Cornas: Syrah, Wine Trails and Rhône Panorama

Wine Origins and Wineries

The AOC Cornas protected designation of origin is reserved exclusively for still red wines. The wines are made exclusively from the Syrah grape variety. The grapes are also harvested, and the wine is vinified and produced, within the municipality of Cornas in the Ardèche département.

Domaine Verset A et E represents six generations of family winemaking in the Cornas wine-growing region. By appointment, the estate offers wine tastings and educational tours in Cornas; confirm the date before your visit. At Domaine Clape, the traditional approach to the appellation is reflected in the preference for whole-bunch vinification and ageing the wines in old foudres. The family history of Domaine Verset A et E and the cellar work at Domaine Clape thus offer different perspectives on Cornas winemaking.

Walks Through the Vineyards

The “Détour en Vigne” app offers wine-tourism walks in Cornas. Its Cornas route is 3.6 kilometres long and takes about an hour and a half. It includes stops featuring accounts from winegrowers and information about the individual appellations and their characteristics. The Sentier de l’AOC CORNAS starts at the Cornas cemetery and winds for about two and a half hours through the appellation’s vineyards. Several information panels focus on the appellation; the trail also offers views over the Rhône Valley. The two walks differ in both their approximate duration and the way they share information: the app route features stops, while the trail focuses on information panels and landscape views.

The Sentier de l’AOC CORNAS is marked in orange, open every day year-round and free of charge. Check access and fee information again before your trip.

Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Mûre

The first mention of the Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Mûre dates from 960. It was rebuilt and extended between 1856 and 1865; the vaults, apse and sacristy were completed during the final works. According to local tradition, two travellers on the Rhône found themselves in danger. They prayed to Notre-Dame du Puy and vowed to build a chapel at the place where their boat came ashore. The building history and the tradition thus offer two different perspectives: a documented chronology and a local tale.

The Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Mûre is open every day year-round and free to visit. Check access information again before your visit.

La Voie Bleue as a Route Option

La Voie Bleue runs for twelve kilometres along the right bank of the Rhône, from Châteaubourg to Soyons; near Soyons it connects to the ViaRhôna. The route is entirely designated for bicycles and pedestrians. Most of it passes through a natural setting close to protected wildlife and plant life. Along the way, there are park-and-ride car parks, numerous picnic areas and clear, continuous signage. Compared with the 3.6-kilometre Cornas route on “Détour en Vigne”, the twelve-kilometre distance offers a different planning timeframe, without implying a walking or cycling time.

Marché aux Vins de Cornas

The Marché aux Vins de Cornas takes place every year on the first weekend of December. If you are planning your trip around the market, check the exact date in advance, as the annual schedule may change.

Discover more destinations: Orgnac L'aven, Dunière-sur-Eyrieux, Arras-sur-Rhône, Bidon, Saint-Vincent-De-Barrès, Lachapelle Sous Aubenas, Saint-Christol, Les Assions.

For the regional travel overview: Ardèche.