Perhaps you have enjoyed a glass of chilled Pouilly-Fuissé white wine, liked it, known it was French, and not thought much more about it. According to publicity in the village of Fuissé, Pouilly-Fuissé is the Burgundy wine that is the most exported. That's worth exploring.

We were delighted to find the two small villages of Pouilly and Fuissé (map), located just 10-15 kilometers from Mâcon, in southern Burgundy. They're just below the Roche de Solutré, a tall limestone escarpment that dominates the landscape. The roads to get there are narrow and curvy, with few signs, so you'll want a good map or GPS.

But imagine our consternation when we came across this sign:

Which way to go? First we had a picnic among some vineyards overlooking Pouilly, and then drove to the charming small village of Fuissé.

What did we find there? Not much, because the grape harvest was in full swing, and everyone was out in the vineyards. We even saw grapes being picked right in the center of the village.

And yes, those are all vineyards in the background as well.

A large billboard in the center of the village points out things to see, such as Romanesque and Gothic churches, an ancient stairway, evidence of Romans, and picturesque houses.

It also proclaims Pouilly-Fuissé to be Le vin de la joie de vivre and Le vin de vos vacances—The wine of the joy of life and the wine of your vacations. That was acceptable to us!

A number of vineyards and their shops are located right in the village, with opportunities for tasting and buying wines. In season, the village is also covered in gorgeous flowers. It's a charming place to wander and get a sense of a real French wine village.

We then drove over a curvy road to nearby Pouilly, but the number of tractors and other grape harvest equipment being moved through that village made a stop impossible. It's tiny and also devoted to grapes and wine.

The name Pouilly-Fuissé is used for wines from these villages, as well as from several other communes in the area. It's a tasty way to experience Burgundy!

While you're in the area, you might also want to visit Mâcon, a city of about 35,000 that is another home of delicious white wines, and the Abbey of Cluny. Cluny is just 23 kilometers (14 miles) from Fuissé. They're both great excursions and can be combined with a visit to Fuissé and Pouilly.

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