🍇 Exploring Fleurie & Brouilly

Beaujolais • Vineyard visits, cuvées to try, and hillside charm

After completing my time in Villié-Morgon, I continued south through Beaujolais to explore two neighboring crus that feel closely connected but offer distinctly different expressions of Gamay: Fleurie and Brouilly. They’re only a short drive apart, which makes them ideal to visit on the same day, and together they form one of the most enjoyable stretches of wine country I’ve walked so far.

Fleurie — gentle slopes and expressive Gamay

Fleurie sits at higher elevation than many other Beaujolais villages, and you can feel that immediately in the landscape. The hillsides are softer but steeper, and the vineyards seem to glow at sunrise and sunset. The soils here are dominated by pale pink granite, which naturally gives the wines a more floral, aromatic style. If you’re new to Beaujolais crus, Fleurie is often the one people fall in love with first.

Domaine de la Madone

My first stop was at this beautifully situated domaine just above the village itself. The terrace overlooks nearly the entire valley, and even in early autumn the vines shimmer in warm golden tones.

What to taste:

• Fleurie Vieilles Vignes — silky, elegant, red cherry and rose petal
• La Madone — deeper and more mineral-driven, very classic Fleurie
  Their Beaujolais Blanc is also refreshing and worth a try if you’re visiting on a warm day.

Domaine Chignard

Located near the border with Moulin-à-Vent, this domaine combines Fleurie’s aromatic style with slightly firmer structure.
Try: Fleurie “Les Moriers” — bright, balanced, and age-worthy.

Domaine du Granit Rose

A great stop if you want to taste the influence of Fleurie’s signature granite soils.
Try: Fleurie Tradition — juicy red fruit with a subtle spice finish

A note on style

Fleurie wines are known for being expressive and approachable, but they’re not light in a simple way; many cuvées have real depth and tension. They pair beautifully with roast chicken, mushroom dishes, and soft cheeses — very versatile wines if you’re building a small collection at home.

Brouilly — broader vineyards and volcanic character

From Fleurie, I drove a few minutes south into Brouilly, the largest cru in Beaujolais. The vineyards here wrap around Mont Brouilly, an old volcanic dome that gives the wines a From Fleurie, I drove a few minutes south into Brouilly, the largest cru in Beaujolais. The vineyards here wrap around Mont Brouilly, an old volcanic dome that gives the wines a more structured, mineral profile. The landscape is more open and the slopes broader, offering wide views over southern Beaujolais.

Château des Ravatys

One of my favorite visits of the day. The château buildings are beautiful, and the cellar has that cool, slightly earthy atmosphere that makes wine tasting feel timeless.

What to taste:

• Brouilly Classique — juicy red fruit, smooth tannins
• Cuvée Prestige — more volcanic minerality, a bit smoky, great depth
  It’s an excellent introduction to what makes Brouilly different.

Domaine de la Vigne Romaine

A welcoming, family-run estate with expressive wines.
Try: Brouilly Vieilles Vignes — rich, layered, and perfect for autumn meals.

Baron de L’Écluse (Côte de Brouilly)

Technically the next-door cru, but close enough to include. Côte de Brouilly vineyards sit higher on the slopes of the volcanic hill, which gives these wines a firmer, more age-worthy structure.
Try: L’Écluse Côte de Brouilly — mineral, precise, slightly spicy.

Walking the vines in late afternoon

Brouilly is an especially nice place for a walk in late afternoon. The light hits the slopes at a perfect angle, turning the vineyards golden and highlighting the volcanic rock beneath the soil. Many estates welcome casual strolls before or after tastings — something I recommend doing if you want to feel the landscape that shapes these wines.

Tastings to choose

Here’s a quick summary of the wines that stood out from both villages:
Fleurie “La Madone” — perfumed, silky, red cherry and violets
Fleurie “Les Moriers” — more structured, long finish
Fleurie Tradition — fresh, vibrant, granite-driven minerality
Brouilly Vieilles Vignes — darker fruit, energetic acidity
Brouilly Prestige — smoky mineral notes, excellent depth
Beaujolais Blanc — crisp, refreshing, ideal for terraces light, perfect for terrace sippinger old vines.

If you’re traveling through the region, it’s easy to pick a handful of bottles from each cru and compare how soil types and elevation shape Gamay.

Final reflections

Fleurie and Brouilly are perfect examples of how diverse the Beaujolais crus can be, even when separated by only a few kilometers. Fleurie shows the elegance and fragrance of Gamay at higher altitudes. Brouilly brings a deeper, more grounded expression thanks to its volcanic soils and wider slopes.

For travelers, the two villages offer a mix of scenic terraces, warm tasting rooms, and easy walking paths through the vines. It’s a relaxed and rewarding day trip where you can enjoy both the beauty of the landscape and the charm of small domaines that still produce wine by hand.

📘 The Journey Continues

If you’d like to explore Fleurie, Brouilly, and the rest of Beaujolais with the same ease — from scenic terraces to cellar doors worth a detour — my Beaujolais Wine & Travel Guide arrives this spring, just in time to plan a late-summer or autumn escape.

It’s a curated companion built from my own notes: the tastings that stood out, the routes with the best views, and the small domaines where hospitality still feels personal.

Inside you’ll find:

• Clear, concise winery notes (what to taste, when to go)
• Easy food pairings for local cafés, bistros, and picnic spots
• Scenic overlooks, vineyard walks, and photo-friendly detours
• Printable maps + suggested 2–3 day itineraries for each cru

👉 Join my mailing list to be first to receive it — and enjoy a small bonus: my Autumn Terrace Pairings guide, perfect for weekend sipping.

💬 Need suggestions sooner?

I’m always happy to help.
💬 Chat with Camille for quick tips on wineries, driving routes, or where to book tastings. I’ll tailor suggestions to your dates, pace, and style.

À bientôt,
Camille 🍇✨