Maconnais Meets Beaujolais
The town of Mâcon enjoys a unique location in Burgundy as its southern most region while simultaneously overlapping the northern port of the Beaujolais region. This tour is designed to show you both. As you explore the Mâcconnais region, you will have the opportunity to taste some excellent white wines from prominent appellations such as Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint-Véran. Often overshadowed by the whites from the Côte d'Or to the north, these wines offer enormous value. Due to Mâcon's proximity to Beaujolais, you will also experience the vivid and fresh reds from the Gamay grape that has become synonymous with this region.
Start with a scenic motor coach drive as you meander through the Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint-Véran vineyards. Here you will catch glimpses of both the Rock of Solutré and the Rock of Vergisson - large limestone escarpments that tower above the rolling vineyards dotted with quaint villages. You will also enjoy a stunning view of the Chateau de Pierreclose before climbing granite hills to the village of Cenves, where you will arrive at your first destination, an organic goat cheese farm. La Ferme des P'tis Bilounes is owned by a passionate young couple, Anne-Marie and Thierry Douard who chose this idyllic hillside location for its magnificent views that extend all the way to Mount Blanc on a clear day. After a warm greeting, Anne-Marie and Thierry will explain why the soil and surrounding vegetationi makes their cheese so special, while a nearby winemaker friend will discuss the Gamay grape and his Beaujolais wines in a guided cheese and wine tasting.
A short drive brings you to your second stop, Chateau des Gimarets, where the owners Eric and Nathalie Boyer will welcome the group for a guided tour and tasting. Combining the best elements of both modern and traditional winemaking, the estate has garnered numerious medals for their exceptional Moulin-a-Vent wines. A delicious lunch prepared onsite with local specialties and accompanied by several of their vintages will be held in the chateau's charming orangery.
After saying goodbye to the Boyers, depart for the village of Fuissé which has given its name to the famed Pouilly Fuissé AOC. Mme Vincent, the owner of the Château de Fuissé, will welcome you to her impressive estate. After a stroll through their emblematic vineyard “Le Clos,” solely owned by the Vincent Family, and a visit of their cellar you will enjoy a tasting of their wines in one of the château’s 15th century rooms before heading back to the ship.