French wine regions
Alsace: a visitor's guide to the vineyards
Half-timbered villages and aromatic whites on the Route des Vins.
Alsace runs the prettiest wine road in France: 170 kilometres of flower-decked villages between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine, with Riesling and Gewurztraminer poured in centuries-old family wineries. It is also the most walk-in-friendly region: most caves welcome visitors without appointments.
Best time to visit: Late spring for the flowers, September-October for harvest and golden vineyards. December pairs tastings with the famous Christmas markets of Colmar and Strasbourg.
Where to stay: Colmar for the postcard old town and central position; Riquewihr or Kaysersberg to sleep inside the vineyards themselves.
The areas worth your days
Riquewihr & Ribeauvillé. The two most beautiful villages on the route, and among its greatest terroirs (Schoenenbourg, Osterberg grands crus). Walk between them through the vines in 90 minutes.
Kaysersberg valley. Albert Schweitzer's village, wooded slopes, and superb organic and biodynamic producers.
Eguisheim & around Colmar. Concentric medieval lanes, storks on the rooftops, and easy tastings ten minutes from Colmar.
Northern route (Barr, Andlau). Quieter, steeper, Riesling-dominated: for second visits and crowd-allergic travellers.
Book your visit
Cellar tours, tastings and vineyard experiences in Alsacecan be booked through our partners. Partner links coming soon: for now, book directly with the estates listed by the local tourism office.
Practical tips
- Alsace is cycling country: the Véloroute du Vignoble links the villages away from car traffic.
- Grand cru Riesling here ages like great white Burgundy at a third of the price: the cellar-door bargain of French wine.
- Book Christmas-season accommodation by September: Colmar's market crowds are no myth.
Continue exploring
Bordeaux wine region guide · Burgundy wine region guide · Champagne wine region guide · Sleeping among the vines