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A private tour taking you from Lyon to Avignon where you will tour the Beaujolais, Shiraz and Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine regions.
On this 4 night private tour of the magical Rhone valley you will travel through the wonderful landscape of the wine growing regions and taste some of France’s finest wines such as Beaujolais, Shiraz and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. You will stay in characterful and very comfortable accommodation along the way and your expert local guide will share his knowledge of the local area, its history, cuisine, people and places of interest. You will experience wine tastings in fabulous wineries and learn all about how the wine is produced, and the unique flavours that are developed over months and years. After two glorious days in the Beaujolais and Shiraz wine regions, you’ll take the train to Avignon and taste the iconic Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Enjoy winery visits and tastings, delicious fresh French produce and wonderful vineyard scenery on this soujourn through the Rhone countryside.
Shared excursions to the Beaujolais and Shiraz wine regions
Private Tour around Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Picnic lunch in the castle gardens of Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Small boutique hotel accommodation for 4 nights
I was born in Paris and lived there for most of my life until I moved to Bordeaux for a new job to work for a wine company. During my time here, I completely fell in love with Bordeaux, as well as Strasbourg and Reims, and truly discovered what we call in French art de vivre (the art of living).
Your tour starts in Lyon, you will be collected at either Lyon train station or Lyon airport for your transfer to your boutique hotel in Lyon centre. Take the rest of the day to explore this beautiful city and have a leisurely dinner at one of the many amazing restaurants.
After breakfast you will be collected to enjoy a shared half-day excursion and discover Lyon’s magnificent countryside. Travel North of Lyon on the beautiful Beaujolais wine road through several picturesque small villages surrounded by vineyards.
Your expert guide will explain about the “terroir” and the different characteristics of the Beaujolais wine appellations and its 10 crus wines. Then we enter the Cateau winery and discover the secrets about grape growing and the different steps of the unique Beaujolais wine making process called “semi-carbonic” maceration before wine-tasting several Beaujolais crus wines in the beautiful Chateau cellar.
Later, we go through Chiroubles and Ville-Morgan before passing near Mont Brouilly, a strikingly beautiful dormant volcano covered by secular vineyards. Then, climb Fleurie’s Chapel for a stunningly beautiful view of the Saone Valley. On a clear day you will be able to see the Alps and Mont Blanc!
Finally, meet a passionate wine-maker, visit his small winery and taste several “Crus Beaujolais” wines .
After breakfast enjoy a shared excursion to discover the wines from the Northern Rhone Valley. First we will stop in Vienne to admire the spectacular view of the 2000 year old Roman theatre and the stunning panorama of the Rhone Valley. We will then drive through the regions of the Shiraz and Viognier graps, passing by Cote Rotie and Condrieu vineyards.
You will learn the secrets of the unique Rhone winemaking savoire faire and the art of barrel ageing. Here you will taste some Condrieu, St Joseph and/or Cote Rotie in 2 different small wineries.
Then, you will take a private transfer to Lyon Part Dieu train station to take your train to Avignon.
At Avignon train station you will be picked up and transferred to your guesthouse in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
This evening dinner will be in the guest house.
Explore a private full-day wine tour with a wine specialist to explore the Southern Cotes du Rhone vineyards. Vist the cellar and taste the wines of the appellation Ventoux in a traditional wine estate located at the foot of the Mont Ventoux.
Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch in the gardens of the wine castle. Here you will learn all about the wine making and taste wines from Condrieu, St Joseph and / or Cotes Rotie from visits to 2 different wineries.
Continue to Dentelles de Montmirail hill range, a charming countryside where the vineyards of Gigondas are growing. Sample the full-bodied red wines and the rose wines of Gigondas, one of the best Cru Des Côtes Du Rhône.
End the day in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and indulge your taste buds with a wine tasting in a local winery. Find out about the Rhone valley vineyards: the terroirs, soil, climate, grape varieties and flavours. Your guide will share with you tips for improving your knowledge of wine-tasting.
Tonight you will have dinner at your leisure, your hosts will be happy to provide recommendations in the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Today you will have a final breakfast at your hotel and then take a private transfer to Avignon train station for your journey home, taking with you lots of lovely memories of your time in the magical Rhone Valley.
The Rhône wine region in Southern France is situated in the Rhône valley and produces numerous wines under various Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) designations. The northern sub-region produces red wines from the Syrah (Shiraz) grape, sometimes blended with up to 20% of white wine grapes, and white wines from Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier grapes.
The southern sub-region produces an array of red, white and rosé wines, often blends of several grapes such as in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Your tour will begin in beautiful town of Lyon, and from there you will travel throughout the Rhone Valley, tasting the iconic wines it has to offer.
