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Les Plus Beaux Villages de France on the Alsace Wine Route

On the Alsace Wine Route®

Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Sylvaner, Pinot Gris, Muscat… Wine lovers will, of course, have recognised these grape varieties from one of France’s most important wine-growing regions, renowned for its white wines: Alsace! Listed on the Alsace Wine Route®, which winds its way through no fewer than 70 wine-growing villages over a 170 km route, four villages listed amongst Les Plus Beaux Villages de France will make for your top stops! Between walks along the vineyard paths, tastings (in moderation!) at the producers’ estates and local festivals, an unforgettable holiday awaits you in Eguisheim, Riquewihr, Hunawihr, Bergheim and Mittelbergheim !

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> Eguisheim, the cradle of Alsatian
wine-growing  


A few kilometres from Colmar, at the foot of the Vosges mountains, Eguisheim (Haut-Rhin) is regarded as the cradle of Alsatian winegrowing. Amidst a riot of colourful, flower-bedecked façades, the village streets wind in concentric circles around a castle where Pope Saint Leo IX was born. All around lie the hillsides of Eguisheim, which produce Alsatian wines from no fewer than seven grape varieties and two Grands Crus: Eichberg (Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer) and Pfersigberg (Pinot Gris, Riesling, Muscat)…

The best wine-related activities in Eguisheim

  1. Explore the wine trail: Whether you explore it at your own pace all year round or with a guide in the summer – followed by a wine tasting – the Eguisheim Grands Crus Wine Trail will introduce you to the various grape varieties and local grands crus, as well as the work of the winegrowers.

  2. Meet the winegrowers: Eguisheim is home to around thirty active winegrowers who will be delighted to share their passion with you!

  3. Take part in one of the many wine-themed festivals: The Eguisheim Wine Festival and the Night of the Grands Crus in July, the Winegrowers’ Festival in August, and the Grape Harvest Festival in September and October… There’s no shortage of opportunities to discover the Alsace wines produced in Eguisheim in a festive and friendly atmosphere (but always in moderation)!

 Top tip – Our favourite spots in Eguisheim

> Riquewihr, the pioneers of Crémant d’Alsace
 


Undoubtedly one of the most famous stops on the Alsace Wine Route®, Riquewihr (Haut-Rhin) captivates visitors as much with the beauty of its architecture as with the quality of its wines. Beyond the ramparts that still protect the beautiful houses with their colourful façades and carved wooden windows, the vineyards climb the Alsatian hillsides, two of which are classified as Grands Crus: the Sporen (Gewürztraminer and Riesling) and the Schoenenbourg (Riesling, Muscat and Pinot Gris). It is also in Riquewihr that the Champagne method was introduced at the start of the 20th century, and it was here that sparkling wine production came into its own in the 1970s, eventually becoming the“Crémant d’Alsace” AOC, the second most popular sparkling wine in France after Champagne!

The best wine-related activities in Riquewihr

  1. Explore the wine trail: Open all year round, whether you choose to explore it on your own or accompanied by a winegrower – and followed by a cellar tour and tasting in summer – the Grands Crus wine trail in Riquewihr invites you to discover the landscapes of Alsace and the work of the vineyard.

  2. Visit the Maison de Vigneron: Adjoining the Tour des Voleurs, Riquewihr’s former 14th-century prison, the Maison de Vigneron (also dating from the 16th century) features a period interior, complete with a cellar and the tools used by winegrowers and coopers.

> Hunawihr: a 360°
view of the vineyards  

 

Set amidst a landscape offering a 360° view of the vineyards, Hunawihr is a village ‘surrounded by nature’ which is home to a Butterfly Garden and a Centre for the Reintroduction of Storks and Otters. It is probably from the top of its beautiful fortified church – whose clock tower features a bunch of grapes and a vine leaf! – that the view of the surrounding vineyard landscapes is best appreciated. Like its neighbours inEguisheim and Riquewihr, Hunawihr produces AOC Alsace and Crémant d’Alsace wines, and takes pride in the fact that its terroir is recognised as a Grand Cru. Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris are thus produced there as Grand Cru Rosacker, renowned as one of the most distinctive in the Alsatian vineyards.

The best wine-related activities in Hunawihr

  1. Explore the wine trail: Open all year round, whether you explore it on your own or with a winegrower – followed by a cellar tour and tasting in summer – the Grands Crus wine trail in Hunawihr invites you to discover the landscapes of Alsace and the work of the vineyard.

  2. Take part in the “Caves de Noël”: Renowned for its celebrations and traditional markets that bring the whole of Alsace to life, the Christmas period is also an opportunity for the village’s winegrowers to introduce you to their wines in a unique way. In Hunawihr, the wine cellar and several estates organise the “Caves de Noël”. On the programme are unique activities designed to help you experience wine in a different way: candlelit “Wines and Cheeses” tastings, tastings paired with Alsatian specialities, and the Galette des Rois…

> Bergheim: wines with character

Vignes Bergheim

Nestled between the foothills of the Vosges and the Alsace plain, Bergheim perfectly embodies the blend of preserved medieval heritage and centuries-old wine-growing tradition. This fortified village is one of the highlights of the Alsace wine region, where vine-growing dates back to antiquity. Protected by ramparts that remain intact, Bergheim has managed to preserve its wine-growing identity whilst showcasing its architectural heritage.

Today, the Bergheim vineyards cover several hundred hectares, making the village one of the most important wine-growing centres in the Alsace region.

The pride of the village, the Altenberg de Bergheim Grand Cru is one of Alsace’s most renowned terroirs. Situated on steep slopes with marl-limestone soils rich in fossils, it produces powerful, complex wines of great depth.

Less well-known, the Kanzlerberg is one of the smallest Grand Crus in Alsace. This exceptional terroir produces rare wines, sought after for their finesse and mineral character.

Top wine-related activities in Bergheim

  1. Walk the wine trail to discover the landscapes and terroirs,

  2. Discover the wines at one of the many cellars and family-run estates open for tastings,

  3. Take part in the traditional Gewürztraminer festival in July

Top tip – Our favourite spots in Bergheim

> Mittelbergheim, a unique wine


At the foot of Mont Sainte-Odile, Mittelbergheim (Bas-Rhin) presents a different face to its “Most Beautiful Villages” counterparts in the Haut-Rhin: here, there are few colourful façades, but pink sandstone adorns the imposing porches of the wine estates. As the surrounding countryside attests, “Mittel”, as it is known locally, is indeed a village devoted to winegrowing. And has been for several centuries: behind its magnificent Renaissance façade, the town hall houses the ‘Weinschlag’, a valuable tome containing a wealth of information on vines and winemaking dating back to 1510. Another source of pride for the village is the Zotzenberg hill, which offers Mittelbergheim the privilege of producing the only Sylvaner classified as a Grand Cru.

The best wine-related activities in Mittelbergheim

  1. Explore the wine trail: Open to the public all year round, the walk through “Le Zotzenberg” features panels created by artists showcasing the seven Alsatian grape varieties, as well as illustrations designed for children to help them discover the work of winegrowers.

  2. Visit the “Mémoire de Vignerons” museum: In the heart of the village, the “Mémoire de Vignerons” museum preserves the heritage and traditions of winegrowing (open on Sunday afternoons from July to the end of October).

  3. Take part in one of the three major wine-themed events in Mittel: “Henter’m Kallerladel”, a picnic and open day at the winegrowers’ estates (late March – early April), and the unmissable Wine Festival in July (last weekend) and the New Wine Festival in October (second weekend).

Top tip – Our top picks in Mittelbergheim