Beguiling Beaujolais is a spot to unwind, benefit from the beautiful countryside and go to enchanting castles to sip divine wines says Janine Marsh as she follows the Beaujolais Châteaux Wine Route…
Beaujolais Châteaux Wine Route
There’s an outdated saying that goes “three nice rivers movement into Lyon – Saône, Rhône and Beaujolais wine.”
It’s simply 25km north from the gastronomic metropolis of Lyon to Villefranche-sur-Saône at the beginning of the magnificent Beaujolais vineyards, nevertheless it appears to be like and feels utterly completely different. It’s a reasonably secret a part of France, the locals name it “little Tuscany” due to its hilly villages with historic buildings of glowing golden stone. And on this unspoiled, inexperienced and plush a part of France, one can find probably the most fabulous wines which have lengthy equipped the Lyonnais who know a great wine once they style it.
The Beaujolais wine route is well-known to those that go to, however there’s a much less recognized route that crosses these rolling hills – the Beaujolais Châteaux Wine Route. It presents ample alternatives to find the secrets and techniques of the vineyards, take pleasure in wine tasting periods and distinctive experiences in probably the most beautiful places at nearly a dozen Château domains.
By no means one to shirk a problem, particularly the place meals and wine are concerned, I adopted the Beaujolais Châteaux route via probably the most lovely countryside the place iconic castles open their doorways to those that have a ‘Carnet’ – slightly journey e book of unique visits. Fortunately for me, my good friend Coraline was the designated, non-drinking driver and as I solely had at some point to make my visits, I didn’t make it to all 9 castles although I did handle 4 visits comfortably, together with tastings in any respect of them, and a protracted lingering lunch – they take their gastronomy critically right here.
First – get your Carnet de Route (obtain it from the Châteaux en Beaujolais web site – hyperlink on the finish of the article). Ebook your visits immediately with every citadel a minimum of 48 hours prematurely (e mail/telephone), and point out that you’ve got the Carnet. If you go to, get your Carnet stamped, as by doing so, on the second citadel and subsequent visits you’re going to get 10% off any purchases you make within the Château wine retailers. On the fifth citadel you go to – you’ll get a free bottle of wine.
However a very powerful a part of the Carnet are the unique visits it provides you entry to. As an example, on the 17th century Château de la Chaize, designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, Louis XIV’s favorite architect. The structure is unmistakeably that of one of many main architects of Versailles – elegant and totally beautiful, surrounded by gardens designed by André le Nôtre, Louis XIV’s gardener, so lovely you’ll be able to’t assist however assume it appears to be like as if it’s been transported from a fairy story to the little village of Odenas on the foot of Mont Brouilly. You’ll get to go to the citadel’s historic vineyard and cellar, and unique entry to the underground cellar and vineyards.
The tasting consists of three of the Chateau’s best vintages. There’s a ready checklist of as much as a 12 months for a few of their wines that are matured in big oak barrels in a 108m lengthy cellar, the longest in Beaujolais. Their wines are amongst the most effective of the area and seem on the best tables on this planet together with that of British Royal Household (Fleurie “La Chapelle des Bois”- sure, I did have a drop and it’s doable I’ve royal blood as I too prefer it very a lot!).
At Château Champ-Renard, which was based in 1250, the carnet grants you an inside go to – actually, as you get the “Château Life” expertise – a tour of the citadel from its medieval rooms to the dungeons, a go to to the vat room, a wander within the beautiful gardens, and a tasting of 4 fabulous wines (they’re all natural) paired with cheeses or goodies.
On the sixteenth century Château de Corcelles, constructed on the location of an eleventh century fortress, with the Carnet tour, you’ll go to the grounds and the Château the place you’ll be able to see work made with wine, and go to the chapel, dungeon, kitchens and luxuriate in a tasting of 4 glorious wines. It’s such a novel and particular place and the tour is relaxed and welcoming.
My last go to was to the Château de Lachassagne the place I may have sat all day and soaked up the fantastic views over the Saône Valley from the walled vineyards the place you’ll be able to take a stroll as a part of your Carnet tour. I managed to tear myself away for a last tasting of a number of wines, each crimson and white, within the cellar. Completely very good.
Dine when you wine
In the event you get peckish en route, you’re in luck, there’s loads of feasting available alongside the wine. Cease off at fairly little villages like oingt, the place the native café will for positive be serving traditional French dishes to go together with all these fabulous native wines and the place you’ll rub elbows and clink glasses with the locals who all appear fairly pleased to be residents of Beaujolais. And when you fancy staying in a single day, a number of of the Châteaux provide lodging on website.
get there: A practice from Lyon to Villefranche-sur-Mer takes simply 22 minutes. From Paris it’s round 2 hours. You’ll be able to rent a motorbike or rental automobile within the city.
Obtain the Carnet de Route: chateauxenbeaujolais.fr
Uncover extra about Beaujolais: Beaujolais-tourisme.com/en
Janine Marsh is the writer of a number of best-selling books about France and editor of The Good Life France journal and web site.
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