Discover One of the Most Beautiful Wine Routes in France: The Alsace Wine Route

The Alsace Wine Route is a 170-kilometer-long wine route that winds through colorful villages, famous wineries, mountainous landscapes, and medieval castles. This route through Alsace is known as one of the most beautiful wine routes in France.

As we arrive at Domain Lipp & Fils, a tiny winery that looks somewhat dilapidated, no one answers the door, and the phone number is unreachable. In my best French, I call out across the yard: 'Bonjour, is anyone there?' But after several shouts, it seems no one is around. Sighing, I hang my head and walk back to our car. As we reach the end of the driveway, I suddenly hear: 'monsieur, mademoiselle, sorry, we were having lunch.' With furrowed brows, I look at my friend Yves; he laughs and says: 'they were having lunch.'

At the foot of the Vosges mountains, you'll find the French region of Alsace, also known as Elzas, just under five hours' drive from Maastricht. Wander among the vineyards, visit picturesque villages, explore the world of knights and damsels in the many castles and fortresses, or climb one of the many mountain peaks. I take you along the Alsace Wine Route: 'Route des Vins d'Alsace'.

Welcome to the Alsace Wine Route

Our wine route through Alsace begins in Rorschwihr, a town in eastern France, in the Haut-Rhin department. The illuminated castle atop a mountain catches my eye as we drive into Rorschwihr late in the evening. Upon arrival, I ask our hostess Léna about the name of the castle. She replies in a regional language that is a cross between French and German: "Château Haut Koenigsbourg, you must definitely take a look"

After a delightful night's sleep, Léna wakes us up with crispy, freshly baked croissants, a glass of orange juice, and homemade cookies shouting 'Welcome to France!' again. It's time to map out our route. The wine route runs from Strasbourg to Mulhouse and takes you along 15,600 hectares of vineyards and more than 4,200 winegrowers.

Since we are spending a whole week in this region, we decide to visit a number of villages and wineries every day. The villages we will definitely visit are: Saint-Hippolyte, Rorschwihr, Bergheim, Ribeauvillé, Hunawihr, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, and Colmar.

Saint-Hippolyte

In Saint-Hippolyte, we stroll past pastel-colored half-timbered houses. A pink house with yellow awnings catches my eye. A local explains that the colors of the houses historically indicated the occupant's profession or faith—for example, red for Protestants, yellow for bakers, and blue for fishmongers.

Riquewihr: A Storybook Village

Next, we visit Riquewihr, reputed to be one of France's prettiest villages. Entering through the city gate, we find ourselves surrounded by medieval half-timbered houses and elegant signs, reminiscent of a fairy-tale setting. Don't miss trying the local specialty, Flammkuchen, at one of the many Weinstube in town.

Hunawihr and Beyond

In Alsace, navigating is easy with signs marked 'Route des Vins d'Alsace' guiding the way. From my car window, a church perched on a hill stands out, its terracotta colors contrasting beautifully against the green vineyards. Hunawihr, though small, is notably charming with its unique church.

Wine, Wine, and More Wine

After wandering for a while, we finally find the winemaker of Domain Lipp & Fils. We are invited for a tour, and after just two whole minutes, the tour through the narrow corridors ends and we take a seat on a wooden stool in the tasting room. They mainly have Riesling, but we are here especially for the Pinot Noir. The smooth, flavorful wine from Lipp & Fils has become our favorite since we drank it on a summer evening with family.

We continue our journey to the Vignoble des deux Lunes winery in Wettolsheim. I had imagined the route there quite idyllically, with the sun shining through the vine leaves onto the dark blue grapes as we drove along winding roads with views of the Vosges mountains. However, the reality was different: rain poured down in buckets, and all I could see were drops, dark grey clouds, and fog. Fortunately, they also have delicious wines here. With a box of Pinot Blanc Apogée, we get back into the car.

Do not miss these wineries when you are in Alsace: Domaine Marc Tempé in Zellenberg, Bott Frères in Ribeauvillé, Daniel Jung in Riquewihr, and Domaine Fernand Engel in Rorschwihr.

Unique Stays on the Alsace Wine Route

When driving the wine route, one of the villages along the wine route is an ideal base. We chose to stay in Rorschwihr. Here we stayed at Sojolidays, a charming holiday home with five apartments. The rooms are tastefully decorated with a fully equipped kitchen and a stylish bathroom. The hostess bakes fresh cookies for her guests every day, and in good weather, you can even use the barbecue on the terrace.

You could also make a real road trip of it and stay in different villages and towns along the route.

Discover Local Gastronomy Along the Route des Vins d'Alsace

Along the Route des Vins d'Alsace, not only will you find excellent wines, but also an array of local dishes showcasing the culinary wealth of the region. Visiting local markets and specialized farm shops provides deeper insight into the local cuisine. Sample authentic Alsatian sauerkraut, a savory tarte flambée, or a slice of Munster cheese, directly from the producers. Each village along the route has its own culinary specialties, making every stop a unique taste experience.

Share Your Experiences: Photography and Social Media Tips

The Alsace Wine Route is a picturesque destination begging to be photographed. From the rolling vineyards to the colorful, flower-filled villages, there are endless opportunities to hone your photography skills. This section offers tips for the best photo spots along the route, advice on the golden hour for that perfect vineyard shot, and suggestions for sharing your adventures on social media. Whether you're an amateur photographer or an experienced Instagrammer, these tips will help capture and share the magic of Alsace with your followers.

Practical Information about the Wine Route

• If you prefer not to drive to all the wineries, you can use the shuttle bus that stops in the towns: Colmar, Ribeauvillé, Hunawihr, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg Vignoble, Turckheim, Eguisheim, and Voegtlinshoffen. This bus runs in July, August, and September from Friday to Sunday, and a ticket costs €15 for adults.
• When you want to visit a winery, you do not need to make an appointment in advance. However, keep in mind that most winemakers are closed between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM for lunch.
• The best times to visit Alsace are from mid-April to mid-October. The grape harvest often starts in October.
• Would you like to keep a travel diary while driving this wine route through Alsace? In the Travel Diaries App, you can easily maintain a diary. Once home, have it printed and you'll have a diary full of memories.

Wil jij meer bijzondere roadtrips in Frankrijk ontdekken? Lees dan ook onze blog: Roadtrip langs de mooiste kuststeden van Zuid-Frankrijk of ontdek de mooiste plekken aan de Atlantische kust.