Lyon - France 2014 - page 1384

region is called Rhône-Alpes). The mighty Rhône River rumbles through the valley from
its origin in Lake Geneva to its outlet 500 miles away in the Mediterranean near Arles.
Vineyards blanket the western side of the Rhône Valley, from those of the Beaujolais
just north of Lyon to the steep slopes of Tain-Hermitage below Lyon. On the eastern side
of the river and closer to Avignon are the vineyards of the famous Côtes du Rhône.
The Rhône Valley has always provided the path of least resistance for access from
the Mediterranean to northern Europe, and today, Roman ruins litter the valley between
Lyon and Orange.
Beaujolais Wine Route
Between Mâcon (near Cluny) and Lyon, the Beaujolais region makes for an appealing de-
tour, thanks to its beautiful vineyards and villages and easygoing wine-tasting (for more
on Beaujolais wines, see here ) .
TheBeaujolaiswineroadstarts45minutesnorthofLyonandrunsfromVillefranche-
sur-Saône to Mâcon. The Route du Beaujolais winds up, down, and around the hills
just west of the A-6 autoroute and passes through Beaujolais' most important villages:
Chiroubles, Fleurie, Chénas, and Juliénas. Look for Route du Beaujolais signs, and expect
to get lost more than a few times (Lyon's TI has a route map, and you can check
www.discoverbeaujolais.com for more information).
Alongthewineroute,you'llpassMoulinàVent'sfamousvineyardsandseeitstrade-
mark windmill. You'll enter the Mâconnais wine region and pass signs to the famous vil-
lages of Pouilly and Fuissé as you near Macon. Trains running between Lyon and Macon
stop at several wine villages, including Romanèche-Thorins (described next; 6 trains/day
from Lyon). While Villefranche-sur-Saône may be the Beaujolais capital, it's a big, unap-
pealingcitythat'sbestavoided.Focusyourtimeonthesmallvillages,andlookfor degust-
ation (tasting) signs.
Foracrazy,priceybutthoroughintroductiontothisregion'swines,visit Le Hameau
du Vin in Romanèche-Thorins. The king of Beaujolais, Georges Dubœuf, has constructed
a Disney-esque introduction to wine at his museum, which immerses you in the life of
a winemaker and features impressive models, exhibits, films, and videos. You'll be es-
corted from the beginning of the vine to present-day winemaking, with a focus on Beau-
jolais wines. It also has a lovely garden with fragrant flowers, fruits, herbs, and spices that
represent the rich aromas present in wine (€19, includes a small tasting and free English
headphones, daily 10:00-18:00; in Romanèche-Thorins, follow signs labeled Le Hameau
du Vin from D-306—the old N-6, then La Gare signs, and look for the old train-station-
turned-winery; tel. [phone], www.hameauduvin.com ) .