BEAUJOLAIS is not just about drinking a light red in summer or a Nouveau on the third Thursday in November.
Beaujolais is much, much more and yet who really knows the other side to this undiscovered region? Writes Amanda Bouet-Cook.
With a strong identity and a worldwide name Beaujolais is a micro region within a region (Rhône-Alpes) and within a department (Rhône, 69). Stretching just 50 km along the Saône River, it borders on southern Burgundy and the northern outskirts of Lyon.
One of the advantages of this region is its geographic situation. From Beaujolais head 30 minutes south to Lyon, France’s second largest historic and commercial city, or two hours to Provence, or three hours to the Mediterranean coast.
Head east to the Alps and Switzerland and be in the nearest ski resort within a couple of hours or take the TGV to Paris and be in the heart of the capital in just two hours. 
And I wonder how many of you have passed by Beaujolais without even knowing that if you turned off the Paris-Mediterranean motorway at Villefranche sur Saône within 10 minutes you’d be up in the hills surrounded by vines and views stretching as far as the Alps?
Beaujolais breathes healthy living: it’s a great place for walking, cycling, riding, water activities along the Saône or on the vast ‘Lac des Sapins’, or simply taking part in village life with one of the numerous events that are organised all year round.
If you need your city fix, Villefranche sur Saône has such a great array of boutiques that even Lyonnais head there to shop and culturally this dynamic city has blossomed over the last few years. And of course Lyon is just down the road.
In Beaujolais, each season lives up to its name, from hot summers to snowy winters, to warm springs and autumns and benefits from low rainfall.
One of the oldest regions in France it is steeped in history and boasts many chateaux and places of historic interest.
Beaujolais can be split into three distinct areas:
La Région des Pierres Dorées in the south is called the ‘Tuscany of Beaujolais’ due to the beautiful colour of the distinctive golden stone used for building the houses, churches and chateaux. Prices of properties are more expensive here as it is within easy commuting time to Lyon, but although prices have been increasing for the last two years, they are now starting to stabilize if not decrease.
Expect to pay between 380 000€ and 500 000€ for a renovated 3 to 4 bedroom house with garden. Today there are more and more authentic wine-producer’s properties on the market but they usually require some renovation. Expect to pay around 260 000€ to 320 000€.
La Région des Crus in northern Beaujolais, bordering on Burgundy, attracts wine enthusiasts from all over the world. This is where you’ll find the most renowned Beaujolais wines such as Juliénas, Morgon, Saint Amour, Moulin à Vent etc.
A renovated 3 to 4 bedroom house and large garden will cost from 300 000 to 430 000€ depending on the size of the property, its location, the size of land and the quality of renovation (swimming pool etc). You can now also find magnificent and huge wine-producers’ properties from 450 000€.
The Beaujolais Vert/Little Switzerland to the west accounts for two thirds of Beaujolais with not a vine plant in sight! Here you’ll find yourself in the middle of an alpine scene surrounded by the largest Douglas pine forest outside Canada. Even though some properties are slightly more expensive around the Lac des Sapins due to its ideal location, you will generally be able to find much cheaper properties in Green Beaujolais with more land (from 150 000€), and you can still find some cheap properties needing complete renovation for a very reasonable price.
These types of properties are quickly snatched up, not by the British who are few and far between all over Beaujolais, but by the locals who sense a good investment as word gets out about Beautiful Beaujolais.
Amanda Bouet-Cook runs Home Attitudes, a property search and relocation service in the Beaujolais region.