Vigneron Indépendant and Vinomedia are two associations that host wine expositions, or salons des vins, in Lyon, France, annually. These budget and free wine tasting events are a local and authentic way to discover French wine, wine history, and wine making tradition. Make your next visit to Lyon even more unforgettable by partaking in a wine tasting, either at an exposition or a local wine cellar.
Vigneron Indépendant is an association of independent winemakers of France. Every fall, Vigeron Indépendant hosts a big wine tasting event in Lyon, usually at le Halle de Tony Garnier, a landmark building accessible by the Métro and buses of Lyon's public transportation system.
More than 500 French wine producers gather to showcase their products over the span of several days. Deciding on which of the 500 wine stands to visit can be tough and overwhelming. Fortunately, each stand has a sign that indicates the region where its products come from, such as Alsace, Bordeaux, Corsica and so on. Further, there is a bulletin board where one will find listings of all the wines and winemakers that have won recognitions in the previous year. The location of these winners’ stands is also be listed. The bulletin board can be a helpful guide for both veteran and novice visitors at Vigneron Indépendant’s enormous expositions.
Vinomedia is an agency that works with and organizes events on behalf of winemakers, independent and non-independent, in France. The association’s expositions are usually thematic. Popular themes include: wine tourism, organic wine and wine production, and wine and gastronomy. Vinomedia’s events take place across France. In Lyon, Vinomedia hosts several wine salons throughout the year, usually one in the fall, one in the spring and sometimes another in the summer.
Vinomedia’s Lyon events tend to be smaller and more intimate than Vigneron Indépendant’s, with around 100 winemakers at a single exposition. Unlike Vigneron Indépendant’s, participating winemakers at Vinomedia’s salons are not required to be independent wine producers and/or sellers. Independent winemakers do participate regularly at Vinomedia’s events however. In terms of location, Vinomedia’s expositions regularly take place at Centre de Congrès L'Espace Tête d'Or.
For those who are first-time goers to a wine salon in Lyon, Vinomedia’s may be a better place to start. One hundred wine stands is already a lot to choose and taste from. Winemakers at Vinomedia’s expositions tend to less rushed as the pace is much less hectic.
Visit Vinomedia's and Vigneron Indépendent's Websites for Information
Both Vinomedia and Vigneron Indépendent have websites with detailed information on the dates and locations of their future wine expositions, usually planned and publicized months in advance. Information on how to request invitations to these expositions for free is also available. At the moment the two associations’ websites are available in French.
