Discover one of the most famous wine regions in France and get tips to plan your trip. Find all the information you need about French wine and enjoy! Rhône wine tours begin with a premise to set the pace: the Rhône Valley is the capital of French gastronomy and the birthplace of Côtes du Rhône Grands Crus and Beaujolais wines. With such an introduction, expectations for a memorable epicurean experience are high and yes, the Rhône Valley and the city of Lyon deliver on their promise.
Rhône Valley wine tours involve tastings of the local wines and cuisine staples and will make for an unforgettable experience in the French wine country, but that is not all you can expect to do when visiting the region. Imagine yourself learning about the centuries-old silk trade traditions of Lyon by exploring its traboules (typical passageways built in the 4th century, originally used by silk manufacturers to transport their products) or enjoying a relaxing boat ride down the Rhône river to discover the city and the vineyards from a different perspective. An original and quite exclusive Rhône wine tour will take you underground, to an old railway tunnel where 80 tons of cheese is aged up to 2 years. Finish your visit off with a tasting of cheese and wines and come back up to the surface to discover one of the many mythical bouchons lyonnaises in the city (traditional restaurants that serve local cuisine such as sausages, duck pâté or roast pork).
The most famous wine from the Rhône Valley is arguably Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This wine, from the southern Rhône region, is renowned for its rich, full-bodied red blends, which often contain Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre grapes among others. The appellation is highly esteemed and recognized globally for its quality and history, dating back to the papal residency in Avignon during the 14th century.
The 13 grape varieties allowed in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation of the Rhône Valley are:
Grenache
Syrah
Mourvèdre
Cinsault
Counoise
Bourboulenc
Roussanne
Brun Argenté (also known as Vaccarèse)
Clairette
Muscardin
Picardan
Picpoul
Terret Noir
These varieties can be used in various combinations to produce the region's distinctive and complex wines.
The Rhône Valley is renowned for both its red and white wines, with the most famous being:
Châteauneuf-du-Pape: As mentioned earlier, this is the most famous wine of the Rhône Valley,popular for its robust and complex red blends made primarily from Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. The appellation also produces a smaller quantity of highly regarded white wines.
Hermitage: Another prestigious appellation, particularly known for its powerful and long-lived red wines made predominantly from Syrah. Hermitage also produces exceptional white wines from Marsanne and Roussanne.
Côte-Rôtie: Known for elegant and aromatic red wines made primarily from Syrah, often blended with a small percentage of Viognier to add complexity and floral notes.
Gigondas: Produces rich and spicy red wines, primarily from Grenache, with Syrah and Mourvèdre often blended in.
Cornas: intense, tannic red wines made exclusively from Syrah.
Côtes du Rhône: A broader appellation that includes a variety of red, white, and rosé wines. The reds are typically blends dominated by Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre.
Tavel: Known exclusively for its rosé wines, which are robust and dry, made primarily from Grenache and Cinsault.
The Rhône Valley's diversity in terroir and grape varieties allows it to produce a wide range of wines, each with its own distinct character and appeal.
The wine region closest to Lyon, France, is the Beaujolais region. Beaujolais is located just to the north of Lyon and is renowned for its light, fruity red wines made primarily from the Gamay grape. The region is popular for its Beaujolais Nouveau, a young wine released shortly after harvest in November each year, as well as for its more structured and complex Beaujolais Crus such as Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, and Fleurie.
If you would like to be immersed into the wine traditions of the region, there is no better way than taking part in one of the popular November Rhône wine tours to celebrate the Beaujolais Nouveau wine day right where the main festivities take place. Each year, on the third Thursday of November, 28 million bottles of young Beaujolais Nouveau (literally “new Beaujolais”) hit the shelves all over the world and plenty of gourmet feasts and celebrations are organized in Beaujolais, north of Lyon. If you are in the area around this time of the year, join in for some unforgettable memories of this 100% Gamay fruity red.
Steep hillsides covered in terraced vineyards, rich cultural heritage and some of the most acclaimed wines in the world: come experience everything the region has to offer on one of the many bespoke Rhône Valley wine tours a local travel expert can help you plan and tailor-make to your preferences. You can also schedule winery visits, accommodation, Michelin-starred or gourmet restaurants and bars directly on winepaths.com
Wine Paths offers a variety of wine tasting experiences in the Rhône Valley, catering to different interests and preferences. Some of the types of experiences you can expect include:
Private Vineyard Tours
Wine and Gastronomy Tours
Vertical Tastings
Blending Workshops
Biodynamic and Organic Winery Visits
Château and Estate Tours
Rhône Valley Crus Tastings
Wine and Cultural
Boat or Bike Wine Tours
Customized Wine Tours
