Pouilly-Fuissé and Solutré
Pouilly-Fuissé Wine Tour and Tasting, below the Rock of Solutré
A private half day in the heart of the Mâconnais: Pouilly-Fuissé premiers crus, the Rock of Solutré from prehistory to the present day, and Saint-Véran to compare.
- Duration
- Half day, about 4 hours
- Departure
- From Mâcon, your accommodation or the quay where your boat is moored
- Ideal for
- Chardonnay lovers, couples, river cruise stopovers, travellers with a free morning or afternoon
- Price
- From €120 per person
A Pouilly-Fuissé wine tour packs one of the loveliest corners of southern Burgundy into a single half day. Four villages, Chaintré, Fuissé, Solutré-Pouilly and Vergisson, two limestone rocks rising over the vines like the prows of ships, and some of the most admired Chardonnays in the Mâconnais. In about four hours, starting from Mâcon or wherever you are staying, you taste, stretch your legs if you wish, and see for yourself why this landscape was awarded the Grand Site de France label in 2013.
Pouilly-Fuissé is living through a special moment. In 2020, after a decade of work by its growers, the INAO recognised 22 climats as premiers crus, spread across the appellation's four villages. It was a first for the Mâconnais, which had no premier cru until then, and the words have appeared on labels since the 2020 vintage. The names alone describe the landscape: Sur la Roche, Les Vignes Blanches, Le Clos de Solutré. Tasting a Pouilly-Fuissé alongside a premier cru from the same estate shows you, in two glasses, what Burgundians mean by a climat.
Above the vines, the Rock of Solutré tells a far older story. Since Adrien Arcelin's discovery in 1866, excavations at its foot have uncovered thousands of bones, mostly of horses, left by prehistoric hunters, and the site gave its name to the Solutrean, an Upper Palaeolithic culture known for its laurel-leaf flint points. Mathis, your chauffeur-host, will also tell you the legend of horses driven off the clifftop, a tale archaeologists have long set aside, and about the climb François Mitterrand made to the summit every year at Pentecost. The prehistory museum, tucked into the foot of the rock, can be visited independently during its opening hours if time allows.
The half day can also take in Saint-Véran, a white-wine appellation created in 1971 whose vineyards frame Pouilly-Fuissé to the north and south. Its name comes from the village of Saint-Vérand, minus the final d. Comparing the two appellations, on neighbouring soils and from the same grape, is one of the best tasting lessons Burgundy has to offer, and Mathis will translate every exchange with the grower if you would like him to.
We book the tasting in your name at one or two estates chosen around your tastes; it is paid on site. One stop stays a mystery until the last moment, and a small local gift is waiting along the way. At the foot of the rock, Mathis takes an instant photo that develops in your hands, the best keepsake of a morning at Solutré. You head back in a quiet electric saloon with your bottles in the boot, and a price per person confirmed before anything is booked.
Your exact route is composed for you. Some stops may remain a surprise until the day itself.
- A tasting booked in your name, with premiers crus in the line-up
- The Rock of Solutré brought to life: prehistory, legend and recent history
- Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint-Véran side by side, if you wish
- A bilingual chauffeur-host who translates your conversations with the grower
- A mystery stop and a small local gift
- An instant photo at the foot of the rock, yours to keep on the spot
- A four-hour format, ideal for a stopover or a free morning
Price for this experience
- 2 guests
- €180
- 3 to 4 guests
- €120
- 5 to 8 guests
- €110
Half day, about 4 hours. Price per person, taxes included. Minimum 2 guests. Firm quote within 24 hours.
- The design of your programme and every reservation, made in your name
- Your bilingual chauffeur-host, passionate about local history, from the first moment to the last
- 100% electric sedan (van for up to 8 guests), chilled water and soft drinks on board
- The surprises of the day: small local gifts and instant photos taken by your chauffeur
- Your private page with the programme, and a firm price confirmed before any booking
- Paid tastings, meals and site entrance fees, settled directly on site at public prices
What is the difference between Pouilly-Fuissé and Pouilly-Fumé?
They are two white wines with nothing in common except the start of their names. Pouilly-Fuissé comes from the Mâconnais in Burgundy and is made from Chardonnay. Pouilly-Fumé comes from the Loire Valley, around Pouilly-sur-Loire, and is made from Sauvignon Blanc.
Can we climb to the top of the Rock of Solutré?
Yes, a footpath leads to the summit from the foot of the rock; bring sensible shoes and take your time. On a half day, the climb eats into tasting time, so if the walk really appeals, we would suggest the full day instead.
Is the tasting included?
The tasting is paid directly to the estate at its own rate, which we share with you while preparing the visit. Our price per person covers the booking, your chauffeur-host, the vehicle, cold drinks, the gift of the day and the instant photos.
Does this format suit a river cruise stop on the Saône?
It is one of our favourite formats for a stop in Mâcon: about four hours, with pick-up at the quay and a return timed around your departure. Just send us your mooring times when you enquire.
Can we taste Pouilly-Fuissé premiers crus?
Yes, we steer the booking towards estates that make premiers crus and pour them at tastings. What is open depends on the vintages available at each estate, and we let you know beforehand.
How many people can join?
From two guests, up to four in our electric saloon and up to eight with a partner van. The tour stays private: no one but your party on board or at the tasting we book.
Tell us the occasion. We imagine the rest.