Best Wine Tours from Lyon, France

Located in the heart of France, Lyon is the perfect base for exploring splendid vineyards and tasting amazing wines. The area around Lyon encompasses different French wine regions (Beaujolais and the Vallée du Rhône), where you can savor some of the world’s most exquisite wines.

You can either join a Lyon wine tour or do a self-guided wine trip – it’s really up to you.

To make the most out of your wine tours from Lyon, check out my recommendations and top tips so you will have the best trip ever!

Beaujolais or Rhône Valley – Where to Go?

Beaujolais Wine Region

Right north of Lyon is the Beaujolais Wine Region. Beaujolais is mainly known for its cheap wine Beaujolais Nouveau; however, the area also produces exceptional red wines, particularly the 10 Crus of Beaujolais.

Made with Gamay grapes, top-quality Cru Beaujolais are mainly fruity with light tannins. They have aromas of fresh red fruits (raspberry, cherry) as well as some peppery notes.

Although most Beaujolais wines are red, there are also white wines produced from Chardonnay grapes and rosés produced from Gamay grapes.

Most Beaujolais wine is sold as Appellation Contrôlée (AOC), with twelve separate appellations taking the name of the different villages producing the various wines.

Vallée du Rhône Wine Region (North)

The Northern area of the Vallée du Rhône Wine Region is the closest to Lyon and lies between the cities of Vienne, south of Lyon, and Montélimar. The area has the ideal soil and microclimate, making it one of France’s greatest wine regions for more than 2,000 years.

Home to prestigious, high-quality red wines for aging, we will find the AOC Crus Côte Rotie, Saint Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, and Cornas. Only four grape varieties are present in this area: Syrah for the reds and Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne for the whites.

Best Lyon Wine Tours

Following is a handy table with the best Lyon wine tours. The groups are small, with up to 8 people.

Guided wine tours from Lyon will let you explore the most famous wine areas near the city. Choose between Beaujolais wine tours from Lyon or Rhône Valley wine tours.

The tours leading north of Lyon are for those interested in discovering and tasting the wines of the Beaujolais Wine Region.

South of Lyon, you will instead find the Rhône Valley Wine Region, with a great deal of wine tours to join.

Best Wineries Near Lyon, France, for Self-Guided Wine Tours 

Doing a self-guided wine tour from Lyon is possible, but there is a key element that you need to take into account: most of the wine tastings are by appointment only.

If you want to do a wine tasting near Lyon, you won’t be able to just show up at a wine producer and ask to do the tasting. Besides, wine-tasting tours are popular activities in Lyon, so reserving your wine-tasting well in advance is a must.

If you want to visit the vineyards near Lyon, you will also need to rent a car (if you don’t have one) to reach your desired wineries. I suggest you check out DiscoverCars.com, a comparison site that will find you the best car rental deals in Lyon, and my best tips for renting a car in France.

Here is a comprehensive list of the best vineyards and wineries near Lyon, France. All the wineries listed offer visitors wine-tasting tours in French and English. If there’s a tour you like, you can book it directly through the links below or contact the wineries individually.

Self-guided Beaujolais Wine Tours from Lyon

• Domaine Frédéric Berne (Morgon, 46 km away)
• Château de Poncié (Fleurie, 50 km away)
• Domaine Duboeuf (Beaujolais, 46 km away)
• Domaine Jean-Pierre Rivière (Beaujolais, 23 km away)
• Domaine des Pampres d’Or (Beaujolais, 19 km away)
• Château des Jacques (Moulin à Vent, 47 km away)

Self-guided North Rhône Valley Wine Tours from Lyon

• Domaine Les Terriens (Côte Rotie, 39 km away)
• Domaine de Corps de Loup (Côte Rotie, 32 km away)
• Domaines Pierre Gaillard (Saint Joseph, 54 km away)
• Domaine Michelas Saint Jemms (Crozes Hermitage, 90 km away)
• Ferraton Père & Fils (Crozes Hermitage, 90 km away)

Lyon Wine Tour vs Self-Guided Wine Trip

Taking a Lyon wine tour has many advantages, among which are that you won’t need to take care of any organization and you can drink as much as you want because you don’t drive. Wine tours are led by expert guides who will inform you in great detail about how winemaking works in the area, which makes the experience much more enjoyable.

A big downside of guided wine tours is that you won’t be free to select extra activities or decide how much time to spend on each wine location.

The biggest perk of a self-guided wine trip is the total freedom you have in crafting your preferred itinerary, deciding which wineries and vineyards to visit, and how much time to spend in each place.

Self-guided wine trips in the vineyards near Lyon are also much cheaper; however, there is a great deal of research that goes into the planning of such trips, and you will need to reserve everything by yourself.

Stay on Wine-Producing Estates for the Ultimate Wine Experience

For the ultimate wine experience near Lyon, you can stay overnight on a wine-producing estate. Resting in a stunning château-hotel or a domain, waking up surrounded by lush vineyards, and then doing wine tastings will make your vacation the best one yet!

Here is the list of the best wine-producing estates in the area for your Lyon wine tours.

Chateau de Pizay

In the Beaujolais wine area, the Château de Pizay is immersed in an 80-hectare forest and vineyard, and it boasts an award-winning spa, a heated swimming pool, and a gourmet restaurant – Click here for more information and pictures

Château de Bagnols

Located in the heart of the Beaujolais wine area, the Château de Bagnols offers guests a Roman outdoor swimming pool, a spa, and a restaurant serving traditional local cuisine with a contemporary twist – Click here for more information and pictures

Château de Pierreclos

A perfect escape to the Mâcon wine area, the Château de Pierreclos delights guests with a large garden and a stunning outdoor pool, all surrounded by a captivating landscape – Click here for more information and pictures

Hotel des Vignes

This lovely 3-star hotel in Julienas, in the heart of the Beaujolais Wine Area, is surrounded by beautiful vineyards. The Hotel des Vignes welcomes guests in a cozy setting with an outdoor swimming pool and is only 500 meters away from two gourmet restaurants – Click here for more information and pictures

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