Delight in a beautiful landscape shaped by vines and dotted with countless chateaux; stop for a bite in one of the warm and inviting Beaujolais Bistrots.

The Beaujolais Wine Route

Explore the 140km Beaujolais Wine Route at your own pace – on foot, by bike or car – and discover the magnificent Beaujolais wine region and its 12 different appellations. From Saint-Amour, visit the north of Beaujolais and its 10 crus, part of the Beaujolais Villages appellation. Head over to Lozanne in the south of the wine region to explore the Beaujolais appellation.

Each journey along the Beaujolais Wine Route is unique thanks to the different stops along the way, each filled with new delights and curiosities. Stop in Romanèche-Thorins to visit the Windmill, which gave its name to one of the most famous crus in Beaujolais, and have fun as you explore Europe’s first vine and wine theme park, the Hameau Duboeuf.

Beaujolais will offer plenty of pleasant surprises throughout your trip, with almost 200 cellars open to the public which meet the “Beaujolais: une terre, des vins, un accueil privilégié” quality scheme.

A historic heritage in a beautiful landscape

A definite highlight of this route is Beaujeu, the historic capital of Beaujolais, where the Maison du Terroir Beaujolais visitor centre and its range of family-friendly tourist activities and entertainment await! Follow this with a climb to the summit of Mont Brouilly and admire the breathtaking panorama of the slopes and Saône valley. You’ll also find a géoscope, an information panel with details on the diversity of the Beaujolais soil and terrain and how the landscape was formed.

Next it’s time for a stop in Vaux-en-Beaujolais, also known as Clochemerle, where you can immerse yourself in the world of Gabriel Chevallier’s novel; be sure to visit the village cellar where you can sample Beaujolais Villages or grape juice by the glass in a cosy setting. 

Pierres Dorées villages and Beaujolais Bistrots

Beaujolais will offer plenty of pleasant surprises throughout your trip, with almost 200 cellars open to the public which meet the “Beaujolais: une terre, des vins, un accueil privilégié” quality scheme. At Villefranche-sur-Saône, travel back in time as you follow the city trail and discover houses, courtyards and other remnants of a Renaissance past.

Finally, in the south of Beaujolais, don’t miss out on a piece of Tuscany in France as you stroll through the streets of the 39 traditional Pierres Dorées (Golden Stones) villages, awarded the “Vignobles & Découvertes” quality label. At Oingt, Ternand or Charnay, you’ll never tire of these houses and buildings that are built from ochre stone and bask in the sunlight.

And if you fancy a bite to eat along the way, why not visit one of the Bistrots Beaujolais dotted throughout the vineyard, where tasty meals accompanied by Beaujolais wines await!

Olivier Nasti is a force of nature: holder of the prestigious “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” title, two-star chef at La Table d’Olivier Nasti, the restaurant at the 5-star Chambard hotel in Kaysersberg, and a fervent advocate of his local produce. His top picks speak of his love of both Alsace and his profession. Interview with an enthusiast...

How do you remain on top form? What’s your secret?

Nature. We work in a tough profession, with a punishing schedule. To charge up with the energy I need to get through the day I climb the peaks at Orbey, near Kaysersberg. It looks amazing in the snow!

Of all your recipes, which is your favourite?           

I’ve always worked with wild game in my restaurant, La Table d’Olivier Nasti. It’s a tradition here in Alscace and I’m a huge fan of this particular meat. It’s lean, and has lots of potential. I work with the entire animal, but with finesse and apply a light touch. Haunch of venison is delicious as carpaccio served with a wood sorrel mayonnaise. I also prepare a foie gras and black truffle pie with shoulder of venison, a recipe inspired by the final of the Meilleur Ouvrier de France competition. I serve it with a purée made with a Christine Ferber baerewaecka, a nod to Alsace, as well as mushrooms, spinach and a light sauce.

Which wine would you recommend?

With wild game, it has to be a red Pinot Noir from Alsace*!

 (Remarks taken from Zut magazine!)

 *Red Pinot Noir is one-of-a-kind in Alsace, a region renowned for its white wines. Fleshy, well-structured, with a delicate red colour and a taste of its terroir, Pinot Noir pairs perfectly with red meats and wild game. This is a tasting must!

Set off along the stunning scenery of the Alsace Wine Route and explore the secrets of the vineyard on some unforgettable walks

Discover the wine paths

Head off the beaten track and spend some quality time with friends or family as you enjoy this special fun-packed break. Meet friendly local winemakers in stunningly picturesque countryside and become an expert on the Wine of Alsace and its terroirs and grape varieties. Whether you prefer two wheels or your own two feet, plunge into the winemaking world as you follow one of the fifty or so signposted walking or cycling paths. You’ll be blown away by the know-how of the local winemakers who delight in sharing their wines during tastings at any time of year.

Amazing experiences on the Alsace Wine Route

Every day is different on the Alsace Wine Route because each trail is unique and offers a host of activities. Why not try the amazing Geocaching experience in Pfaffenheim, in the heart of the vineyard, and enjoy a treasure hunt with a modern twist aimed at young and old alike. Or transform yourself into a wandering artist as you learn to sketch the landscape while walking the Andlau trail. These fun walks are a great way to discover Alsace at your own pace during a family day out.

With its tiny bunches of grapes and thick-skinned black seeds, Pinot Meunier - or simply Meunier to its fans - is the grape variety grown in one third of the Champagne region.

Nevertheless, for some obscure reason Meunier is the least favoured of the Champagne varieties. Rare indeed are the winemakers producing 100% Meunier varietals, except on the slopes of Vallée la Marne and most notably in the Champagne Dom Caudron vineyard. Situated 30km south-west of Reims, this co-operative of 130 hectares has concentrated on the Meunier varietal since 1929. The vineyard offers an advanced oenological course focused on 'vins clairs' and champagnes made from their favourite grape varieties. The estate also offers excellent guided tours during the wine harvest. If you want to be one of the first to know about future trends in the world of Champagne, then this is the place for you.

Those who have already experienced one know that a golfing break in wine-growing country generally involves lining up the local beverages as well as your golf shots!

On that principle, 2 golf courses and 3 hotels around Pouilly-Fuissé have joined forces to offer mixed breaks combining two green fees with a one night stay. The La Salle and La Commanderie golf courses both have wooded, immersive grounds and a wine bar as the Club House. The three hotels participating in the offer also play up the local Chardonnay and other Bourgogne wines. This is particularly the case at Château de Besseuil in Clessé where not only do you get to spend the night in a working vineyard, but you can also attend one of their tasting and introduction to wine sessions in their own œnothèque. Warning: significant risk of crooked putts.

The Roche de Solutré is above all a remarkable viewing point, exhilarating even.

The Mâcon vineyards in the foreground, the Saône valley, the Alps and Mont Blanc on a clear day…. A veritable feast for the eyes of the adventurous explorer that you are and not just at the summit. The climb offers amazing effects of perspective, as the Roche de Vergisson, (the Roche de Solutré's little sister), seems to move throughout the ascent. The 45 minute walk, starting in the village of Solutré-Puilly, is quite demanding. After a good work-out for your knees, next stop is a work-out for your elbow at the Atrium in Solutré's village square. This convivial wine cellar designed by the Pouilly Fuissé wine-producers promises in one tasting to bring you on a tour of 4 villages, 15 types of soil, 200 climates and 250 producers of the appellation. A great spot.

People say that Chusclan is the most Provençal of the Languedoc villages.

Logical really, since the only thing between it and Provence is the Rhône. When you arrive, park in the village car-park. It's time to dust off your walking shoes. The short walk to Château de Gicon is an olfactory and visual exercise that will titillate your quadriceps. The castle's architecture - more of a fortress really - bears witness to numerous past owners. Built on the site of a Gallo-Roman villa, the fortress was influential in the Middle Ages and according to legend, it even played host to Saint Louis on his way to the Crusades. At the top, the impressive panorama encompasses the Rhône valley, the Cèze valley and four provinces: Languedoc, Provence, Auvergne and Dauphiné.

The winemakers of Chusclan have been working on the rehabilitation of the site for about forty years. And for good reason. At the bottom of the cliffs, the base of the castle plunges into Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre vines, the three great varieties of the Chusclan appelation. An interestiing point to note is that the 12 hectares of vineyard below the château undergo a separate vinification in order to produce the atypical cuvée Château de Gicon.