Beaujolais is an ideal region for a stay linked to wine. To taste Beaujolais Nouveau, spend a weekend in the countryside, or take a tour of the wine cellars by car. Winalist offers you a selection of the best experiences in the wine estates, castles and cellars of the Beaujolais region. To discover with friends, alone, or with family, take advantage of this region with its remarkable heritage on weekdays and weekends. The wine routes are waiting for you!
Visit the wine estates and wine cellars of Beaujolais
This primeur wine exists under two appellations: the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée beaujolais, and beaujolais-village. On sale worldwide from the third Thursday of November, this light and delicate red wine is (very) easy to drink. To find out, go to Villefranche-sur-Saône and Beaujeu. The thousands of hectares of vines bordered by the Saône are waiting for you! You can taste certain cuvées directly in the cellar, and learn all about the production and history of Beaujolais. With the help of a guide, or directly with the winemaker. Discover the best Beaujolais wine experiences in just a few clicks.
Did you know ? More than 100 festivals related to Beaujolais Nouveau are organized in the region. The most famous festival, Les Sarmentelles, takes place in Beaujeu. The winner of the annual tasting contest wins their weight in wine.
How to book an oenological weekend in Beaujolais?
With Winalist, wine tourism is just a click away! Thanks to our search platform, discover the Beaujolais vineyards and châteaux that suit you. Select your next destination using your search criteria. Book your experience on the date and time of your choice. Once your activity has been reserved, you will receive a confirmation and a reminder. Most of our partner growers welcome you for a wine tourism stay on Saturday and Sunday. Winalist is the leading wine tourism platform in the Rhône and in France.
The essentials to know about Beaujolais
The Beaujolais country occupies approximately 160,000 hectares, between Lyon and Mâcon. 15,000 hectares are dedicated to the cultivation of the region's 12 AOC wines. Moreover in Beaujo, nickname of the region of Beaujolais, we call the cru appellations of Beaujolais. New wine has been celebrated for millennia, this custom is as old as wine production. The phenomenon of Beaujolais Nouveaux developed in the 1950s. Indeed, a regulatory change abolished the staggering of wine releases. In 1985, a decree fixed the marketing of Beaujolais Nouveaux on the third Thursday of November to facilitate the sale of the 500,000 hectoliters produced that year. This date is still in effect today.
What does "Beaujolais Nouveau" mean?
The Beaujolais Nouveaux, apart from the great popular celebration they represent all over the world, are wines from the AOC Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages. This is a statement reserved for red wines and rosé wines. They are the result of a precise and rigorous approach. In order to produce aromatic and fruity wines, the winegrowers carry out a short maceration (no more than 5 days) which requires special know-how. If the tank is racked too early, the wines will be too light and colorless. And conversely, the tannins will be too hard if the tank is racked too late. Many wines from the Beaujolais region often receive good ratings and positive reviews.