The AOC Cornas controlled designation of origin is reserved exclusively for still red wines. AOC Cornas wines are made exclusively from the Syrah grape variety. The harvesting of the grapes, vinification and production of AOC Cornas wines take place within the municipality of Cornas in the Ardèche département.
Travellers planning to visit Cornas intend to rent a holiday apartment.
Wine and tradition
By appointment, Domaine Verset A et E offers wine tastings and educational tours in Cornas. Domaine Verset A et E represents six generations of family winemaking in the Cornas wine-growing region.
Domaine Clape preferentially vinifies whole grapes and ages the wines in old foudres; this is part of its traditional approach to the Cornas appellation.
The Marché aux Vins de Cornas takes place every year on the first weekend of December.
Paths and nature
La Voie Bleue runs along the right bank of the Rhône on a 12-kilometre route from Châteaubourg to Soyons and connects to ViaRhôna at Soyons. The route is entirely designated for cyclists and pedestrians; most of it runs through a natural environment near preserved flora and fauna.
Along La Voie Bleue, there are park-and-ride car parks, numerous picnic areas and consistently good signage.
In Cornas, the “Détour en Vigne” app is available for wine-tourism walks. The Cornas route in the app is 3.6 kilometres long, takes around one and a half hours and includes stops featuring statements by winegrowers as well as explanations of the individual appellations and their characteristics.
The Sentier de l'AOC CORNAS begins at the cemetery of Cornas and leads for around two and a half hours through the vineyards of the Cornas appellation. It has several information panels about the appellation and offers a panorama of the Rhône Valley. The Sentier de l'AOC CORNAS is marked in orange, open daily year-round and free of charge.
History and culture
The first mention of the Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Mûre dates back to 960. The Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Mûre was rebuilt and enlarged between 1856 and 1865; during the final works, the vaults, apse and sacristy were completed.
The Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Mûre is open daily year-round and free to enter.
A local tradition concerning the Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Mûre tells of two travellers who got into danger on the Rhône, turned to Notre-Dame du Puy and vowed to build a chapel at the place where their boat would come ashore.
