Chateau des Jacques cellar bar (evening) ★ 4.5
12 by the glassMoulin-a-Vent
Chateau des Jacques opens its historic stone cellar for candlelit evening tastings by appointment, covering the full named-clos Moulin-a-Vent range.
The list: The Jadot-owned Chateau des Jacques opens its historic stone cellar for candlelit evening tastings by appointment, pouring the named-clos Moulin-a-Vent range alongside the entry estate wine
Tip: The named-clos flight covers Grand Cras, La Roche, Clos du Grand Carquelin, and Les Thorins, comparing four Moulin-a-Vent climats from a single estate in one session.
Chateau Thivin terrace (evening tasting) ★ 4.6
10 by the glassCote de Brouilly
Chateau Thivin hosts candlelit evening tastings on the terrace with views over the Cote de Brouilly vineyards at the foot of Mont Brouilly.
The list: Chateau Thivin hosts evening terrace tastings with views over the Cote de Brouilly vineyards, pouring the full range including the top Cuvee Zaccharie and back vintages by appointment
Tip: The terrace view at sunset over Mont Brouilly is one of the most atmospheric settings in the Beaujolais; book an evening tasting for a day when the sun sets behind the volcanic summit.
Christian Mabeau (evening wine list) ★ 4.3
16 by the glassBelleville-en-Beaujolais
A candlelit Belleville-en-Beaujolais restaurant with a serious Cru Beaujolais and Burgundy wine list and regional cuisine pairing.
The list: A candlelit Belleville restaurant with a wine list focused on Beaujolais Cru and Burgundy, serving classic regional cuisine alongside a cellar-depth selection of older-vintage Morgon and Moulin-a-Vent
Tip: Belleville's restaurant scene is understated but reliable; Christian Mabeau is a recognised wine destination in the town and pairs the Cru list with proper regional cuisine.
Caveau du Coq au Vin (Julienas) ★ 4.4
14 by the glassJulienas
The Julienas caveau in a deconsecrated church, offering candlelit evening tastings of Julienas and Saint-Amour by the glass in the Cru belt's most unusual setting.
The list: The Julienas appellation caveau housed in a former church in the village centre offers candlelit evening tastings of Julienas and Saint-Amour by the glass; the setting inside the deconsecrated church with Beaujolais-themed frescoes is unique in the Cru belt
Tip: The Julienas caveau is inside an old church decorated with Bacchanalian frescoes; it is the most photogenic evening tasting venue in the northern Beaujolais and worth a dedicated visit.
Maison du Beaujolais (Saint-Jean-d'Ardières) ★ 4.3
30 by the glassBelleville-en-Beaujolais zone
The Inter Beaujolais visitor centre near Belleville includes a lounge tasting room pouring the complete appellation hierarchy from basic Beaujolais through all ten Crus.
The list: The Inter Beaujolais trade house includes a lounge-style tasting room pouring the full appellation range from Beaujolais to the named Crus, open to visitors through the day and into the early evening
Tip: The Maison du Beaujolais covers the full appellation hierarchy in a single visit; come here before a Cru domaine appointment to calibrate your reference points.
Le Nouveau Lounge ★ 4.1
18 by the glassVillefranche-sur-Saone
Hotel bar in Villefranche-sur-Saone with a year-round Cru Beaujolais lounge list and late opening hours.
The list: A hotel bar in Villefranche-sur-Saone functioning as a year-round lounge for Beaujolais Cru by the glass, with a deeper Moulin-a-Vent and Morgon list than most town bars and a comfortable settee-heavy layout
Tip: The Nouveau Lounge is the latest-opening wine venue in Villefranche centre; useful as a nightcap destination after a dinner without a serious wine list.