The Alsace Wine Route

Northern Alsace Wine Route

This morning, meet your guide at your hotel and set out together for a day of wine and castle touring in the Alsace countryside. The Alsace Wine Route winds its way from north to south, for more than 170 kilometers (106 miles) along the eastern foothills of the Vosges. It has become famous the world over for its exceptional natural beauty as it leads visitors across rows of undulating, vine-covered hills, and through quaint villages.

Begin your tour along the Northern Section of the famous Alsace ‘Wine Route’ to admire the stunning landscape. Enjoy a stop at the small village of Obernai passing little winding streets, old houses with multicolored tiles, ensigns, ramparts and the statue of St Odile patron saint of Alsace. You will also have a chance to visit Mittelbergheim, a most unique village ranked among the most Beautiful Villages of France.

Continue on for a tours and tasting at a producers such as Ostertag in Epfig or Kreydenweiss in Andlau. These are some of the most precious wineries in Alsace for terroir wines.

Enjoy a lunch today at a local restaurant such as Le Pressoir de Bacchus in Blienschwille (to be paid directly).

After lunch, continue on to the Dambach La Ville wine area, considered to be located at the heart of the Alsace wine region and home to the Grand Cru Frankstein. Riesling and Gewurztraminer are particularly well adapted to the well-drained, granite-mica scree which filters water and retains heat well.

You will be welcomed for a tour and wine tasting session in a typical “caveau”, the name given to the local wineries, such as Beck-Hartweg. Beck-Hartweg is one of the historic domaines of Alsace, that builds on a tradition of winegrowing going all the way back to 1590. Today it is run by Florian and Mathilde Beck-Hartweg. Alternatively, meet with a winemaker such as Céline Metz of Hubert Metz winery for a private wine tasting.

Return to your accommodation at the end of the day.

Southern Alsace Wine Route

After breakfast this morning, check out of your accommodation and set out with your guide to discover the Southern section of the Alsace wine route.

Begin with a visit of the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle for a self guided tour. Towering at almost 800 metres above sea level, Haut-Koenigsbourg boasts an exceptional panoramic view over the surrounding area . Built in the 12th century, the castle bore witness to nine centuries of European conflicts and rivalries between feudal lords, kings and emperors.

After your visit, continue on to the Ribeauvillé/Riquewihr wine producing area that is surrounded by 5 Grand Crus appellations: Geisberg, Kirchberg, Osterberg, Schoenenbourg and Sporen. You will have the opportunity to visit Riquewihr, ranked among the Most Beautiful Villages in France., for a wander of the town and some free time for lunch.

If Riesling is without a doubt the king of grapes in this area, Pinot Gris, Muscat and Gewürztraminer are also known to produce excellent wines on the neighboring soils. Here famous wine growers include the Trimbach family that have been making wine since 1626 or the Hugel family who only began their activity in 1639! Not only will you be amazed by the beauty of these two Medieval towns, it is also here that you will experience your afternoon tasting in one of the most highly selected wineries such as Trimbach or Louis Sipp to complete your Alsace wine tasting experience.

Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Colmar

Colmar a captivating town that exudes charm and beauty at every turn. Known as the "Little Venice" of Alsace, Colmar is renowned for its enchanting canals, colorful half-timbered houses, and cobblestone streets that transport visitors back in time. The town's well-preserved medieval and Renaissance architecture creates a delightful atmosphere, with famous houses like the Maison des Têtes, The house Pfister and the well-known Petite Venise quarter, a former tanner’s quarter. With its flower-filled balconies and ornate facades adding to its allure, Colmar is rich in history, exceptional cuisine, and warm hospitality,

Wine and Castles Surrounding Colmar

Enjoy a full day of exquisite tastings of Alsatian wines and outstanding castle visits. We will visit villages such as Kayserberg with its Renaissance and half-timbered houses and Eguisheim, a charming winegrowers village.

Begin with a self guided visit of the Castle of Kaysersberg. Built towards 1200 to form a barrier to the routes coming from Lorraine, the village was an important strategic site in the war that opposed the Holy Roman Empire and the Dukes of Lorraine. An enormous, cylindrical keep, one of the oldest in Alsace, is a real curiosity in itself with its walls over 4 m thick. Inside the wall, protected by the keep, you can admire the manor house with its Gothic art windows and take the stairway to the top of the keep for a splendid panorama looking over Kaysersberg.

Following your visit, you will be welcomed to a producer in Kaysersberg such as Domaine Weinbach for a tour and wine tasting. At the foot of the majestic Schlossberg hill, surrounded by vineyards and roses, the Domaine Weinbach "creek of wine", named after the small stream that runs through it, was built in 1612 by the Capuchin monks. The estate was acquired in 1898 by the Faller brothers who passed it on to their son and nephew Théo. Since 2016, Catherine Faller, daughter of Théo, has run the estate with her sons Eddy and Théo.

After some free time for lunch, visit the Village of Eguisheim. This village on the Wine Trail is among the most beautiful of France and was built with streets arranged in concentric circles all around its castle. Wander around the narrow paved streets full of old half-timbered houses with geranium-bedecked wooden windows and balconies.

Complete your day with a visit of the Castle of Hohlandsbourg. Built on a mountain summit, the castle offers a magnificent all-round panorama over the plain of Alsace and the Vosges Mountains. This garrison stronghold built in the 13th century was the seat of the Lords of Habsburg. Measuring 100 m long and 60 m wide, this is the largest fortified castle in Alsace.

As your day concludes, you will be delivered to your hotel.

After checking out of your accommodation, meet your private driver who will transfer you to Colmar train station to catch your connecting train.

Bon Voyage!