Lyon bouchon late Beaujolais service ★ 4.7
Lyon Vieux-Lyon and Presqu'ile
Lyon bouchon late service, the traditional working-restaurant Beaujolais experience in the city that invented the pot lyonnais and the culture of drinking Gamay at midnight.
The list: The Lyon bouchons, the city's traditional working restaurants, serve Beaujolais late into the night from the pot lyonnais, the 46 cl bottle that has been the vehicle for Gamay in Lyon for three centuries; late sittings go until midnight on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Tip: A late bouchon sitting on the Thursday of Nouveau release is the most authentic Lyon wine experience of the year; the bouchon tradition serves Beaujolais from pots, not glasses, so order for the table.
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.