 12th century when Saint Bernard had an annex to Clairvaux Abbey built in Urville. Once occupied by Cistercian monks from Clairvaux Abbey, the seat of the House includes some magnificent 12th-century vaulted cellars. In 1803 one of the ancestors of the House, François moved to Urville and begin working a vineyard which today extends over 55 hectares, plus a dozen contractual arrangements with other growers in the Côte des Bar, the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs. In 1988 deep cellars dug out of the Reims limestone in the reign of Napoleon III become part of the family ownership to house the prestigious cuvées. This is the most southerly part of champagne, nearer to Chablis in Burgundy than the main part of Champagne. Drappier are fiercely opposed to excessive use of sulphur and they use some of the lowest doses in Champagne. Some of Drappier’s best-selling Champagnes are: Drappier Clarevallis Organic Extra Brut NV and Drappier Quattuor Blanc de Quatre Blancs NV made from all six of the allowed grapes in the champagne region.
Address: Champagne Drappier, Rue des Vignes, 10200 Urville – France
Rodolphe Peters
Vines at Pierre Gimmonet
Egly-Ouriet
Dhondt Grellet property
Domaine la Borderie
Champagne Penet Maison
Vineyards at Alexandre Bonnet
