Practical advice
Reims or Épernay for a first visit?
Choose Reims for a city break with grand cellars, or Épernay if you want to stay closer to the wine villages.
Reims has the cathedral, a larger centre and several monumental Champagne houses. Épernay is more compact and closer to Aÿ, Hautvillers and the Côte des Blancs. With two nights you can combine both cities by train, but do not try to fit every village into the same trip.
Book fewer appointments and give each visit more time.