Your driver-guide will pick you up at your hotel in Lyon and head north, following the Saône into the Côte Dorée. Translated roughly as the ‘gilded coast’, the area is named after the warm, yellow stone that you’ll see in many of the historic buildings in the local villages. Here, you’ll stop at an AOC (Appéllation d’Origine Controlé) winery for a guided tour of the vineyards, followed by a tasting in the small cellar. Enjoy nibbles made from local produce as you explore the world of elegant, versatile gamay wine and get to know the winemaker (with translation from your guide).
After your tasting, your guide will suggest a restaurant where you’ll have a chance to sample the region’s cuisine and wine. Thanks to its acidity, gamay is known for its versatility and pairs readily with most dishes, even fish.
Once you’ve eaten, head to the Mâconnais region. This area is known for its white Burgundies — light, unoaked wines that are plumper than most of the area’s whites thanks to the warmer weather. Enjoy another tasting before your driver-guide returns you to your hotel in Lyon.