Day-by-day estate-visit plans for Beaujolais: weekend, first-timer and deep-cellar editions.

Day-by-day plans

The Ten Crus loop: Brouilly to Saint-Amour in three days ★ 4.7

  1. Day 1

    Morning
    Begin at Mont Brouilly, climbing to the chapel at the summit for a panorama over Brouilly and Cote de Brouilly, then taste at Chateau Thivin in Odenas.
    Afternoon
    Drive north to Régnié-Durette for the tenth and newest Cru, then continue to Villié-Morgon for the afternoon and a walk up the Cote du Py granite hill.
    Evening
    Evening in Belleville-en-Beaujolais with a glass of Morgon at a local wine bar.

  2. Day 2

    Morning
    Morning in Villié-Morgon: visit at a Morgon domaine by appointment, then drive north through Chiroubles to Fleurie for a mid-morning tasting.
    Afternoon
    Drive north through Moulin-a-Vent and Chenas to Saint-Amour, the northernmost Cru, tasting at small producers along the route.
    Evening
    Dinner in Julienas or Chenas.

  3. Day 3

    Morning
    Return south through the Beaujolais-Villages zone for a comparative tasting at a cooperative or negociant showing the full appellation range.
    Afternoon
    Visit Beaujeu town: the medieval streets, the Maison du Pays du Beaujolais, and a final Cru tasting before the drive south.
    Evening
    Drive to Lyon for a bouchon dinner serving the Beaujolais you have just tasted in its natural restaurant environment.

Gang of Four Morgon natural-wine extended tour, two days ★ 4.9

  1. Day 1

    Morning
    Arrive in Villié-Morgon and walk the Cote du Py volcanic schist hill before a morning appointment at Domaine Lapierre.
    Afternoon
    Afternoon visit at Jean Foillard, whose Morgon Cote du Py represents the most mineral expression of the hill, followed by an evening tasting at Guy Breton.
    Evening
    Dinner in the village using ingredients from the local market and a bottle of Morgon opened in the cellar.

  2. Day 2

    Morning
    Morning appointment at Jean-Paul Thévenet, the fourth member of the original Gang, whose Morgon Vielles Vignes comes from very old Gobelet vines.
    Afternoon
    Drive east to Lyon for an afternoon exploration of the natural-wine bars where Morgon became an international reference, ending with a bouchon dinner.
    Evening
    Natural-wine bar in Lyon's Presqu'ile neighbourhood.

Lyon, Beaujolais, and Maconnais: a three-day wine weekend ★ 4.6

  1. Day 1

    Morning
    Arrive in Lyon and spend the morning exploring the Presqu'ile natural-wine bar scene, tasting Beaujolais Cru by the glass before any winery visit.
    Afternoon
    Drive north to the Beaujolais: first stop Fleurie village, tasting at a small Fleurie producer, then drive to Villié-Morgon for a late afternoon walk.
    Evening
    Dinner in Villié-Morgon or Belleville-en-Beaujolais.

  2. Day 2

    Morning
    Morning appointment at a Morgon domaine followed by a drive north to Moulin-a-Vent for comparison between the two most structured Crus.
    Afternoon
    Continue north into the Maconnais, tasting Pouilly-Fuissé at the Roche de Solutre and comparing the limestone Chardonnay with the granite Gamay just tasted.
    Evening
    Dinner in Macon or drive back to Belleville.

  3. Day 3

    Morning
    Drive back to Lyon via the Pierres Dorees southern Beaujolais, stopping at a golden-stone village such as Oingt before a final morning wine-bar visit in Lyon.
    Afternoon
    Afternoon at leisure in Lyon before departure.
    Evening
    Departure.

Harvest week cellar pilgrimage, early September ★ 4.8

  1. Day 1

    Morning
    Arrive in Villié-Morgon during the third or fourth week of September when Morgon harvest is typically underway. Walk the vineyards before the morning picking crew starts.
    Afternoon
    Afternoon in the cellar watching whole-cluster sorting and the start of carbonic maceration vats.
    Evening
    Evening glass of the previous vintage with the growers.

  2. Day 2

    Morning
    Morning at a Fleurie domaine during their later harvest (usually one week behind Morgon). See the earlier-ripening Fleurie sand-granite terroir at work.
    Afternoon
    Drive to Moulin-a-Vent, the last Cru to harvest, and taste the previous year's structured Moulin-a-Vent from tank.
    Evening
    Dinner at a village restaurant open during harvest.

  3. Day 3

    Morning
    Visit Chateau Thivin on Mont Brouilly for a harvest-morning walk through the volcanic diorite vineyards at the top of the appellation.
    Afternoon
    Drive back to Morgon for an afternoon barrel-tasting session of the just-fermenting juice in one of the Gang of Four cellars.
    Evening
    Harvest dinner in Villié-Morgon.

  4. Day 4

    Morning
    Morning at a cooperative or négociant to understand the scale of the Nouveau production operation alongside the Cru program.
    Afternoon
    Drive south to Lyon for departure.
    Evening
    Lyon bouchon dinner with a Morgon Cru from the cellar.

Pierres Dorees golden-stone village and southern Beaujolais weekend ★ 4.4

  1. Day 1

    Morning
    Arrive in Oingt, one of the most beautiful medieval villages in France, and walk the village fortifications before a morning tasting at Domaine des Terres Dorees in Charnay.
    Afternoon
    Drive the Route des Pierres Dorees via Chatillon d'Azergues, Salles-Arbuissonnas, and the honey-stone villages that give the sub-region its name.
    Evening
    Evening aperitif with the local Beaujolais blanc (Chardonnay) at a domaine courtyard tasting.

  2. Day 2

    Morning
    Morning drive north to Villefranche-sur-Saone, the commercial capital of the Beaujolais, for the Saturday morning market and the Maison du Beaujolais wine shop.
    Afternoon
    Drive back south to Lyon via the Saone valley.
    Evening
    Lyon dinner with a Beaujolais from the Pierres Dorees producer just visited.

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Itineraries in Beaujolais, FAQ

When is the best time to visit Beaujolais for wine?

Peak wine-travel season in Beaujolais is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.

Do I need an appointment to taste at Beaujolais estates?

classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.

What hours do Beaujolais cellars and tasting rooms keep?

most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.

How does tipping work at Beaujolais tastings?

tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.

What is the one wine to try in Beaujolais?

Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Beaujolais rewards trust.

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