The Famous Wine Route of the Alsace
The Alsace wine road winds its way between Marlenheim near Strasbourg and Thann near Mulhouse and is a extremely popular and attractive way to explore this this important French region whilst learning and enjoying the food and wine produced here. The route covers a beautiful area between the eastern edge of the Vosges Mountains and the River Rhine. Driving through traditional and colouful villages, this is one of France’s smaller wine producing regions but it has some incredible scenery and of course produces some very fine tasting wines. The route is well signposted and at each place of particular interest there are foothpaths which take you through the vineyards to discover the cellars and diverse landscapes of each winery. Rent a bicycle or travel on foot into the countryside with a picnic, or stop at one of the inns or wineries for lunch followed later by a tasting session, these are days to unwind and truly enjoy the slow pace of life and the beautiful French countryside.
Passing through 27 very important and beautiful villages gives you the chance to stop on your journey to try over 50 of the local wines classified as ‘grand cru’ from the Riesling, Pinot Gris, Sylvaner, Muscat and Gewürztraminer grape varieties. As well as the attraction of wine and vineyards the route passes by picturesque villages with historic black and white houses,flower filled balconies and medieval castles. A typical example of these traditional communities is the epicentre of the wine making region, the village of Eguisheim.
Eguisheim dates back to the Middle Ages which is evident from the winding narrow streets, its half timbered buildings and the remains of the once fortified castle. As far back as the 4th century the area became well known for its wine which was found on the tables of royalty in both England and Holland. Eguisheim is also popular because every type of Alsatian grape is grown here so if your time is limited or prefer not to travel the whole 100 miles, it is possible to experience all the regions wines in one location.
Eguisheim Hotels
If you are staying here, the hotels in eguisheim come in all shapes and sizes in a mixture of French and German styles. Two hotels which are considered to be good value for visitors on the wine route are the Hostellerie Des Comtes Eguisheim and the Hotel Saint Hubert Eguisheim.
Hostellerie Des Comtes Eguisheim is proud of its intimate atmosphere and gastronomical delights. The 14 non smoking rooms are clean and bright and feature TV, phone, hairdryer and net access for visitors who like to keep in touch.
Hotel Saint Hubert Eguisheim is a modern hotel situated amongst the vineyards with incredible views of the Black Forest. With just 15 en suite guest rooms the hotel offers is guest’s personal service and facilities such as TV, telephone and mini bar heated indoor swimming pool and sauna.
The Alsace wine route is a very picturesque way of discovering the beauties of the border region with Germany, and a altogether different experience to the other wine producing areas of France.
