Villefranche aperitif bars serving Beaujolais Blanc petillant and Crémant de Bourgogne by the glass as the early-evening sparkling pour before dinner.
The list: Several Villefranche bars serve Beaujolais Blanc petillant and light Crémant de Bourgogne as the aperitif standard in the early evening; a pre-dinner sparkling glass in the town centre is the local start to any Beaujolais evening out
Tip: Beaujolais Blanc is made from Chardonnay grown on the limestone edges of the southern appellation; the petillant style is informal and low-cost compared with Crémant, and works well as a pre-dinner aperitif.
Address: Villefranche-sur-Saone, 69400, France, Beaujolais
A convivial wine bar in the centre of Villefranche-sur-Saone with a strong Cru Beaujolais and natural-wine list, communal seating, and plates to share.
The list: Central Beaujolais wine bar focused on Cru and natural-wine Gamay by the glass, with a list skewed toward small growers from Morgon, Fleurie, and Moulin-a-Vent
Tip: The most accessible evening wine-bar stop in the Beaujolais capital; ask what they have open by the glass that is not on the written list.
A convivial wine bar in the centre of Villefranche-sur-Saone with a strong Cru Beaujolais and natural-wine list, communal seating, and plates to share.
The list: Central Beaujolais wine bar focused on Cru and natural-wine Gamay by the glass, with a list skewed toward small growers from Morgon, Fleurie, and Moulin-a-Vent
Tip: The most accessible evening wine-bar stop in the Beaujolais capital; ask what they have open by the glass that is not on the written list.
Wine bar and bottle shop in Belleville-en-Beaujolais, the commercial crossroads of the Cru belt, pouring small-grower Morgon and Moulin-a-Vent alongside charcuterie boards.
The list: A wine bar and cellar shop in the market town of Belleville-en-Beaujolais pouring Cru Gamay by the glass alongside local charcuterie; strong natural-wine producer list
Tip: Belleville is the most practical overnight base for the northern Crus; the Saint-Mamert is the evening pivot point between a day of cellar visits and a restaurant dinner.
The Fleurie producers' caveau in the village centre, open for extended evening hours in summer and Nouveau season, pouring the full appellation range by the glass.
The list: The Fleurie appellation's producers' tasting caveau is open for extended evening hours during the summer and Nouveau season, pouring the full Fleurie range by the glass with a brief food menu
Tip: The Fleurie caveau is run cooperatively by the appellation's producers and pours a wider range of Fleurie bottles than any single domaine; evenings in summer are often lively with local growers.
The appellation caveau inside Château de Fontcrenne in Villié-Morgon, open for evening pourings of current and back-vintage Morgon from multiple producers.
The list: The official Morgon appellation caveau offers evening pourings of current-vintage Morgon and older back-vintages by the glass, a rare opportunity to compare multiple producers side by side in the appellation's heartland village
Tip: The Caveau de Morgon is inside the Château de Fontcrenne and pours a broad selection of Morgon by the glass; an efficient way to taste across Morgon producers in a single evening session.
A bar-terrace in Beaujeu, the medieval Beaujolais capital, with an evening wine list anchored by Régnié, Brouilly, and local Beaujolais-Villages pours.
The list: Bar and terrace in the historic capital Beaujeu with an evening wine list focused on Régnié and Brouilly Crus plus the Beaujolais-Villages from the surrounding villages
Tip: Beaujeu is the least visited of the major Beaujolais towns; the terrace is most animated on Sarmentelles night and during summer village events.
The Chenas appellation caveau, one of the Cru belt's quieter evening tasting venues, serving Chenas and Moulin-a-Vent by the glass in the village centre.
The list: The Chenas appellation's producers' caveau in the village of Chenas opens for evening pourings of Chenas and Moulin-a-Vent by the glass; one of the least visited Cru caveaux and therefore the most relaxed for extended evening tastings
Tip: Chenas is the smallest of the Crus by surface area; the caveau is low-key and allows extended conversation with the duty producer unlike the busier Fleurie and Morgon caveaux.