Lyon: Northern Rhône Syrah & Viognier Wine Tasting
Syrah and Viognier in Ampuis: A Half-Day into Steep Terroir
You spend a half-day walking the steep vineyards of Ampuis with a local guide, tasting Viognier and Syrah in their original terroir before the vines themselves. The tour includes transport from Lyon, small tasting doses, and a view of the Rhône valley that frames why this corner of France tastes the way it does. You're back in the city by early afternoon.
Step-by-step itinerary
Wine tour in Ampuis village
- Begin wine journey in Ampuis
- Stroll through vineyard
- Learn about Côte-Rôtie wine
- Enjoy view over Rhône valley
What’s included
Your half-day includes hotel or city pickup in Lyon, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle to Ampuis, a guided walk through the Côte-Rôtie vineyards with a local guide, and wine tastings of Viognier and Syrah (one ounce per glass). Return transport to Lyon is included.
Next departure: 3 Mar 2027
Information
Half-day wine tour from Lyon to Ampuis with Côte-Rôtie tastings, vineyard walk, and local guide. Small groups, air-conditioned transport included.
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The experience
Most wine tours start in a tasting room. This one starts in the village of Ampuis itself, on the hillsides where the vines actually grow. You drive north from Lyon for about forty minutes, and the landscape shifts: the Rhône valley opens up, and suddenly you're standing on slopes so steep that harvesting here is still done by hand. Your local guide walks you through the vineyard first, before any glass is poured, so you understand why Côte-Rôtie tastes the way it does. The sun hits these abrupt hillsides at an angle that flatter ground can't match, and the terroir (the mix of soil, aspect, and microclimate) is so varied that two vineyards a hundred meters apart can taste completely different.
The Northern Rhône wine tour focuses on two grapes: Viognier, which is aromatic and intense, and Syrah, which here tastes fruity and silky rather than heavy. You taste both in their original context, not in some neutral room. The guide explains what you're tasting as you taste it: why the Viognier smells the way it does, what the Syrah's texture tells you about the vintage and the slope it came from. Tasting doses are small (one ounce per glass), so you can try several without the day becoming blurry. The air-conditioned vehicle means you're not overheated between stops, which matters when you're standing on a hillside in the afternoon sun.
The magnificent view over the Rhône valley is real. It's not a marketing phrase. You see it while you're learning, not after. The half-day format means you're back in Lyon by early evening, which works if you have dinner plans or just want to sit in a café and think about what you tasted. Public transportation from Lyon gets you close, but the tour includes pickup and transport, so you don't have to navigate the local bus system or figure out where to leave a rental car.
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and French.
How long is the tour from Lyon?
About half a day, including the drive north to Ampuis and back. Plan for roughly four to five hours total.
What's the difference between Viognier and Syrah?
Viognier is a white grape, aromatic and intense. Syrah is red: fruity and silky in the Northern Rhône style. The tour lets you taste both in the vineyards where they grow.
Is the vineyard walk difficult?
The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The walk is on hillsides, so there is some slope, but the pace is set by the group and the guide.
Do I need to arrange my own transport from Lyon?
No. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle and pickup. Public transportation options are also available nearby if you prefer.
How much wine do you taste?
Tasting doses are one ounce per glass. You taste several wines, but the small pours mean you can try multiple without overindulging.
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 2 days ago
Lyon: Northern Rhône Syrah & Viognier Wine Tasting
4h · EN · FR
from € 119 per person
≈ US$ 134 in your currency
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