Fete des Crus evening tasting session ★ 4.5
40 by the glassVillefranche-sur-Saone
The extended evening session of the annual Fete des Crus, allowing late-visit tasting of all ten Crus at the producer stands after the daytime trade crowds have gone.
The list: The annual Fete des Crus in April extends its first-day programme into the evening with a full producer-floor tasting session that allows visitors to taste all ten Crus by the glass in a late-afternoon-into-evening format
Tip: The evening session of the Fete des Crus is less crowded than the midday rush; arrive after 18:00 when the professional trade buyers have left and growers are more relaxed.
Cave des Vignerons de Macon (Crémant bar) ★ 4.1
8 by the glassMacon
The Macon cooperative tasting room with a dedicated Crémant de Bourgogne sparkling section, pouring method-traditionnelle Chardonnay and Pinot Noir by the glass.
The list: The Macon cooperative's tasting room adjacent to the Beaujolais border pours Crémant de Bourgogne alongside Maconnais whites; the sparkling room component serves method-traditionnelle Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Crémant by the glass in a dedicated section
Tip: Crémant de Bourgogne is the most practical aperitif sparkling wine for a Beaujolais evening; prices are a fraction of Champagne and the quality from the Macon cooperatives is reliable.
Pétillant Naturel at Gang of Four producer events ★ 4.3
4 by the glassMorgon
Natural-wine pétillant naturel from Morgon Gang of Four-tradition producers, available at cellar-door events and wine festival producer stands.
The list: Several Morgon natural-wine producers, including those in the Gang of Four tradition, make small quantities of Pétillant Naturel from Gamay; these ancestral-method sparkling wines are served at cellar-door and wine-festival events and represent the sparkling expression of Beaujolais natural wine
Tip: Pét-nat from Morgon producers is not widely distributed; the best chance to taste it is at the Fete des Crus producer tables or during harvest-week cellar visits when producers occasionally open trial batches.
Cave Cooperative d'Igé (Crémant de Bourgogne) ★ 4.0
6 by the glassMaconnais (border area)
The Igé cooperative near the Beaujolais border producing a well-regarded Crémant de Bourgogne, open for afternoon tasting of the sparkling and white wine range.
The list: The Igé cooperative just north of the Beaujolais border produces a well-regarded Crémant de Bourgogne from Chardonnay; the cooperative cellar is open for tasting and sales including late-afternoon visits when the sparkling range can be tasted alongside the Macon-Igé whites
Tip: Cave d'Igé is a short detour from the Beaujolais-Maconnais border; a stop here adds a complete Crémant comparison before the Cru Beaujolais evening.
Bar aperitif with Beaujolais Blanc petillant (Villefranche) ★ 3.9
6 by the glassVillefranche-sur-Saone
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.
Le Zinc ★ 4.3
20 by the glassVillefranche-sur-Saone
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.