Hi All,
Will be in Lyon from September 3rd to 5th and am trying to work out a day of winery visits while I’m there.
Would appreciate any vineyard recommendations near Lyon. Also contemplating making a detour north to Mâcon if anyone thinks that’s the better use of a day.
Any producers, small local growers, or hidden gems that might still take appointments on short notice would be especially helpful.
Any suggestions would be hugely appreciated. Thank you in advance!
If if was me I would be targeting the Cote Rotie/Condrieu/northern St Joseph area. I will caveat that I don’t have extensive producer tasting experience in the northern rhone. I did visit the area in 2018 but stayed in Tain l’Hermitage and only had one visit in the Cote Rotie area as I spent most of the time further south. I visited Domaine DuClaux on that trip and they were welcoming and I enjoyed the wines.
I would be studying Google maps of the area to get website information and make contacts with producers that would interest me. I would probably try Levet, Lionel Faury, Jamet, Georges Vernay, Yves Cuilleron for starters although Faury is the only one of those producers I have drank. I know Xavier Gerard has had some good comments on here in the past but I don’t see any contact info for them on Google. In 2018 I tried to set something up with Guigal but they declined.
If you head north, obviously Beaujolais would be an option. We passed through there earlier this summer on the way to Burgundy and had a good lunch at Domaine de la Madone at the top of a gorgeous hill outside of Fleurie. I don’t know enough about Beaujolais producers to give any more recommendations there.
As an outlier, take a look at Rostaing-Tayard. Some interesting terroir in the Coteaux du Lyonnais.
One problem you are facing is harvest is in full swing, you may need to find producers that have larger operations with a tasting staff.
Thanks @David_Games @patrick_c_albright - all excellent suggestions. Will definitely look into it.
As you mentioned running into harvest - several places are closed to visitors this week. So far got a reservation at - Chateau de Fuisse and Domaine Guillemot-Michel.
Beaujolais is one of the most scenic areas in all of France and an easy day excursion from Lyon. I concur the view from Domaine de la Madone in Fleurie is exceptional. Our tasting visit to Chateau des Jacques in Moulin a Vent was a standout - beautiful historic estate now owned by Jadot. Tasting their aged Cru wines was a revelation, demonstrating that quatity crafted, mature Gamay can rival - and easily be mistaken for - top tier Pinot (was a revelation to learn that the best wines from Beaujolais were once as, if not more expensive than Cote de Nuits GCs). I wasn’t a believer until this visit and now back up the truck for these wines when they come to Canada. Our meal at Chateau de Bagnols - also a hotel - was fabulous. One of the most beautiful settings and properties you will find (from someone who has had the good fortune to travel quite extensively throughout France for 40+ yrs).