Alsace
Alsace has a character all its own. Because the region has belonged to both Germany and France, the villages and homes have a distinctive appearance. The local dialect sounds like a cross between French and German, while Alsatian cuisine combines the best German and French traditions with the region’s outstanding local products. As you drive through Alsace, you can find modern cities, tiny villages, farms and, of course, vineyards – acre after acre of colorful vines, laden with the grapes that produce some of France’s most interesting white wines.
Alsace is bordered by the Vosges Mountains on the west and the Rhine River on the east. The mountains shelter the area and their foothills make excellent vineyards. Alsatian wines have a unique place in France’s wine lexicon. The area is famous for its award-winning Riesling, pinot blanc, pinot gris and gewurtztraminer wines. You won’t find many red Alsatian wines, aside from a few reds and rosés made from pinot noir grapes.
You can taste Alsatian wines in one of the many towns along the Alsatian Wine Route (“Route du Vin”). Riquewihr, Hunawihr and Eguisheim are especially popular stops. Whether you drive or bicycle the Wine Route, you will find yourself surrounded by vineyards, glowing green or flaming in harvest colors, interspersed with pastel-hued villages. Stop by a winstub or winery tasting room to try the local wines. At lunchtime – lunch is an art form in France – take time to enjoy a hearty meal of baeckeoffe (marinated meats and vegetables, layered with potatoes and onions and then baked), accompanied by a crisp Riesling or spicy gewurtztraminer. You can even take a two-day wine class from the Alsace Wine School, operated by the Conseil Interprofessionel des Vins d’Alsace in Colmar.
Alsace has something for everyone. Cosmopolitan Strasbourg, with its distinctive one-spired Gothic cathedral, offers the best of Alsatian culture in the heart of the EU’s co-capital. The small villages of Alsace are filled with half-timbered buildings, enticing shops and numerous restaurants. Alsace has built a reputation for its outdoor adventure parks and nature preserves; many visitors enjoy renting bikes or strolling through vineyards during the warm summer months.
Wine and Tradition
Wherever you go in France, you’ll discover why the French love affair with wine has lasted over time. Pack a corkscrew in your suitcase. Stop by a wineshop, buy a bottle or two and relax in true French style.
