Would appreciate recommendations for Rhone wine tasting- possibly on our own (we will have a car) or through a wine tour company. Is there a "wine trail" for Rhone wines we can drive, like in the U.S., or do most wineries not have public tasting rooms and instead handle visitors through approved tour operators. Thanks!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
We will be in Lyon in two weeks. Will let you know what we find. Steves' French book mentions a couple of local tours. That will be our first stop.
Posted by
Portland, Maine
2916 posts
I've visited dozens of wineries in the general area of Lyon over the years, and never used a tour nor needed a reservation. There is the Beaujolais and Maconnais to the north, the Bugey region to the northeast, and the Northern Rhone (Condrieu, Cornas, St. Joseph, Hermitage, etc.) to the south. I don't know if you can call what they have in the northern Rhone a "wine trail;" it's certainly not like what exists in Napa or Sonoma, but with a little advance research and a decent map, you can easily find plenty of places to try wines. Here is one link, although it seems to emphasize the southern Rhone more than the north. http://www.rhone-wines.com/
Most wineries will have some kind of public tasting area, ranging from an elaborate tasting room down to a little table in the garage next to the winery facility.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Lyon's Tourist Information office should have a useful printed map for drivers on the Route du Beaujolais. Rick's advice to look for degustation signs should mean that you don't have to reserve. But if business is slow and they have to open bottles for you, then I'd feel some compunction to buy. Also have a look at http://www.rhone-wines.com/en/route#.