Northern Rhône Valley Wine Tour: Syrah & Viognier Tastings

Taste Syrah and Viognier straight from the slopes where they grow

A half-day guided wine tour of the Northern Rhône Valley with a local guide who drives you through villages and vineyard-covered slopes, stopping at two wine estates for tastings of around 8 to 10 wines—Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne—plus regional snacks. Groups stay under eight people in an air-conditioned vehicle, and the guide speaks English or French depending on which option you choose at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided wine tour in Rhône Valley

• Pass through Rhône Valley villages
• Stop to admire steep vineyards
• First wine tasting near Chavanay
• Taste 4 to 6 wines at first estate
• Visit second wine estate
• Taste 4 to 6 regional wines
• Return to starting point

The Experience

Justine Poncet, who founded Sur les Sentiers de l'Oenotourisme, drives the route herself and knows the region well enough to talk through its history, the estates and the secrets of what makes these wines distinctive. You'll pass through several villages on the way and stop to look at the vines planted on the very steep slopes—the terrain itself is part of what you're learning about. The vehicle is air-conditioned and holds a maximum of eight people, so the group stays small enough that the guide can answer questions as you go.

The first stop is near the village of Chavanay at a wine estate, where you'll taste between 4 and 6 wines. The second estate brings you to more typical regional wines, another 4 to 6 tastings. Along the way you'll encounter the prestigious PDO appellations—Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Condrieu—that define the Northern Rhône. Small things to eat come with the tastings so the wines don't sit on an empty stomach. After the second estate, the route brings you back to the starting point.

The half-day format means everything is timed and arranged: transport, the estate visits, the tastings and the return. You choose your language—English or French—when you book, and the guide stays with the group throughout.

What’s included

• Guidance from Justine Poncet, a local specialist in the region.
• air-conditioned Mercedes vehicle with a maximum of eight people.
• tastings of around 8 to 10 wines across two wine estates, featuring Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne.
• small snacks to accompany the tastings.
• stops to view the steep vineyard slopes and learn about the Northern Rhône's history and PDO appellations.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Sur les Sentiers de l'Oenotourisme

Is this one for you?Book the English or French option depending on which language you prefer—the guide speaks both and you choose at checkout. The small group size and fixed itinerary mean the half-day holds together without you arranging the estates, the tastings or the route; you arrive ready to taste and listen.

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Top questions

What grape varieties will I taste on this Northern Rhône Valley tour?

The tour focuses on Syrah and Viognier, the signature red and white grapes of the region, along with Marsanne and Roussanne. You'll taste around 8 to 10 wines across the two estate stops, all from the Northern Rhône appellations.

How steep are the vineyard slopes we'll see?

The Northern Rhône Valley is known for vines planted on very steep slopes, which you'll stop to view and learn about during the route. The guide explains how the terrain shapes the wines, but the tour itself is a vehicle-based visit—you're not hiking the slopes.

What's included in the tastings at each wine estate?

Each estate stop includes between 4 and 6 wines tasted, with commentary from the guide. Small snacks come with the tastings to accompany the wines. The guide arranges the meetings with estate members, so you're tasting directly at the source.

Is this tour private or shared, and how many people go?

The tour is shared but stays small—a maximum of eight people travel together in the air-conditioned vehicle. Justine, the guide, drives the group herself throughout the half-day.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide offers tours in English or French. You choose your language when you book, and that option determines which departure you join.