Enjoying an attractive location close to the Beaujolais hills, Mâcon is Burgundy's southernmost town and a major name in the local wine trade. The town grew initially as a communications post between the French Kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire. Mâcon then thrived and became wealthy thanks to customs dues on this border. By the late Middle Ages the town was making considerable use of the extensive vineyards surrounding it, and continued to prosper as a result of this.

Today Mâcon attracts a number of tourists wishing to visit the Wine Road of Mâconnais, which celebrates the town's history and rich architectural heritage, of course in addition to its internationally-renowned wines. The vast majority of wines made here come from the Chardonnay grape, and as such almost all of the wines are white.