If you live in or travel through eastern France, you’ve likely searched for a weekend trip close to Lyon or Geneva - somewhere with vineyards, countryside views, good food, and less crowds. Usually the same places appear over and over: Beaujolais, Burgundy, Savoie. Beautiful, yes, but no longer quiet. Vongnes is different.

Vongnes is a tiny wine village in the Bugey region of the Ain department, just under an hour from Lyon by car and not much further from Geneva. It’s the kind of place you miss if you blink while driving (stone houses, a few lanes, a cluster of vineyards climbing the hills above it) but that’s exactly what makes it a perfect slow-travel weekend.

This guide is for those who want to skip the tourist-heavy wine routes and spend 48 hours in a village where life hasn’t been designed for visitors - a place where wine is grown, made, and poured by people who live here, not by marketers writing brochures. It’s a simple escape: two days with local wine, quiet walking paths, and enough fresh air to feel like you’ve properly gone away.

Where Is Vongnes? Discover Bugey’s Quiet Wine Region in Eastern France

Vongnes sits in the Bugey wine region of eastern France, inside the Ain department. If you draw a triangle between Lyon, Geneva, and the Jura mountains, Vongnes sits almost perfectly in the middle - close enough for a weekend escape, far enough that it still feels like the countryside.

This corner of France doesn’t advertise itself loudly. It’s overshadowed by bigger wine names on every side: Beaujolais and the Rhône Valley to the west, Burgundy higher up to the north, and Jura and Savoie to the east. But being stuck between giants has worked in Bugey’s favour!The region pretty much developed its own identity while the rest of the world wasn’t looking.

The landscape explains a lot of what you’ll taste here. Vineyards stretch up steep slopes that catch the sun, then fold back into forests and limestone cliffs. Under the surface, ancient glacial soils add a clear mineral edge to the wines. Days are warm enough for ripe flavours; nights stay cool enough to keep everything fresh. When you sip a glass of local Chardonnay or Altesse (the signature white grape of the area), you can feel that brightness instantly: lively acidity, clean fruit, a sort of “mountain freshness” that doesn’t fade.

Because Bugey is small and not a “trophy region,”, wine stays affordable and mostly local. People who grow the grapes and make the wine sell directly to the people who live here. There are no big corporate tasting rooms, no inflated prices because of a fancy reputation. If you drink wine in Bugey, you drink what the locals actually drink. That’s always a reassuring way to begin any wine trip.

And then there’s Vongnes itself… more a hamlet than a town. The moment you step out of the car, you see why this place belongs on a weekend itinerary. Stone houses line quiet lanes. Window boxes overflow with flowers. The buildings feel weathered but looked after, like they’ve seen many harvests come and go. From almost anywhere in the village you can look up and see vineyards stacked above you on the hills. If you follow the lanes to their end, you’re already walking into them.

It doesn’t take long to explore the village on foot. But the real charm is how it slows you down and really enjoy exploring the real France.

How to Get to Vongnes (and Why It Makes a Great Weekend Trip)

Reaching Vongnes is straightforward, but only if you plan to drive. This is a rural wine hamlet where vineyards and forest take priority over public transport connections. That’s part of its charm though. Once you leave the main roads, you’re in the kind of countryside where turn-offs feel like local secrets.

From Lyon, the drive takes around 55 to 75 minutes, depending on which side of the city you start from. You’ll follow the Rhône north, pass small industrial zones, and then suddenly the landscape opens into green slopes and limestone ridges. The shift feels fast. It’s like stepping out of weekday life and tune into a cozy slow weekend.

If you’re coming from Geneva, expect 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. The route skirts along the valley, with the Alps often visible in the distance. It’s a beautiful drive that already feels like part of the weekend.

From Annecy, you’ll approach through more mountainous scenery - about one hour. The closer you get, the more the vineyards take over the hillsides.

You can also reach the general area by train, with stations in Culoz and Belley. From there, you’ll need a rental car or taxi to reach Vongnes. There’s no dedicated local bus line into the hamlet. Having your own car also means you can explore more than one tasting and catch sunset views from the hills.

Parking in Vongnes is simple. There are a few marked spots near the Caveau Bugiste and along the village lanes. Once parked, you won’t need the car again for at least a few hours - everything in the village itself is done on foot.

The lack of public transport may seem inconvenient, but it’s exactly what protects this place from mass tourism. If getting here required zero effort, it wouldn’t feel so peaceful when you arrive, rigth?

The Heart of the Weekend: Wine in Vongnes

If there’s one reason to come to Vongnes, it’s the wine. This village has lived from the slopes above it for generations, and you feel that the moment you step into a cellar.

The place to begin is Caveau Bugiste, the main winery and tasting space in the village. For travellers, it’s incredibly convenient: everything you need to understand Bugey wine is right here. Inside, you’ll find bottles from multiple vineyard plots in and around Vongnes - each shaped by altitude, slope, soil, and the specific grape varieties that thrive here.

It’s an easy environment to step into, even if you’re new to wine. Tastings are relaxed. You’re encouraged to try different styles… perhaps start with a crisp white made from Altesse, Bugey’s signature grape. It often shows notes of orchard fruit and alpine freshness, with enough minerality to make you want another sip. Move on to a Chardonnay, which here tends to be lighter than its Rhône relatives but rounder than a Jura wine. You can feel how geography shapes every glass.

If you enjoy reds, Gamay brings juicy fruit and soft tannin -the kind of wine that pairs with simple countryside meals. Mondeuse, another local classic, has more tension and spice. It’s a wine you notice, not one that disappears in the background.

Don’t be surprised if the sparkling wines become your favourite part of the weekend. Bugey has a long history with traditional-method bubbles: bright, refreshing bottles that are often far more affordable than sparkling wines from better-known regions. On a sunny afternoon, there’s nothing more naturally fitting here than a chilled glass of local bubbles outside, with vines just a few metres away.

The cellar isn’t just about tasting. There’s a room showcasing old winemaking tools, corkscrews, and bottles that have gathered stories over decades. It doesn’t feel like a “museum” - more like stepping into someone’s attic and discovering objects they held onto because they mattered. That sense of continuity (generations of people working the same slopes) is part of what gives Vongnes its calm identity.

If you leave with a bottle or two, there’s a good chance you’ll notice they don’t taste like generic French wine. They taste like Bugey. And that’s exactly why you came.

Another favourite Winery in Vongnes: Domaine Monin

If you want to taste more than one cellar during your weekend, it’s worth stopping by Domaine Monin, a family-run winery right in the village of Vongnes. They’ve been welcoming visitors since the late 1960s and focus on wines that reflect the hills surrounding the hamlet. You’ll find crisp whites made from Chardonnay or Altesse, food-friendly rosés for warm afternoons, and reds based on Gamay, Pinot Noir, or Mondeuse. Each wine with its own personality shaped by altitude and stony soils.

Sparkling wines are also part of their lineup. The family produces both traditional-method cuvées and lighter, fruit-forward pétillants - the kind that fit perfectly with summer countryside picnics or an early-evening glass outside.

If you’re planning to make this more than a quick getaway, Domaine Monin also offers a small guesthouse on site. It sleeps up to six people, which makes it ideal if you’re travelling with a couple of friends or want a bit more space to settle in and slow down. Staying on a wine estate adds a special layer to the weekend as mornings BEGIN with vineyard views, and tastings are only a few steps from your front door.

Visiting a second winery gives you a deeper experience of what makes Bugey special. You’ll meet the people behind the bottles, taste different interpretations of the same terroir, and start to understand how each slope and grape variety leaves its mark on the wine. It’s a simple addition to the weekend that offers a lot of value for anyone curious about local winemaking.

A 48-Hour Wine Weekend in Vongnes

This itinerary gives you an easy structure for two days in Vongnes. It focuses on wine, because that’s the reason most people come, but it also includes nature and low-key exploring so the weekend feels fuller and more memorable.

Day 1: Arrival, Wine Introduction, and a Quiet Evening

Aim to arrive around midday. Once you’ve parked at the edge of the village, take a slow walk through Vongnes to get a feel for the surroundings. It’s a very small hamlet (just a few lanes, stone houses and tidy courtyards) but walking it sets the pace for the weekend. Everything here happens calmly.

If you didn’t bring something for lunch, stop in Belley on the way for supplies. Picnics work well in Vongnes because there are quiet spots to sit with a view of vines instead of searching for restaurant tables.

Spend the early afternoon at Caveau Bugiste, the main cellar in the village. It’s the best first step into Bugey wines because you can try different styles without driving around. Take your time here: learn what you enjoy, ask questions if you want, or simply taste and observe.

Once you’ve finished, it’s worth stretching your legs before sitting down again. Walk up any of the lanes that lead into the vineyards behind the village. Even ten minutes uphill gives you wide views of the valley and a better understanding of how the vines shape the landscape.

If you prefer something other than more wine, there are a couple of good alternatives before dinner. A short drive takes you to Lac de Barterand, a small natural lake where you can stroll around the shore, take photos and enjoy fresh air. Even in colder months, sitting by water gives a nice change of scenery. If you’re more interested in local culture, small towns like Belley or Culoz offer simple cafés, bakeries and a chance to see everyday life in this part of France.

Dinner is flexible. A simple meal (bread, cheese, fresh produce) suits the setting perfectly, or you can find a restaurant in the nearby area if you want a cooked dish. The evening is quiet in Vongnes, so plan on winding down early. A guesthouse stay here feels different from a hotel - you’ll hear almost nothing once night settles in, and that silence is part of the experience.

Day 2: Vineyard Walk, Second Winery, and a Nature Break

Start the morning with a walk through the vineyards. There are clearly marked loops around Vongnes that take you past small chapels, vineyard terraces and viewpoints over the Rhône valley. It’s a relaxed start to the day and pairs well with cooler morning air.

Late morning is a good time for a second tasting, and Domaine Monin offers a more personal look at winemaking in the village. It’s a family-run estate with a mix of whites, reds, and sparkling bottles. Visiting a second cellar helps you understand how different winemakers interpret the same terroir.

If you’d like something active between tastings, consider driving 20–30 minutes to one of Bugey’s scenic viewpoints. The area around Grand Colombier has park-up spots where you can enjoy panoramic scenery without committing to a long hike. On clear days, you can see deep into the Alps.

Prefer to stay low-key? Picnic lunch outdoors is usually the best choice here. There are grassy areas near the lakes and quiet roadside viewpoints where you can set out a small spread and take your time. Simple local food + a bottle purchased earlier = the ideal wine-country lunch.

If you want to add a touch of history, a short drive from Vongnes takes you to medieval landmarks and small heritage sites throughout the Ain countryside - the sort of places you walk into without crowds or queues.

Use the final hours of the afternoon however you like: reading outside, sitting by the lake, or simply relaxing at your accommodation. Vongnes is not a place filled with “must-see” attractions - you make the weekend by enjoying how slow everything feels.

If you can stay a second night, do it! Sunday mornings here are quiet in the best way: soft light over the vines, a simple breakfast, and no urgency to leave. If you need to head home after one night, leave with enough time for one last look at the hills before driving back toward the city.

Seasonal advice - when to go?

Spring: best for walking; vineyards turning green; comfortable temperatures
Summer: lake stops work well; sparkling wines shine; evenings stay warm
Autumn: harvest atmosphere; more winery activity; scenery at its best
Winter: extremely quiet; ideal for people who want peace and indoor tastings only

What Kind of Wine You’ll Be Drinking in Bugey

Understanding Bugey wine doesn’t require any expertise. What you’ll notice right away is freshness. The region sits close to the Alps, and that cooler influence keeps flavours clean and lively. You’ll find a balance that feels a bit like if the Rhône and Savoie quietly met in the middle.

Most tastings will include several styles so you can see what stands out for you:

White wines

Bugey whites are usually crisp with good acidity and a mineral finish. Chardonnay is common, but it shows up here in a more straightforward, refreshing style than you might be used to from bigger regions. Wines made from Altesse (the local grape also known as Roussette) are worth paying attention to. They tend to have more structure, a little more aroma, and are often the bottles locals are proudest of.

Red wines

Expect lighter, easy-drinking reds - nothing too heavy or overpowering. Gamay brings juicy red fruit and is perfect with countryside food. Mondeuse, a more local variety, leans spicier with slightly firmer tannins. Both are wines you can open without needing a special occasion.

Rosé

Simple, dry rosés show up a lot in summer. They’re the kind of bottles you can drink outdoors in the afternoon without thinking too hard about them. Refreshing, affordable, enjoyable: exactly what you want here.

Sparkling wines

This is where many visitors are surprised. Traditional-method sparkling from Bugey is good quality and very fairly priced compared to Champagne or more famous sparkling regions. They’re often clean, bright, and well-made, which is perfect if you’re visiting in warm weather or celebrating the fact you took a weekend off.

You won’t be hunting for highly allocated bottles or chasing anything expensive. The whole point here is to try wines that taste like the hills around you - wines that are easy to enjoy and easy to remember once you’re home again.

Why Bugey Feels Different from the Better-Known Wine Regions

Travel to a big-name wine region and the experience can start to feel predictable: crowds, queues, scripted tours, and places built around visitors rather than locals.

Bugey is the opposite.

Here, wine producers are mostly small, family-owned wineries. The people pouring your tasting are the same ones pruning vines in the morning. You’re invited into spaces used for actual winemaking - not redesigned for Instagram.

There’s no pressure to prove you know anything. You don’t need to be able to describe aromas or talk about vintages. You pretty much just taste and decide what you like.

You’re also not paying for the name on the bottle. Prices reflect reality, not fame. Because the wines don’t travel far, they stay accessible. Most are bought and enjoyed right here in the region.

Beyond the tastings, the landscape does half the work. Vineyards sit on steep slopes surrounded by thick forests and limestone ridges. Even if you take a break from wine tasting to go for a walk or sit near the lake, the feeling of being in a quiet, rural corner of France sticks with you. It’s the kind of environment where you naturally slow down - which is exactly the point of coming.

Where to Stay: Simple, Local Rustic Places

Vongnes is very small, so accommodation options are limited, but that’s OK! You’re staying in real countryside homes and vineyard properties rather than generic hotels. Expect authenticity, quiet nights, and places that keep you close to the wine and nature you came for.

Sleep Among the Vines
The most immersive stay is at Domaine Monin, the family-run vineyard right in Vongnes. Guests sleep inside the estate, surrounded by vines and old stone walls. It’s practical and memorable: you wake up to vineyard views and tastings are only steps away. This option suits travelers who want the full experience without needing to drive between visits.

Guesthouses and B&Bs in the Area
If you want slightly more flexibility or comfort, look just outside the hamlet. Small guesthouses in nearby villages offer private rooms, friendly owners, and easy breakfasts before you head out. These places are relaxed and straightforward, which is ideal if you’re planning to explore the wider Bugey region as well as Vongnes.

Hotels in Local Towns
There are simple hotels in the towns surrounding the wine area. They’re useful if you prefer predictable amenities, later check-in, or if you arrive after work on Friday. You’ll drive in and out of Vongnes, but the trade-off is convenience, especially if you’re not fussed about staying directly in the vineyards.

Before You Head Back

If you want a weekend that’s easy to plan and delivers exactly what you expect (good local wine, short drives, and real countryside calm) Vongnes does the job well. It’s close enough to Lyon and Geneva to make a Friday-to-Sunday trip realistic, and once you’re here, everything is straightforward: park the car, taste wine, take a walk, relax.

You don’t need reservations everywhere. You don’t need to know wine vocabulary. You don’t need to prepare a long list of activities to fill the time. This destination suits anyone who likes local French wine, quiet scenery, and small places that haven’t been shaped by tourism.

Many travelers go to big-name wine regions and come back tired from too many stops, too many people, too much driving. Vongnes gives you the opposite: fewer options, but the right ones. Two days here feel like a genuine break, not a race to see everything.

If you’re collecting ideas for weekend trips from Lyon, short countryside getaways in France, or new wine regions to discover, this is one to save. It’s small, affordable, and easy to enjoy - especially if you like trips where the schedule doesn’t take over the experience.

More calm & cozy weekends for you

If Vongnes has given you a taste for slower places and local food and wine, here are a few more weekends you might want to keep on your radar:

A mindful weekend in rural France : morning yoga, small farmers’ markets, and easy walks through the countryside. A peaceful trip that’s all about feeling human again.
👉 Explore the guide: Mindful Travel in the French Countryside

Slovenia’s Vipava Valley : quiet vineyards, wildflowers, and long dinners outside. A place where wine and silence are the main attractions.
👉 Plan a long weekend: Where Wine, Wildflowers & Silence Meet

Normandy in autumn : crisp air, cider apples, and small country roads full of color. Perfect if you love good drinks and cooler-season trips.
👉 Seasonal escape: Normandy’s Cider Route in Autumn

Europe’s underrated wine regions : if discovering a new favorite bottle is your thing, these places keep tastings friendly and affordable.
👉 Find new bottles: Lesser-Known Wine Regions in Europe

Istria, Croatia : olive groves, herbal cooking, and a coastline that feels slow even in summer. A great pick for food lovers who like to explore without rushing.
👉 Slow-food countryside: Where the Wild Herbs Grow

These trips all share the same idea: good local food and wine, smaller places, and time to just relax and explore.

FAQ:s about visiting Vongnes

Do you need a car to visit Vongnes?
Yes. There is no direct public transport into Vongnes, and wineries are spread out in the countryside. Having a car makes the trip much easier and allows you to explore nearby lakes, trails, and viewpoints.

Is Vongnes a good day trip from Lyon?
You can visit as a day trip, but it works better as a weekend. Tastings and walks are more enjoyable when you’re not watching the clock, and staying overnight lets you experience the quiet evenings that make this place special.

Do you need to book wine tastings in advance?
For the main cellar in Vongnes, you can usually walk in during normal opening hours. Smaller family-run wineries may require a quick call or message ahead of time, especially outside summer or during harvest.

What’s the best time of year to visit?
Late spring to early autumn is ideal. Spring has comfortable weather for walking, summer is good for enjoying sparkling wines and lakes, and autumn has more winery activity and great vineyard views. Winter is very quiet but still possible with planning.

Are there restaurants in Vongnes?
Not many. It’s best to plan simple meals - a picnic from local shops in Belley, or dinner in one of the small village restaurants in the area. This is a wine weekend with relaxed food options, not a restaurant-focused trip.

Is Vongnes good for travelers who don’t drink alcohol?
Yes. You can walk in the vineyards, visit lakes, enjoy the countryside, and explore nearby villages. Wine is the main draw, but the nature and pace are just as appealing for a low-key weekend.

How many tastings should you plan each day?
Two per day is enough. Tastings here are not rushed, and part of the enjoyment is having time in between to walk, eat, or sit outside without feeling like you have a schedule to keep up with.

Dreaming of A Cozy Wine Weekend Near Lyon? Explore Vongnes, Bugey