GRAPE ESCAPES - RHÔNE WINE TASTING TOURS
The Rhône by Rail Wine Tasting Tour
This brand new package is designed with total flexibility in mind. The tour offers the opportunity to visit some of the prestigious wineries in the Northern and Southern Rhône, as well as a selection of small domains, travelling between each destination by rail.
For those looking for a mid-week or weekend break that offers a comprehensive introduction to the various tastes and styles of Rhône wines available, this tour may be the answer. Taxi transfers will be arranged for the parts of the tour which cannot be reached on foot, and the transported tour in Avignon has a central departure point (as opposed to our Premium tours, where guests are met at and returned to their hotels).
Day One - Vienne
Upon arrival at Lyon airport or TGV station, travel by train from central Lyon to Vienne, the second largest city in the Isère department.
Here, you will check into an upper 2* hotel located in in the city centre, or if you would like to upgrade your trip, the 4* Hotel la Pyramide.
The remainder of the day and the evening will be free for you to do as you please. You may wish to spend some time exploring this historical city, which is well-known for its stunning religious buildings, such as the beautiful gothic cathedral and the early Romanesque church of Saint Peter.
Day Two – Ampuis and Condrieu
After breakfast, you will be escorted between destinations by taxi.
The Northern Rhône is perhaps one of the best places to appreciate the influence of terroir - one red grape Syrah on very diverse terroir. First stop will be to a prestigious domaine in Ampuis. Dating back to the 18th Century, it is the oldest Maison in the Rhône Valley that is still active. After a tour of the modern, recently-built cellars, you will have the opportunity to taste a variety of the estate’s superb wines, from their vineyards in Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage.
You will then be taken to Condrieu, where you will have free time for lunch.
The wines of this AOC region are exclusively white, from the Viognier grape. You will have the opportunity to taste these full-bodied and rich wines as the guests of a local producer, who will also take you on a tour of his domaine.
You will then be taken back to Vienne, where you will spend a second night.
Day Three – Tain l’Hérmitage and Tournon-sur-Rhone (Domaine Chapoutier)
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and take a train through the vineyards to Tain l’Hérmitage (directly opposite the hill of Hermitage), where you will walk across the bridge to check into Hôtel les Amandiers in Tournon-sur-Rhône.
Time will be allowed to relax and acquaint yourself with your surroundings before a map will guide you on a walk along the path that climbs the Hermitage hill up to the iconic “La Chapelle”. Hermitage was consecrated as a Cru in 1937 and overlooks the village of Tain which sits on a wide bend in the Rhône river. The steep, south facing granite and schist slopes of Hermitage are a sight to behold. It is not hard to understand why the struggling vines that inhabit this tiny Cru should produce wine of such sought-after quality. The reds are slow to mature and need at least five but normally ten to fifteen years to fully open out. Whites can be drunk young but also have a fabulous ability to age thanks to their steely minerality.
On the way back to the hotel, stop off at the world-famous domaine Chapoutier, which has come a long, long way since the 1980’s when the negociant was stagnating in quality. Michel & Marc Chapoutier took over in 1987 and have overseen a quite incredible rise in fortune for what is a family operation. The holding of vineyards is enviable but they also purchase grapes from growers on some of the most sought-after terroir in the Northern Rhone. The key to their quality of their negociant wines is the very close relationship they have with their growers. In addition, most of the domains owned by Chapoutier have been converted to biodynamics. Here, you will enjoy tastings of a selection of the domaine’s wines.
In your free time in Tournon-sur-Rhône, you may wish to take a leisurely bicycle ride around the area. Bicycles are available to hire from the hotel’s reception.
Day Four – Croze-Hérmitage/ Saint-Joseph
After breakfast and check out at the hotel, a taxi will take you to one of the villages which surround Tain l’Hermitage, such as Croze-Hermitage or Saint-Joseph. Here, you will enjoy a tour and tastings at a local estate and following your visit, you will have free time for lunch in Tain l’Hérmitage.
After lunch, you will travel to Avignon, arriving mid afternoon. Check into a Superior room at the 4* Cloître Saint Louis, and the remainder of the day and evening will be free for you to relax and enjoy your surroundings.
Day Five – Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the Dentelles
After a leisurely breakfast, you will meet your English-speaking guide, who will accompany you on a full day transported tour of the region.
The day will begin in the appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. You will start by looking at the unusual terroir of Châteauneuf-du-Pape that is responsible for the ultra ripe grapes that come from its vines. You will then visit the cuverie of a wine maker here, to understand their wine making philosophy before tasting a range of their award winning wines.
After this visit, the day will continue with a three course lunch at a restaurant in the centre of the village. The lunch includes wines with the meal as well as water, and coffee to conclude.
After lunch, the tour will continue to the village of Vacqueyras. Here, your guide will show you the “dentelles.” Meaning lace in English, these short steep mountains are covered in broom and you will have time to admire the beautiful rock formations and the magical terroir. You will meet a wine producer in this village, who will show you his estate. You will then enjoy a tasting of some of domaine’s wines.
Your final destination will be the village of Gigondas. This area was first settled by the Romans and the name is derived from the latin Jocuntidas, which means “merry city”. This fact, together with the countless wine-related archaeological finds, is testament to the Roman’s appreciation of wine. Gigondas, which is located on the west-facing hills of the Dentelles de Montmirail range was promoted to Cru status in 1972.Here you will visit one of the larger wineries in the appellation. The tour of the domain will start in the vineyards and pass through the winery and caveau before finishing with tastings of a number of their wines from Gigondas and Vacqueyras.
Day Six – Avignon
After a leisurely breakfast, the morning will be free to visit some of the city’s most famous sights, such as the Papal Palace, home to several 14th and 15th Century popes. You may also like to wander around the well-known market, where you may wish to stock-up on local specialities to take home with you.
Also included in your package will be entrance to the Pont d’Avignon, the city’s famous medieval bridge. The immense bridge, which originally spanned the width of the Rhône, boasted 21 arches, however, due to catastrophic regular flooding, the bridge was sadly put out of use in the 17th Century. Today only four of the arches remain.
After lunch, take the high speed TGV train back to Lyon in time for your return TGV or flight.
Extend Your Stay
If you wish to extend your stay to visit other regions, we can provide an excellent tour itinerary which includes the very best places to visit. Please call us on 08456 430 860 for details and prices.
Rhône by Rail Hotels, Tour Dates and Prices
The price of the Grape Escapes Rhône by Rail wine tasting tour is £789 per person based on 2 people sharing a twin or double room and includes all rail travel and taxi transfers within the region, 5 nights’ bed and breakfast and all of the above-mentioned tours, visits and tastings.
If you would like to upgrade your trip to stay at Hotel la Pyramide in Vienne for the first two nights rather than Grand Hotel de la Poste, a supplement of £150 per person applies.
Please visit the Rhône Hotels for further information about our partner hotels.
Other Rhône Wine Tasting Tours
Please see our Rhône Wine Tasting Tours page for details of the other Rhône Wine Tasting tours we offer.
We also arrange many private Rhône wine tasting tours for individuals, groups and corporate clients. So, if the above trips are not exactly what you are looking for, please give us a ring on 08456 430 860, or email us at info@grapeescapes.net to arrange your perfect Rhône Wine Tasting Tour.