The Route des Vins d'Alsace is France's oldest and most picturesque wine route, established in 1953. Stretching 170 kilometres along the eastern slopes of the Vosges mountains, it connects more than 70 villages and towns through a landscape of vineyards, orchards and fairy-tale architecture. Stop in Riquewihr for its perfectly preserved medieval streetscape, in Eguisheim — voted one of France's most beautiful villages — for its circular old town, and in Colmar for its extraordinary concentration of half-timbered Renaissance houses in the Petite Venise quarter.
The Wines of Alsace: Aromatic Whites and Beyond
Alsace is France's most aromatic wine région. Riesling, the king of Alsatian grapes, produces wines of crystalline précision: dry, mineral and age-worthy. Gewurztraminer delivers an explosion of rose petal, lychee and spice — one of the most distinctive white wines in the world. Pinot Gris offers weight and richness, while Muscat produces delicately dry apéritif wines. Look also for Cremant d'Alsace, the région's excellent sparkling wine, and Pinot Noir, Alsace's sole red grape. Many cellars along the route offer comprehensive tasting flights covering all the main varieties.
Best Times to Visit and Practical Tips
The Alsace Wine Route is beautiful in every season. Spring brings cherry blossom and tulips around the vines. Summer offers outdoor tastings in village squares. Autumn turns the vineyards gold and copper, and the harvest fills the air with the scent of fermenting grapes. Winter is magical: Colmar and Strasbourg host some of Europe's finest Christmas markets, with mulled wine served alongside tarte flambée and kougelhopf. Drive the route at your own pace, stopping whenever a village or cellar catches your eye — that spontaneous discovery is often the best part of the journey.
