Lyon: Northern Rhône Valley Wine Tour & Tastings
Driving into Côte-Rôtie: Where Lyon's Best Wines Grow on Steep Slopes
You're driven from central Lyon into the steep vineyards of Côte-Rôtie, where you taste three wines directly from the winemakers who grow them and learn how the landscape shapes what's in your glass. Transport, guide, and tastings are all included. The only variable is which estates you visit, since the route adjusts to winemaker availability.
Step-by-step itinerary
Northern Rhône Valley wine tour
- Meet guide at Place Bellecour
- Travel south to Côte-Rôtie vineyards
- Visit steep Côte-Rôtie vineyards
- Taste aromatic Viognier white wine
- Bellecour Square passing by
- Ampuis 1h
- Condrieu 1h
What’s included
Your day includes pickup at Place Bellecour, transport by air-conditioned minivan through the Côte-Rôtie vineyards, a local guide who speaks with the winemakers, three wine tastings (3cl glasses each), and return to central Lyon in the late afternoon. Lunch is not included.
Next departure: 2 Mar 2027
Information
Full-day wine tour from Lyon through Côte-Rôtie vineyards with local guide, three tastings, and minivan transport. Small groups, hotel pickup at Place Bellecour.
Compare the 12 alternatives
Traveler reviews
The experience
You step into the minivan at Place Bellecour in central Lyon, and within minutes the city falls away behind you. Your guide steers south toward the Côte-Rôtie vineyards, and the landscape shifts: flat streets give way to hillsides so steep that the vines seem to cling to the rock itself. This is the northern Rhône Valley, and it's where some of France's finest wines grow. The drive takes you past villages that have been making wine the same way for centuries, and you'll see why: the slopes face the sun in a way that nowhere else in the region can match.
The tour stops at working vineyards where you meet the winemakers themselves, not in a tasting room, but in the place where they actually work. They talk about terroir, about why the soil here produces wines that taste like nowhere else, and they pour three tastings as you stand among the vines. One of them is Viognier, a white wine that's aromatic and bright, grown only in this corner of the valley. The guide translates, fills in the details, and lets the conversation breathe. You're not rushing through a list. You're tasting what these people have spent their lives perfecting.
The minivan is air-conditioned and the group stays small, which means you're not herded through a script. The itinerary can shift depending on which winemakers are available on the day you go, so you might visit different estates than someone who booked last month, and that's actually the point. You get the vineyards that are open and ready to talk, not a fixed route that ignores reality. The whole day runs around eight hours, and you return to Place Bellecour in the late afternoon.
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and French.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How long is the full day tour from Lyon?
Around eight hours, including drive time, vineyard visits, and tastings.
What wines will I taste?
Three tastings from the Côte-Rôtie region, including Viognier (a white wine) and other wines specific to the northern Rhône Valley. The exact estates depend on availability.
Is hotel pickup included?
You meet your guide at Place Bellecour in central Lyon. Confirm your hotel's proximity when you book.
Can the itinerary change?
Yes. The route adjusts based on which winemakers are available on your tour date, so you might visit different vineyards than another group.
Is this tour suitable for pregnant travelers?
The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers due to the minivan transport and steep vineyard terrain.
Do I need to be fit for this tour?
It's suitable for all physical fitness levels, though the vineyards are on steep slopes and involve walking on uneven ground.
What's included in the price?
Local guide, air-conditioned minivan transport, three wine tastings, and access to the vineyards.
Does the tour operate in bad weather?
Yes, it operates in all weather. Dress appropriately for the season and conditions.
Operated by Rhône Trip. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 3 days ago
Lyon: Northern Rhône Valley Wine Tour & Tastings
6h–7h · EN · FR
from € 159 per person
≈ US$ 179 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.