Beaujolais Wine Tours

Beaujolais tour highlights

Don’t miss the big 5-day Beaujolais Nouveau celebrations every November with a wide range of festivities to choose from.
Travel along the 140-km Beaujolais Wine Route, and stop off anywhere, especially in the village of Vaux-en-Beaujolais, better known as “Clochemerle”, where the museum, carrousel and the Cave de Clochemerle wine cellar have lots of surprises in store.
A few other ideas: at the Carrières de Glay (stone quarry), immerse yourself in the past life of the stonecutters and sculptors, or explore the Mont Brouilly hill for a breathtaking panoramic view of the Beaujolais vineyards. As a bonus, after climbing the hill, go down to the ‘Espace des Brouilly’ and enjoy a wine tasting. The Espace Pierres Folles museum provides a wonderful introduction to the geology of the Beaujolais and Pierres Dorées (Golden Stones) area.

Beaujolais wines and appellations

Practically all of the 12 appellations in the Beaujolais vineyard are planted with the Gamay Noir, a red grape that produces wines with light tannins and aromas ranging from fresh red berries to more complex notes of spice and in some cases, even floral or earthy tones. Chardonnay is the most widely planted white grape variety worldwide and on Beaujolais terroirs, it reveals one of the Beaujolais region’s little-known gems – white wine. Each of the region’s appellations has distinct characteristics. Beaujolais AOC, the largest and most general, produces wines that are typically consumed young. Wines from the Beaujolais Villages AOC tend to have a bit more depth and structure. Out of the 10 Beaujolais Crus, the most famous are Morgon, Fleurie and Brouilly.

What’s cooking in the Beaujolais region?

On VINOTRIP wine tours, whether you’re attending the Bienvenue en Beaujonomie festival (held over a weekend each June) or simply dining out with friends, you’ll be able to sample delicious cuisine and Beaujolais wine pairings, generally designed to complement the light and fruity nature of the wines. A Beaujolais white can accompany a whole meal nicely, from pan-seared foie gras to roasted scallops, not to mention goat cheese. Beaujolais rosés and reds pair just as nicely with world cuisine, like stir-fried beef noodles, as they do with Lyonnais specialities. Wines from the Morgon appellation are often served with more filling dishes such as grilled meats or a rich cheese fondue, while Fleurie wines pair well with roasted chicken or grilled fish.

Getting to the Beaujolais region

By plane: if you fly into the Lyon airport, you can take a train or drive to the Beaujolais region from there.

By train: The Beaujolais vineyards are easily accessible from Lyon, just 30-45 minutes by train.

By car: It only takes 30-45 minutes to drive to the Beaujolais region.