Beaujolais tastes better with a guide. This small-group day trip from Lyon strings together two different winery tastings plus village time in the Golden Stones area, with an English option and a friendly pace for an 8- to 9-hour outing.

I love the up-close tastings at two estates, including guided pours and time to meet the people behind the wine. I also love the max 8-person group size, which keeps the questions coming and makes it easier to hear every detail from the guide, often led by Justine.

One thing to plan for: lunch is not included (you’ll reserve a local menu for about €25 per person), and there are no toilets on board, so come prepared.

Quick hits you’ll actually care about

• Two tastings at two estates in different parts of Beaujolais, typically 4–6 wines per stop
• Small group up to 8 people, led by a local specialist guide (Justine in many bookings)
• Oingt village walk with cobblestones, medieval streets, and vineyard views
• Mont Brouilly lunch stop with a pre-booked restaurant menu (around €25/pers)
• Comfortable air-conditioned Mercedes and short snack breaks during tastings

The Beaujolais route: Golden Stones plus two estates

This tour is built around a simple idea: don’t just drink wine. Pair the tastings with the places that shape them. You start by heading toward the Beaujolais des Pierres Dorées area, where the scenery is part of the lesson—golden stone villages, vineyard slopes, and lots of visual context for what you’re tasting.

The day moves in a way that makes sense. You get one estate tasting in the south at Oingt, a walk through Oingt village, lunch around Mont Brouilly, then a second estate tasting to the north at Fleurie. You finish back in Lyon around 5:30 to 6:00 pm, depending on traffic.

Meeting in Lyon at 9:00 am (and why that matters)

Meet at the Statue of Saint Exupéry, Pl. Bellecour (69002 Lyon) at 9:00 am. Starting early helps you beat the slow parts of the day and gives you tasting time that doesn’t feel rushed.

Logistically, it’s also a smart setup for a day trip. The meeting point is near public transportation, and the tour includes a mobile ticket, so you’re not juggling paper confirmations. Even better, the vehicle is an air-conditioned Mercedes, which matters in warm months when you’ll be moving between hills and villages.

A small group means better wine conversations

The group stays capped at 8 travelers total. That single detail changes everything. In a small group, the guide can keep the pace comfortable, answer follow-up questions, and adjust explanations when people want more about farming, production, or aging.

If you like a tour that feels more like an informed day out than a lecture, this format does the job. The tastings also include little snack stops along the way, which is useful because you’re tasting multiple pours across the day.

Stop 1: Oingt winery tasting with 4 to 6 wines

Your first big wine moment is in Oingt, where you’ll taste at a winery in the south of Beaujolais. Expect a warm welcome and a guided tasting designed to help you connect flavors to winemaking choices. This is not just a sip-and-go setup.

At this estate stop, plan for about 1 hour 15 minutes on site. You’ll generally taste 4 to 6 wines, guided through aromas, flavors, and the logic behind production. The guide also explains how vines are grown, how wine is made, and how wines are aged in the region—enough structure that you can start tasting with a “why” in mind instead of only a “what.”

You’ll also get time for the human side of it. The experience includes a meeting with members of the wine estate, so you’re not only hearing facts from the guide. That’s one of the most praised parts of the day: seeing how winery staff think about their craft and how they talk about their work.

Practical tip: pace yourself at the first tasting. With a second estate later and lunch between, you’ll enjoy the day more if you taste, take notes if you do that, and save your strongest opinions for after you compare.

Oingt village walk: cobblestones, views, and medieval charm

After the Oingt winery stop, you head into the village area for a shorter visit—about 30 minutes. This part is about getting your bearings and seeing why this zone gets called out for its Golden Stone scenery.

You’ll stroll through Oingt’s cobblestone streets and enjoy well-preserved medieval architecture. You also get panoramic views of surrounding vineyards, which is a great pairing with what you tasted earlier. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “village person,” this stop helps the day feel grounded. You’re not just tasting wine in the middle of nowhere; you’re in the actual place where the wine’s story gets lived out.

Passing through Beaujolais villages: the drive is part of the show

Between the village and winery moments, you also get a scenic travel segment through the Beaujolais wine villages. This isn’t just filler. The ride gives you a sense of how hills, settlements, and vineyards relate to each other in a region shaped by slopes and local geology.

If you’re the type who likes to understand what you’re looking at, this portion helps. You’ll likely hear commentary as you travel, and that running context makes the later tastings easier to follow.

Lunch near Mont Brouilly: plan for the €25 menu

Lunch takes place around Mont Brouilly, and it lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes at the restaurant. The key point: lunch is not included in the tour price. Instead, the organizer makes a reservation for the whole group, and you’ll choose from a daily menu starting around €25 per person.

This setup is convenient for a day trip. You’re not trying to solve hunger in a small town with limited options. Still, budget for it up front, because the final day cost is the tour price plus your lunch.

One more practical note: the tour doesn’t mention toilets on board, so the “real break” is the restaurant timing. If you need bathroom access, lunch is your main window to plan around.

Stop 2: Fleurie estate tasting and the terroir comparison

After lunch, you head toward Fleurie in the north of Beaujolais. The afternoon is structured as a direct contrast to the morning: a second estate tasting designed to show how differences in location and approach affect the wines.

At Fleurie, you’ll taste another 4 to 6 wines, again with guided commentary. The guide focuses on the subtleties of terroir, plus grape varieties and winemaking techniques. Even without getting too technical, the comparison is the point. You’ll start noticing how your first tasting “baseline” changes once you taste from a different area.

This stop also includes the same kind of estate connection as the morning. The format includes meeting people from the wine estate, and that human element often becomes one of the most memorable parts of the day. You get to ask questions that a general wine shop tasting just doesn’t allow.

The full tasting arc: around 10 wines with commentary

The itinerary totals what they describe as commented tastings of around 10 wines across the day. On paper, that number sounds tidy. In real life, it’s a good pace because you’re not spending all day tasting the same thing at one stop.

You’re also learning in layers:

• First estate tasting in Oingt gives you the foundation
• Village time helps you connect place to flavor
• Second estate tasting at Fleurie lets you compare and refine

If you enjoy making sense of what you taste, this structure works well. If you just want to drink casually, you’ll still get value, but you may want to go into it with a lighter expectation for deep technique talk.

Comfort and timing: when you’ll be back in Lyon

The tour runs about 8 to 9 hours. You leave from Lyon in the morning, spend the middle part of the day split between tasting and village time, and return depending on traffic.

You should expect to be back in Lyon between 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm. That’s a good target if you want dinner plans later. Just don’t book something requiring an exact arrival time right at 6:00, because traffic is traffic and this tour is clear that timing can shift.

Price and value: what you pay and what you get

The price is $178.84 per person, which becomes more reasonable once you see what’s included. You’re getting:

• Two estate tastings with fees included
• Commented tasting time totaling around 10 wines
• Guide guidance throughout the journey (local specialist)
• Meeting with estate members
• Air-conditioned Mercedes transport
• Little snack things during tastings

Lunch isn’t included, and you should plan to pay about €25 per person for the pre-booked menu. Also note that water in the vehicle isn’t mentioned as provided, so if you like having water within reach, bring your own bottle.

For value, the small group size matters, too. Up to 8 travelers means the tasting guidance isn’t generic. It’s more likely to be tailored to questions, and that’s what turns a “tour” into an experience you actually remember.

Who this Beaujolais day tour suits best

This tour fits best if you want a guided way to see Beaujolais without renting a car. It’s also a good match if you like a mix of wine and place—Oingt village streets plus two estate tastings—instead of only winery stops.

It’s especially well-suited for:

• First-time Beaujolais visitors who want the region explained in plain terms
• Wine lovers who enjoy comparing two estates and listening to how aging and technique affect taste
• People who prefer intimate groups over big buses

If you’re only after the easiest, fastest tasting, or you dislike being on a timed schedule all day, you might find the structure a little tight. But if you like a full day with set stops and a guide handling the driving, it’s a strong option.

Should you book this Beaujolais Day Guided Tour?

If your goal is an honest, small-group Beaujolais day with real estate time, I’d book it. The biggest strengths are the two different tasting stops (not just one), the Oingt village walk, and the fact that you’ll meet people from the wineries rather than only tasting in a room.

Book it if you want to learn as you sip and you’re okay paying extra for lunch. Skip it only if you’re looking for a purely self-guided wine crawl or you hate guided structure.

If you do book, bring a water bottle, wear comfortable shoes for cobblestones, and come hungry enough for lunch but not so hungry that tastings feel like a race. This is the kind of day where pacing is half the fun.

FAQ

Where does the Beaujolais day tour start?

It starts at the Statue of Saint Exupéry, Pl. Bellecour, 69002 Lyon, France.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 9:00 am.

How long is the tour?

The duration is about 8 to 9 hours.

How many people are in the group?

The group is limited to a maximum of 8 travelers.

What language is offered on the tour?

It’s offered in English, and French and English can be provided simultaneously if there are participants in both languages.

How many tastings are included?

You get 2 tastings in 2 different areas, with tasting fees included.

How many wines will we taste?

The tastings are described as commented tastings of around 10 wines total, with each estate offering between 4 and 6 wines.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is not included, but the operator makes a reservation at a local restaurant for all participants, with a menu from €25 per person.

Are toilets available on the vehicle?

Toilets on board are not included.

Do I need to bring water?

Water in the vehicle is not included, so it’s recommended that you take your bottle.

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