Wine bars in Lyon
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Beaujolais wine: is it really that bad?
The region of Beaujolais, north of Lyon, is famed worldwide for the "Beaujolais nouveau", released on the 3rd Thursday of November each year. The average quality is terrible and due to this, the region is quite ill-reputed amongst French consumers. But there is far more to Beaujolais than nouveau. Look for the best winemakers in the ten crus, most notably Juliénas, Fleurie, Morgon, Chénas and Moulin-à-Vent. Their value for money is excellent and the best wines tend to acquire a "Burgundian" taste with age. Winemakers are usually very welcoming and the area is very beautiful.
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Lyon is certainly a great starting point to explore the French vineyards: Beaujolais, Burgundy, Rhône Valley and the less known Jura, Savoie and Bugey are all within two hours drive. It is therefore unsurprising to see an increasing number of wine bars in Lyon. Here are a few addresses.
La Cave des Voyageurs, 7 place St Paul, 69005 Lyon (B: C3-Gare St Paul / M: Hôtel de Ville/Vieux Lyon), ☎ +33 4 78 28 92 28 ( ), . Tue-Sat 6PM-1AM. Opened over 20 years ago by "Jeannot", the picturesque and loud-mouthed owner of the other bar next door, this small and friendly wine bar has built a wide and interesting selection of several hundred wines over the years. Of course the locals are well represented (Beaujolais, Burgundy, Rhône valley) but the list also keeps expanding geographically. Also serves some quality food: ham, sausages, cheese. Wine by the glass from €3. �
Georges Five, 32 rue du Boeuf, 69005 Lyon (M: Vieux Lyon), ☎ +33 4 72 40 23 30, . Tue-Sat 7PM-1AM. This place was opened by the owner of the wine shop Antic Wine. It has therefore a very wide selection of wines (2,800 references), ranging from small local producers to the most famous and sought-after names. Also top-quality food: ham, cheese, etc. Be careful: the place is small, always packed and hosts numerous private events, so if you haven't made your reservation a couple of weeks in advance, save yourself the pain of trying your luck. Wine by the glass from €3, bottles €18-€3,000. �
Vercoquin. See "Buy". �
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Lyon
