5 Best Lyon Wine Tours – All You Need to Know (2024)
Surrounded by some of the best vineyards in France, Lyon is known as one of the premier destinations for wine lovers. Thus, anyone keen on exploring the region’s amazing flavors and vibrant culture should consider joining a wine-tasting excursion! From leisurely tasting tours to full-scale vineyard visits right outside the city, Lyon wine tours offer something for everyone. To help you find the perfect wine tour, I’ve compiled a list of the 5 best wine tours in and around Lyon!
🍷 PRO TIP: I know we are all busy people, so if you’re short on time and don’t want to spend lots of time reading, click here to jump to the recap section for a brief overview.
Lyon Wine Region
Before I tell you which Lyon wine tours are the best, let me give you a quick background about the Lyon wine region and why Lyon is a crowd-favorite for all wine lovers, enthusiasts, and aficionados.
Located in the Rhône-Alpes region of France, Lyon is known for its rich viticulture, with over 70,000 hectares of vineyards cultivated in the region. It is home to some of the most acclaimed wines from all over France and beyond. A few notable wine regions within this area include Beaujolais and Côtes du Rhône.
Beaujolais
Beaujolais is located to the north of Lyon and is globally recognized for its longstanding history in winemaking. In particular, though, the region is known for its light-bodied fruity red wines that have high acidity and low tannins and are made from Gamay grapes.
In addition, Beaujolais is famous for the highly sought-after Beaujolais Nouveau, which is a seasonal wine that’s officially released on the third Thursday of every November.
Côtes du Rhône
Located to the south of Lyon is Côtes du Rhône, which produces some of the world’s most famous and renowned wines. This region is well-known for its red wines and rosés, which often are made from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and cinsault grapes.
These wines often taste rich and full-bodied. The Grenache grapes provide fruity notes of plums and dark cherries, the Syrah brings earth and spice tones, and the Mourvedre provides an excellent hardy tannic structure.
That said, the Côtes du Rhône area is also home to some of the best white wines. The final blend of these white wines must be 80% grenache blanc, but often include Viognier, Clairette, and Marsanne grapes. These wines are usually full-bodied and have flavors of peach, apricot, and honey.
5 Best Lyon Wine Tours
Now that you have a better understanding of the region and why it is so beloved among wine lovers, let’s take a look at some of the best tours in and around Lyon!
1. Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon
✅ 🍷 Check Availability for the Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon
⭐️ RATING: 4.7 out of 5 — 300+ reviews! | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4.5 hours
The Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon includes:
- Visiting a chapel w/ a gorgeous view and exploring the medieval town of Oingt
- Touring a vineyard that has been in the same family for three generations
- Enjoying wine tastings from the vineyard with meat, cheese, and bread
- Learning everything about the production of Beaujolais wines
- Private transportation from Lyon with up to 8 guests
This is one of the highest-rated and most affordable Beaujolais wine tours. It also happens to be the most popular wine tour from Lyon. Along the way, you’ll get to visit 3 main stops and learn how the winemakers tend and grow the grapes, where the grapes are processed, and how the wine is aged and stored.
Plus, with the Beaujolais region located only 30 minutes from Lyon, you won’t have to spend all your time in transit. So, if you’re keen on getting the biggest bang for your buck while getting a glimpse into the famous Beaujolais wine region, I highly recommend this amazing Lyon wine tour! 🍷
“One of our favorite tours on our trip. Thoroughly enjoyed this small group tour to the lovely countryside. Loved the passion of the owner/operator. Visited a winery and shown around by the owner, you won’t regret booking this tour.“
– Tour Guest (See More Reviews)
✅ 🍷 Check Availability for the Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon
2. Prestige Tasting of Great French Wines & Exceptional Food Pairing
✅ 🍷 Check Availability for the Prestige Tasting of Great French Wines & Exceptional Food Pairing
⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 — 80+ 5-star reviews! | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2.5 hours
The Prestige Tasting of Great French Wines & Exceptional Food Pairing includes:
- In-depth lesson on French vineyards and dishes from an English-speaking sommelier
- An intimate dining experience w/ French products of the highest quality
- 6 wine tastings: 2 whites, 2 reds, a sweet wine, and a champagne
- A starter meal with Lyonnais cheeses sourced from Auvergne
- A main course featuring dishes special to the Rhône Valley
- Tasting traditional Lyon sweets and cheeses
- Explanations of each of the dishes
- Tasting booklet
If you’re looking for a Lyon wine tour that offers great wines and a perfectly curated three-course meal, then this is the perfect option. Over 2.5 hours, your knowledgeable guide will guide you through an exclusive dining experience in which you’ll intimately learn about the incredible regional vineyards and food special to Lyon.
Best of all, this tour is offered right in Lyon’s city center, so no transportation is required! Thus, if you’re looking for a Lyon wine tour that focuses on both culinary experiences and great wines, then I highly recommend checking out this wonderful wine tour!
“Very fun experience. Loved learning about the various wines, cheeses, and meats we tasted. Hugo was very friendly and knowledgeable. Fun experience.”
– Jessica (sEE moRE rEVIEWS)
✅ 🍷 Check Availability for the Prestige Tasting of Great French Wines & Exceptional Food Pairing
3. Full Day Guided Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch
✅ 🍷 Check Availability for the Full Day Guided Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch
⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 — Only 5-star reviews! | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 10 – 12 hours
The Full Day Guided Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch includes:
- Round-trip private transport from Lyon to Northern Crus des Côtes du Rhône
- Touring two hidden gem family-run wine estates & meeting the winemakers
- Wine tastings of the most prestigious Crus in the Northern Côtes du Rhône
- An exquisite culinary experience of local dishes paired w/ wines
- A local gastronomic workshop with a talented artisan
- A second artisan tasting experience
- Limited to 8 guests
🍷 NOTE: “Cru,” means a region that is legally recognized for its impeccable quality and the distinct terroir (or specific natural environment in which the wine was produced)
Are you a wine aficionado and love wine so much you could learn about (and drink) it all day long? If yes, then this all-inclusive experience will be worth it for you! Throughout this full-day excursion, you’ll visit 2 vineyards, meet the winegrowers, wander through their private wine cellars, and learn about their wine-creation methods that have been passed down for generations.
It’s on the pricey side, but in return, you will get to fully explore, taste, and enjoy the finest wines available from the most renowned Crus in the Northern Côtes du Rhône. Plus, you’ll partake in multiple specially curated food-tasting experiences! So, if you want to understand the region from an authentic perspective, then I recommend this wonderful full-day tour from Lyon, France.
“Tour guide Arnaud provided a full day of Rhône Valley activity, coupling it with his obvious wine knowledge and passion. His attention to detail and his first class treatment of his passengers was outstanding. My wife and I enjoyed the experience immensely.”
– Thomas M. (See More Reviews)
✅ 🍷 Check Availability for the Full Day Guided Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch
4. Beaujolais Crus Wines & Castles Tour
✅ 🍷 Check Availability for the Beaujolais Crus Wines & Castles Tour
⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 — Almost all 5-star reviews! | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4.5 hours (2 – 6:30 PM)
The Beaujolais Crus Wines & Castles Tour includes:
- Passing by Mont Brouilly, a dormant volcano & traveling through Cerceir, Morgon, and Fleurie
- Spending an hour at a family winery and meeting the passionate winemaker
- Stopping at La Madone Chapel for gorgeous views of the wine region
- Exploring the incredible wine cellar of a Castle estate
- Tasting a total of 9 – 10 different wines
- Transport in a comfy mini-bus
Ready to sample all kinds of Beaujolais wines? This highly-rated, affordable wine tour from Lyon focuses on more than just tasting various exquisite wines. Over 4.5 hours, you’ll explore and learn about the vineyards near Lyon, pass through several idyllic and quaint towns as well as see a dormant volcano. And unlike some of the other options, this tour leaves in the afternoon so you can happily sleep in! Thus, if you’re ready to discover the countryside and learn about the region’s unique wine production process, be sure to consider this wine tour.
“Olivier the tour guide was excellent! So knowledgeable about the region and winemaking. The views through Beaujolais were spectacular. We visited a local wine producer that is family-owned, Nicole Chanrion, who was inspirational, and a larger cave for a tasting. All in all a lovely afternoon enjoyed in good company!”
– AnaLuca (see more Reviews)
✅ 🍷 Check Availability for the Beaujolais Crus Wines & Castles Tour
5. Lyon Cotes du Rhone Wine Tour
✅ 🍷 Check Availability for the Lyon Cotes du Rhone Wine Tour
⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 — Nearly all 5-star reviews! | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8.25 hrs (9 AM – 5:15 PM)
The Lyon Cotes du Rhone Wine Tour includes:
- Visiting 3 top-notch wineries and sampling 17-18 wines, including Cotes Roti, Syrah, and Viognier
- Enjoying panoramic views in Vienne and seeing an old Roman theatre
- Passing through the Ampuis, the birthplace of Syrah grapes
- Visiting the terraced slopes in the Cotes Rotie vineyards
- Crossing Condrieu, the birthplace of Viognier grapes
With a total of 17-18 wine tastings, this small-group full-day tour is one of the most comprehensive wine-tasting tours in Beaujolais. It’s the ideal tour for those who wish to delve into the history and background of the different grapes used to create the famous wines of the region as well as taste all the excellent wines!
Olivier was an amazing host and very knowledgeable on the wines. He was also skilled at communicating the complexity of wine/winemaking in an easy to understand format. Great staff there!!!”
– Dannika w. (sEE mORE rEVIEWS)
✅ 🍷 Check Availability for the Lyon Cotes du Rhone Wine Tour
Lyon Wine Tours Comparison
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve likely forgotten the difference between some of the different wine tours. Thus, to help you make a decision on which wine-tasting tour is for you, here is a quick recap!
🍷 PRO TIP: If viewing on mobile, I recommend turning your phone sideways for better readability!
| Tour Name | Price | Duration | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting | ~$108 | 4.5 hrs | > Stopping at the medieval town of Oingt > Visiting one family vineyard > Several wine tastings |
| Prestige Tasting of Great French Wines & Exceptional Food Pairing | ~$173 | 2.5 hrs | > 6 wine tastings > 3-course meal > Tour is in Lyon |
| Full Day Guided Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch | ~$312 | 10 – 12 hrs | > 2 family-run wine estates > A culinary experience > A gastronomic workshop |
| Beaujolais Crus Wines & Castles Tour | ~$110 | 4.5 hrs | > Seeing a dormant volcano > Visiting a family winery & a castle winery > 9 – 10 tastings |
| Cotes du Rhone Wine Tour | ~$156 | 8.25 hrs | > 17 – 18 wine tastings > Visiting 3 vineyards > Passing through the birthplace of Syrah and Viognier grapes |
Where to Stay in Lyon
Oh! And, if you’re looking for places to stay in the city, I recommend using the interactive map below to explore the different housing options available! You can easily compare prices and access even more up-to-date information when you put in your travel dates!
Lyon Wine Tours: FAQs
As the capital city of France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Lyon is well worth visiting, even during the wintertime. It’s a bustling city with a rich historical background, filled with ancient churches, cobblestone streets, and plenty of hidden treasures. Not to mention, Lyon is recognized as the capital of French gastronomy, so there are tons of opportunities to try mouthwatering dishes and treats! For example, I highly recommend their desserts, which often feature neon pink pralines — something the city is famous for.
The tours I have recommended range from about $100 – $230, which may not be within everyone’s budget. But, the cost of the tour goes towards curating an incredibly immersive experience and what you pay is ultimately an investment in what you will get from the experience.
I fully believe doing a wine tour in Lyon is worth it. Why? Because these tours provide you the opportunity to learn about the local culture and traditions, taste exquisite wines from renowned Crus, enjoy delicious food pairings, visit stunning vineyards, meet with the actual vineyard owners, and intimately learn about their craft. And from my perspective, the quality of everything you receive is well worth the money!
Wrap-Up: 5 Best Lyon Wine Tours (2024)
Whether you’re looking for a romantic escape with your significant other, a wine enthusiast looking for an educational experience with friends and family, or traveling solo keen on an unforgettable time, sipping wine in the glorious French countryside is an experience that should not be missed while visiting Lyon. Along the way, you’ll explore the beautiful vineyards, delve into the history of wine-making, sample some of the region’s finest wines, and meet with local winemakers.
Truly, there’s hardly a better way to get an in-depth look at the amazing culture and traditions that make this part of France so special. So, if you’re ready to experience the vibrancy of Beaujolais or savor the blends of Côtes du Rhône, I hope this post has helped you decide which Lyon wine tour is best for you!
Discover France
- 🏖️ French Riviera: Curious about the Provence wine region? Read about it here and how to best explore it on your next vacation in the French Riviera.
- 🇫🇷 Paris: Visiting Paris? Here’s the truth about Paris that no one talks about. Or, if you’re ready to get out of Paris, even if only for a few hours, consider visiting Monet’s famed estate. Here you can visit the famous landscape that inspired his most famous work that hangs in this little museum!
- 🏰 Toulouse: Debating traveling to France’s pink city? Discover what this city that’s entrenched with a storied past has to offer. You can even travel to this famous UNESCO site that will make you feel as though you’ve traveled back in time.
