Situated on the lower eastern slopes of the Vosges mountains, in the Rhine valley between Strasbourg and Mulhouse, the Alsace vineyard is rather different from any other French wine growing area. Like the region of Alsace itself, the wine culture here is steeped in a Germanic tradition, producing mostly dry or fruity white wines, the most popular being Riesling, Sylvaner and the very fruity Gewurztraminer.
Towns and Villages of Alsace
Colmar
Colmar is a town in the Grand Est region of northeastern France, near the border with Germany. Its old town has cobblestone streets lined with half-timbered medieval and early Renaissance buildings. The Gothic 13th-century, Eglise Saint-Martin church stands on central Place de la Cathédrale. The city is on the Alsace Wine Route, and local vineyards specialize in Riesling and Gewürztraminer wines.
Obernai
At the crossroads of the three large regions of Alsace : the vineyards with the wine route, the Vosges and the large rural plain starting right at the town gates, appears and spreads out the proud city of Obernai.Located at 25 km south west of Strasbourg where the little valley of the Ehn river opens out, Obernai used to bear the name of "Ehenheim" precisely because of the Ehn river. Obernai is so attractive that it is the most visited city of the Bas-Rhin after the capital of Europe.
Obernai, the birthplace of St. Odile, is a condensed version of Alsace. The town will come up to the visitor's expectations whether he be gourmet, sportsman, history lover or just an ordinary tourist. Here, welcoming people is a tradition and our smile comes from the heart. You will feel like home.
Riquewihr
Winegrowing community on the Wine Route (altitude 300 m), Riquewihr currently has 1228 inhabitants and is a member of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in France. It stands 4 km from Ribeauvillé. Many shops and boutiques, as well as hotels, restaurants and Winstubs, an intermunicipal campsite, bed-and-breakfast rooms and furnished flats. Many winegrowers offer guided tours of their cellars with tastings.
Ribeauville
Located on the Wine Route, between the vineyards and mountains, half-way between Strasbourg and Mulhouse, Ribeauvillé is an attractive town with 5000 inhabitants, which has combined its historical heritage with modernity.
The town and neighbouring hills are dominated by the majestic ruins of the Three Castles of the Lords of Ribeaupierre.
The vineyards, which have been in existence since the Middle Ages, enable many winegrowers as well as the wine cooperative to offer visits to their cellars and tastings, in particular of the three Grands Crus, Geisberg, Kirchberg de Ribeauvillé and Osterberg.
Barr
The village of Barr is 10 kilometres south of Obernai, in the Bas-Rhin department. Barr is rather the overlooked village of the Alsace - while neighbour Obernai gets visitors by the coachload, Barr sits quietly by.
Yet the town deserves your visit when you are touring Alsace - although there are no particular individual highlights, there are lots of picturesque cobbled streets lined with traditional Alsace houses, yet without the overcrowding of its northern neighbour.
Guebwiller
The village of Guebwiller is in the Haut-Rhin department of the Alsace region, to the north-east of Mulhouse and south of Colmar. The town is on the Lauch River, and at the base of the Vosges mountains and the Florival Valley, just eight kilometres from the 'Grand Ballon', the highest point in this mountain range.
Eguisheim
Surrounded by vineyards, nestling in a fold of green hills, Eguisheim is a medieval village whose narrow, concentric streets highlight the architectural merits of its half-timbered houses, lovingly decorated with flowers.
Discover in this unique village: historic fountains, tithe manors, a yellow sandstone church with a 13th century "Opening Virgin" statue.
Stroll along its narrow streets and admire the broad spectrum of its coloured houses, where ancient inscriptions can be deciphered on the stone lintels. Fall in love with the personality of this most typical Alsace villages.
Mittelbergheim
This renowned gastronomic centre stands on the slopes at the foot of the Crax hill. Its remarkable location and architectural heritage have earned it the title of one of ‘the most beautiful villages of France’.
The Alsace Wine Route has contributed to the fame of Alsace Wines for the past 60 years.
The most famous Wine Route in France proudly reveals its medieval châteaux and Renaissance houses and the flowery lanes of its charming villages. A land of tradition and wine, offering a unique experience for the visitor. Officially established as a tourist route in 1953, it celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2013.
Renowned for its remarkable and simple itinerary, the Wine Route invites you to discover the region and its wine producers. It winds through sloping valleys along the foothills of the Vosges for more than 170km, crossing the entire wine region from Marlenheim to Thann and meeting some 1000 producers. It also includes an isolated section around Wissembourg, in the far north of the Alsace.
Five regions carry (or are in the process of gaining) the “Vignobles et Découvertes” label:
- The “Pays de Wissembourg” wine region
- The “Vignoble de Strasbourg”, from Marlenheim to Molsheim
- The “Cœur d'Alsace” wine region, between Mont Sainte-Odile and the Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg
- The “Terre et Vins au Pays de Colmar” wine region, around Colmar
- The “La Route des Vins Sud-Alsace” wine region, around Thann and Guebwiller