Although less famous then Bordeaux and Burgundy, the Alsace vineyards are among the oldest in France.
Located 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Paris, along the river Rhine, the “Alsace wine route” is a designation created in 1953 by the winegrowers eager to share their love for their beautiful land. On a distance of 170 kilometres from Thann (northwest of Mulhouse) to Marlenheim (northwest of Strasbourg), this route displays so many villages (almost 100) that it is called the “thousand villages” region. The perfection of the wines, the charm of these villages as well as the kindness of the local people are definitely worth a few days visit.
The region became a wine growing land during the Roman Empire. Although it had started long before, the Romans brought improvement to vine cultivation, sharing their expertise with the Gauls. Soon the Gauls chose to keep the wine in barrels rather than amphorae, so barrel making became an art in itself.
In the Middle Ages, the Alsatian wines were considered the best in the world. They travelled towards northern Europe through the Rhine. The taste was very different at the time: and quantity was more important than quality, which served the purpose of exporting. After the terrible wars that devastated lands for centuries, the vineyards were destroyed. And they didn’t come back to life until the beginning of the 20th century.
In this microclimate, protected by the Vosges Mountain, facing the competition from other wine areas and breweries, wine growers decided to restore the old vineyards. In order to create the best quality, they reduced the surface of cultivation and chose better types of grapes. Today, you can choose among :
- Tokay, (the French one, no the Hungarian), perfect with foie gras;
- Riesling, dry and fruity, that you want to drink with the real sauerkraut;
- Sylvaner, which is very good with fish;
- Pinot, white or black;
For sweeter wines, you can choose between Muscat or Gewurtztraminer, both will be great with your desserts.
And remember that all the Alsatian wine names are those of grapes (in the other French wine regions, the names are those of the castles where they are grown).
The “Route des Vins” is one beautiful ribbon of picturesque villages. If you travel during the summer months, you will be surprised by the countless flower beds that hang from every window.
But even if you succumb to their charm, you must stop in Colmar, the only Alsatian city that the numerous wars and modern urbanism didn’t damage. Its preserved heritage includes the “Little Eastern Venice”, a medieval centre (with its churches and convents, old half-timber houses and the famous Unterlinden museum which displays dozens of primitive paintings), the Renaissance district with beautiful patrician houses, then classic and baroque buildings (one of them now hosting the city hall). Colmar is Auguste Bartholdi’s, the creator of the Statue of Liberty, place of birth, so his work is everywhere in the city.
Today, 3 million visitors stroll in its streets every year, thanks to the “art de vivre” as well as the various annual events, like the summer festival or the Christmas market. A wonderful place to satisfy all your senses!