Route touristique des vignobles de l’Yonne
Meeting winegrowers in picturesque villages
Just 1.5 hours by train from Paris, the Portes d’Or (Golden Gates) to Bourgogne will open up for you. Les Portes d’Or is the nickname given to the Yonne department, reputed for its dazzling wines that are the pride of the locals. Set off to explore this charming region along La Route Touristique des Vignobles de l’Yonne. From Tonnerre to Coulanges-la-Vineuse, along the charming Serein Valley, you can discover 260km through the vineyards. Along the way, cellars are ready to welcome you for an indulgent pause. The winemakers will be delighted to share the flavors and secrets of their wines with you. And discover Vignobles & Découvertes certified cellars, guaranteeing an unforgettable experience.
If you arrive from the north, you will start your tour in the Grand Auxerrois. With a dozen or so characterful villages, this region has four main winegrowing regions : the Auxerrois, of course, but also the Tonnerrois, the Jovinien and the Vézelien, scattered either side of the A6 freeway.
Here, you will sample wines that have been crafted with passion. The white wines like those from Tonnerre, are sophisticated and aromatic. The reds, such as those from Coulanges-la-Vineuse, are ample and rounded. But there are plenty more appellations to delight your taste buds !
Between Chitry and Tonnerre, you are in the Chablis region. Its world renown is, in part, due to its limestone soil, rich in marine fossils. This unique land is the cradle of some prestigious white wines that are dry and sophisticated from the Chablis Grand Cru, Chablis Premier Cru, Chablis and Petit Chablis appellations.
Chablisien and Auxerrois, a paradise for hikers with plenty more to see and do
La Route Touristique des Vignobles de l’Yonne also gives you access to the Chablis region’s seven hiking trails, from 8-33km in length.
They offer the perfect way to explore vines and forests, on foot or on mountain bike, and the trails are studded with beautiful views of the rolling landscape.