Exploring the Couchois, Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais
The further south you go in Burgundy, the more the vineyards take over the scenery.
The vines flirt shamelessly with the Couchois woods, play hide-and-seek with the Côte Chalonnaise hills, cling on to the rocks in the Mâconnais… The vines have made this destination their home, and they're waiting to welcome you!
1 departmentSaône & Loire
3vineyards
4grape varieties
1classified Grand SiteSolutré Pouilly Vergisson
An overview of the terroir
3 vineyards, 3 characters
Couchois: the little one
Jean-Marc SCHWARTZ/Grand Autunois Tourisme
Couchois is a tiny vineyard covering just 224 hectares to the west of the Côte Chalonnaise.
This is far from being the most well-known vineyard but it is only 10 km as the crow flies from the famous village of Meursault. The good news is that thanks to a few motivated winegrowers, Couchois produces some good quality red and white wines.
Did you know? The AOC Bourgogne Côtes du Couchois has been around since the year 2000.
A new lease of life for the Côte Chalonnaise
Alain DOIRE / BFC Tourisme
Nestled between the Côte de Beaune and Mâconnais, the Côte Chalonnaise is 25 km long and 7 km wide.
The vineyards were planted here over 1,000 years ago, and the soil is similar to that of the Côte de Beaune.
For a long time, the Côte Chalonnaise was renowned for the 'Crémant' sparkling wines that were first created there, but these vineyards now produce still wines. Some of the most well-known winegrowing villages here are Bouzeron, Rully, Mercurey, Givry and Montagny.
Did you know? In the Côte Chalonnaise, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are grown everywhere except… in Bouzeron. The only village appellation produced solely from Aligoté grapes.
The Mâconnais is reaching for the sky
Serge Egard
This vineyard needs no introduction. The Mâconnais is Burgundy's southernmost terroir that has really put its climate to good use by producing some excellent quality white wines. The most notable ones are Pouilly-Fuissé, Saint-Véran and Viré-Clessé.
Chardonnay has most definitely made itself at home here, from the Monts du Mâconnais to the monumental rocks of Vergisson and Pouilly!
Pinot Noir and Gamay are more discreet grape varieties, as they represent only 20% of the Mâconnais vines.
Did you know? The village of Saint-Vérand is spelled with a 'd' but the wine appellation is spelled 'Saint-Véran', without the 'd'.
DSL/ Seb Geo
The Greenway
Cycle through the Southern Burgundy vineyards
There are over 3,000 km of cycle paths in Burgundy, including the Greenway route, that cross through the Côtes Chalonnaise and Mâconnaise:
- Option 1: 70 km of marked-out routes from Chalon-sur-Saône to Mâcon to pedal through the vineyards, past châteaus, through renowned winegrowing villages and past Romanesque churches.
- Option 2: 47 km from Morvan to the Vineyards, to cycle back in time around Autun before then heading up towards the Côte Chalonnaise and Maranges.
The Château de Couches overlooks the valley from up above and certainly can't be missed. People come here to visit the ancient fortress of the Duchy of Burgundy, for a meal, to taste the estate's wines and even to sleep!
We recommend exploring the narrow streets of Chalon-sur-Saône on foot. To make the most of your visit to this charming town, follow the Chemin de l’Orbandale walking tour which will lead you to the town's 30 points of interest.
The Château de Germolles is currently believed to be the best preserved residence of the Dukes of Burgundy. This modern, luxurious, romantic and bucolic place provides another vision of the Middle Ages.
This town of history and gastronomy has managed to turn the concept of generosity into a state of mind. Don't miss a visit of the Abbaye-Philibert either before or after lunch at one of the town's great restaurants.
You'll rarely hear the name Cluny without the mention of its abbey! Even though the abbey has almost completely disappeared now, you can still feel its soul on every corner of every street in the medieval town.
The Rock of Solutré is a wild yet mysterious place, and most definitely the most iconic sight in Southern Burgundy. Walk up to the top and you'll be able to admire a superb view of the Mâconnais vineyards down below.
How do you fancy exploring Mâcon in the footsteps of Alphonse de Lamartine? From the Musée des Ursulines to the Cathedral of Saint-Vincent via the stunning private mansions in the town centre, you'll see Mâcon from a very different angle.
Nicolas GASCARD / BFC Tourism
Ophélie Moris
Alain DOIRE / BFC Tourisme
Bourgogne Tourisme / Alain Doire
Mâconnais
Thomas Salva
Céline Bacconnet
Alain Doire - BFC Tourisme
Les fromages de chèvre
DSL / Les Coflocs
A.Doire /BFCT
To see and do
There's no chance of boredom here! It'll be tough to choose from the wide range of activities available!
Find out all there is to know about the wines of Southern Burgundy
Mâcon marks the entrance to the vineyards of Southern Burgundy, and in 2023, opened the Cité des Climats et des Vins close to the banks of the river Saône. At this visitor's centre, you can learn about history, geology, grape varieties, expertise, hear from the winegrowers and even taste the wines, for an experience that is full of new discoveries and calls upon all the senses. The added bonus is that there is even a special experience designed for children: the 4 'secret wine cellars'.
Where to go to enjoy lunch or dinner in the vineyards: the great restaurants
Maison Lameloise: The only restaurant in the region to have been awarded 3 stars by the famous Michelin Guide, La Maison Lameloise is quite simply an institution.
Aux Terrasses: Jean-Michel Carette has turned his restaurant into an audacious and creative fine-dining experience, in the centre of Tournus.
Le Relais d’Ozenay: Chef Florian Giraud offers a flawless experience thanks to fantastic products, beautifully presented dishes and a wine list that showcases the very best Mâconnais wines.
The Château de Besseuil: The chef adds his own talented, personal touch to the greatest classics of Burgundian cuisine. Come and see for yourselves his take on snails, oeufs meurettes, Charolais beef millefeuille, Bresse chicken, pike-perch fillet, and much more.
Domaine de Rymska: 'From Farm to Table' is the slogan behind the Domaine de Rysmka. Jérémie Muller works hard to bring out the best of ultra-local products (most of them from the actual estate itself) with accuracy and elegance.
Le Blason de Vair: The restaurant Le Blason de Vair is in the Château de Couches, and is the perfect place to enjoy seasonal cuisine while tasting the estate's wines.
L’Hostellerie d’Héloïse: Patrick Dutartre strives to work with fresh products found at the local market or fish auction. We particularly recommend the 'Terroir de la Bourgogne' set menu.
L’Ambroisie: At L’Ambroisie, the top priority is to make customers happy. Oysters, risotto, pâté en croûte, here anything goes! There's also a great wine list.
