Wine tourism in Beaujolais

Beaujolais, nestled in the heart of France, is celebrated for its diverse wines, picturesque landscapes, rolling vineyards, charming villages, and historic chateaux.

The region is known for its Beaujolais Nouveau Festival, held every November to celebrate the release of the new vintage with tastings, local delicacies, and vibrant festivities. Visitors can explore the charming villages, historic sites, and scenic wine routes that showcase the region's rich winemaking tradition and natural beauty. 

If you're already familiar with Beaujolaois and its exceptional wines, feel free to directly explore Beaujolais wine experiences available on winedering.com.

Beaujolais, nestled in eastern France between the Rhône and Burgundy regions, is renowned for its rolling hills, picturesque vineyards, and charming villages. This region combines French charm with a deep-rooted winemaking tradition.

With a history dating back to Roman times, Beaujolais flourished under the Benedictine monks in the Middle Ages. The Dukes of Burgundy later promoted the cultivation of the Gamay grape, which thrives in Beaujolais' semi-continental climate. Warm, dry summers and cold, damp winters create perfect conditions for ripening the grapes. The diverse topography and granite and schist soils, moderated by the Massif Central and Alps, contribute to the wines' unique characteristics.

Villefranche-sur-Saône, located 30 kilometers from Lyon, is the capital of Beaujolais, featuring Renaissance-inspired architecture and significant cultural landmarks. Beaujeu, the historical capital, offers attractions like the Romanesque church of St-Nicolas and the annual Sarmentelles festival. The Pierres Dorées villages, including Oingt, Bagnols, and Ternand, are known for their golden-hued limestone buildings. Mont Brouilly provides breathtaking panoramic views of the wine route and, with its unique volcanic blue rock soil, is crucial to the Brouilly and Côte-de-Brouilly wine appellations.

The Beaujolais Wine Route winds through charming villages like Fleurie, Morgon, Brouilly, and others, showcasing the region's diverse terroir and offering visitors a chance to explore vineyards, taste exquisite wines, and immerse in the local culture.

Before booking experiences, let’s see our recommendations for reaching and visiting the Beaujolais wine region.

Route 1:  Day Trip from Lyon

Begin your journey in Lyon, the nearest major city to Beaujolais. From Lyon, you can take a short train or drive to Villefranche-sur-Saône, the gateway to Beaujolais. Explore the wine route, visiting key wine towns like Fleurie, Morgon, and Brouilly.

Route 2: Eastern France Wine Tour  

For a broader wine exploration, start in Paris and take a high-speed train to Lyon, or directly in Lyon. After exploring Beaujolais, continue south to the Rhône Valley or north to Burgundy, each famous for its unique wines and culinary delights. This route offers a comprehensive experience of eastern France's diverse wines and cultural landmarks.

Once you arrive in Beaujolais, choose the transportation method that best suits your needs to explore the area and ensure a memorable wine adventure.

Renting a car is the most convenient way to explore the wine region, allowing you to visit multiple wineries at your own pace. The region is well-connected by roads.

Cycling the Beaujolais Wine Route offers an immersive way to explore the region's scenic vineyards and charming villages. Start by renting a bike in Lyon, with many shops offering both regular and electric bikes. Plan a scenic route of about 35 kilometers/22 miles to Villefranche-sur-Saône, the gateway to Beaujolais. Alternatively, take a regional train from Lyon to Villefranche-sur-Saône with your bike, as most trains accommodate bicycles. You can also rent a bike directly in Beaujolais, allowing you to start your cycling tour conveniently in the heart of the wine region, exploring the wine route and visiting wineries amidst picturesque landscapes.

Although a smaller selection of tours in Beaujolais is offered compared to neighboring Burgundy and Rhône wine regions, guided wine tours are another option for exploring the region.

The Beaujolais wine region, nestled in eastern France between the Rhône and Burgundy regions, is renowned for its stunning landscapes and exceptional wines. The region is characterized by rolling hills, picturesque vineyards, and charming villages.

Beaujolais wines are primarily made from the Gamay grape, known for its bright acidity, low tannins, and expressive fruit flavors. This early-ripening grape thrives in the granitic soils of the region, producing wines with vibrant notes of red berries like strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. 

Beaujolais includes several appellations, with the largest being Beaujolais AOP. This is the most generic appellation in the region, known for producing light, fruity, and easy-drinking wines. Beaujolais Villages AOP, a step up in quality, offers more complexity and structure with pronounced fruit flavors. Another very well-known appellation is Beaujolais Nouveau, which produces wines intended for immediate consumption.   While the region is most known for its red wines, it also produces some delightful white wines primarily from Chardonnay. 

Beaujolais is particularly renowned for its 10 Crus, or top wine-producing areas, each offering distinct characteristics and flavor profiles. These Crus are celebrated for their high-quality wines made from Gamay, showcasing the diversity and richness of the region.

Here are these 10 top villages from south to north:

1. Brouilly: The largest cru, producing light and fruity wines. The wines are known for their bright red fruit flavors and easy drinkability.
2. Côte de Brouilly: Wines with mineral and fruit notes, grown on volcanic slopes. These wines often have a pronounced minerality and can age well, developing complex flavors over time.
3. Régnié: Fruity and well-balanced wines, the newest of the crus. Régnié wines are known for their fresh red berry aromas and rounded palate.
4. Morgon: Known for powerful, age-worthy wines with deep flavors. Morgon wines often exhibit flavors of dark fruit, and earthy notes, and have the potential to develop more complexity with age.
5. Chiroubles: Offers light, aromatic wines with delicate flavors. Typically very fresh and highly approachable, with floral and red fruit notes.
6. Fleurie: Elegant wines with floral aromas. Fleurie wines are silky, with rose petal and violet aromas, and a refined, smooth finish.
7. Moulin-à-Vent: The most robust and tannic wines, suitable for aging. These wines are often compared to those from Burgundy, with rich flavors, structured tannins, and the ability to age gracefully.
8. Chénas: The rarest of the crus. Chénas wines combine floral elegance with a robust structure, offering a complex tasting experience.
9. Juliénas: Known for rich and spicy wines with robust flavors. Juliénas wines are characterized by their deep color, intense fruit, and spicy undertones, making them a favorite for those who enjoy bolder wines.
10. Saint-Amour: Light, aromatic wines, often associated with romance and enjoyed on Valentine's Day. These wines are noted for their charming bouquet of red fruits and flowers, and their refreshing taste.

Here are our top 3 recommendations for wine experiences in Beaujolais, carefully selected by Winedering, the world's most popular wine and food experiences marketplace. These experiences, booked by thousands of customers, are the ones we highly recommend for creating unforgettable moments.

If you need some inspiration for your next trip or want to make adjustments to your existing reservation in Beaujolais, take a look at our itinerary suggested by Winedering for the enchanting Beaujolais wine region.

Embark on this enchanting full-day tour featuring 3 exceptional wineries in the Beaujolais wine region, offering a deeply wine-focused exploration. By the end of the day, you'll have a thorough understanding of wine production in Beaujolais and will have tasted around 13 diverse wines.

With detailed itineraries and insider tips, your adventure through Beaujolais will be both seamless and enriching.

Remember to take your time, enjoy the stunning views, and soak in the warm hospitality of the local winemakers and residents. Here's to many memorable wine experiences in Beaujolais, that you can easily book online on Winedering.com, the best online wine tourism marketplace worldwide. 

Bon voyage and cheers to an unforgettable Beaujolais adventure!

Book Now on Winedering.com