Château & Domaine de Briante
Saint-Lager, France
It's a romantic tale worthy of a novel: in 2011, driven by a dream to craft exceptional terroir-driven wines in an overlooked locale, winegrower Lauren Faupin stumbled upon a sleeping-beauty estate in the foothills of Mount Brouilly, centred around an 18th-century chateau. She restored it, adapted it and got the winemaking facilities in order – and it's been producing some of Beaujolais' most characterful wines ever since. Today's line-up ranges from Brouilly Baronne, a rich red sourced from 70-year-old gamay vines, to a rounded Beaujolais blanc made with 100 per cent chardonnay. Besides wandering beneath the mature trees of the domaine's expansive park, admiring far-reaching views towards the Lyonnais hills and discovering the chateau's multifaceted blend of Renaissance restraint and Tuscan-inspired warmth, visitors can take guided tours of the vines and cellar, with included wine tastings de rigueur. Want to linger for longer? No one could blame you. Book a guest room or gîte, and settle into the estate's storybook setting for a night or two.
Key Information
- Opening times: Mon – Fri, 10am-6pm
- Signature wine: Brouilly Baronne
- Wines produced: Red and white
- Grape varieties: Gamay, chardonnay
- Time from airport: 1 hour from Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport
- Visit Château & Domaine de Briante's website
Location
810 Rte de Briante, Saint-Lager, 69220
