Itinerary of a picturesque Alsace !
You’ve probably heard of it, the Alsace Wine Route is one of the must-see sights during your stay in Alsace!
But by the way, what can you see on the Wine Route?
From the North to the South of Alsace, from Marlenheim to Thann, this road winds through the wine-growing foothills, linking vineyards and picturesque villages at the foot of the Vosges mountains.
It is primarily driven for its breathtaking scenery: the route wanders through the meticulously laid out vineyards, creating a seemingly endless grid at the foot of the hills, dominated by the impressive Vosges mountains.
It leads from village to village, from century-old towns with cobbled streets, half-timbered houses adorned with geraniums, to winstubs that are full of the region’s gastronomy, to winegrowers on tractors who contribute to the folklore, towns sometimes surrounded by ramparts and protected by proud towers.
Take the time to stop in one of these villages: admire, meet the inhabitants, walk through the narrow streets, look up to admire the wrought iron signs.
In the heart of these villages, you will find our winegrowers: yes! Unlike other French vineyards where all the wine estates or châteaux are located in the middle of the vines, in Alsace, the majority of the winegrowers have chosen to live in the centre of our villages. Why is that? Because in Alsace, the majority of wineries are small family estates, with a limited surface area and the winemaker lives there with his family. Of course, you will find estates in the middle of the vineyards, sometimes even housed in a winery.
As the seasons go by, the Wine Route changes its face...
In winter, it plays the role of a sleeping beauty, with the winegrowers taking care of each parcel during pruning. Sometimes, Mother Nature even gives it a nice white coat by sprinkling it with soft snowflakes… a magical atmosphere!
Spring is a time of excitement! The buds appear, life starts again in the plots, the birds rejoice and the rabbits come out of their burrows for crazy races between the rows of vines…
In summer, the vineyard reaches its peak: what a joy to see the generous bunches of grapes ripen under the sun! The foliage becomes denser and the vineyard becomes a labyrinth…
Autumn brings the cycle of the vineyard to a close: it’s time for the harvest, the moment for the winegrowers to collect the fruit of a whole year’s work. You will see them every day walking through the vineyards, checking the ripeness of the grapes, scanning the sky to determine the best time to pick the cherished grapes.
So what is the best season to visit the Alsace Wine Route? There is no best season! Each season has its own charm and atmosphere, so it’s up to you to choose the one that suits you best. And there is nothing to stop you coming back every season…
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