1. Vergisson
This will be our first wine stop in Mâconnais, the only wine produced here is white wine, depending on your centers of interest, we'll either visit a wine producer, a winery or just open a bottle in the vineyards
40 minutes
2. La Roche de Solutre
This small hill was used by prehistorical natives to hunt up to the top where they'd force wild animals off the cliff. It is also an iconic remembrance place of the french resistance, depending on your interest and physical condition, we can hike to the top, it's an easy 30min walk.
1 hour
3. Solutre-Pouilly
One of our favorite spots in Mâconnais region, we'll either visit another wine producer or do a wine tasting with a professional. This village is as charming as they get!
40 minutes
4. Leynes
This will be our last stop in Mâconnais region, we'll visit a domain that stands right at the border with Beaujolais, a young couple that started making wine a few years ago and that represent this new generation of wine growers in terms of technique and philosophy. We will, of course, taste their wine!
1 hour
5. Saint-Amour-Bellevue
Welcome to Beaujolais, Saint Amour is the first cru (exceptional wine area) we'll be visiting, and we'll be doing this the proper way as it will be lunchtime!
We'll stop in a local restaurant (not included in the price of your day with us) or, weather allowing, we'll have a picnic in the vineyards - if you prefer.
1 hour 30 minutes
6. Saint-Amour-Bellevue
We'll stop at the church of the village to visit it and tell you about all the things we discovered about this place. Expect to travel in time!
30 minutes
7. Chenas
Chénas is the second cru we'll see in Beaujolais, We can stop at the castle of the village that has been changed into a cooperative for a wine tasting. You're in red wine country now.
40 minutes
8. Chateau du Moulin-a-Vent
Moulin à Vent is known as the lord of Beaujolais wines, it was competing with Romane Conti in the late 19th century, we'll tell you the story of that.
Moulin à vent means Windmill in french and guess what? There will be an authentic 15th century wind mill to be seen there!
20 minutes
9. Fleurie
Fleurie is known as the most feminine cru of Beaujolais, ironically, it was put on the map by a woman last century.
Depending on your mood and thirst, we'll either stop at the cooperative, that also acts as a local bar, for a tasting, or we'll head uphill to our favorite viewpoint in the vineyards, we'll pull out long chairs and open a few bottles for you to taste, one of them being from the vineyard where we'll be standing.
1 hour
10. Julienas
Welcome to our last stop in the crus of Beaujolais, Julienas is the rebel cru to us.
We'll stop in a building that used to belong to the catholic church. They serve only Julienas wine as less than 2 USD/glass.
Most tables are usually occupied by local wine growers and it always seems some conspiracy is going on.
This is as authentic as it gets.
40 minutes