Alsace – the best of both worlds
The charms of Alsace – its gorgeous landscapes, hilltop villages, and excellent gastronomy, to name but a few – are innumerable and irresistible. Endless rows of vines bask in year-round sunshine – the high Voges mountains to the west of Alsace are the secret of these vineyards, protecting the grapes from northern France’s general inclement climes. Culturally, the region is complex, and enticing multi-cultural melting pot of Germanic and French influences, due to Alsace’s proximity to the German border. Historically, Alsace was part of German territory, although French influence in Alsace began during the Wars of Religion in the 16th century, increasing until the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870. The Treaty of Frankfurt ceded control of Alsace to the Germans, a state of affairs that was reversed following the end of WWII.
Today, both cultures and indeed languages thrive side by side, an encouraging emblem of European cooperation, cultural diversity, and lasting peace that has endured for over 70 years. All of this makes Alsace a genuinely fascinating wine region to visit, with a surfeit of cultural, gastronomic and viticultural attractions. For centuries, Alsace’s signature grape varieties – namely Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer – have been grown on a mosaic of soil types. This dramatic terroir variation is one of the region’s key hallmarks, although traditionally, Alsatian winemakers sought a uniform wine style, making bone- dry, robust wines by fermenting every gram of sugar in the must. This contrasts with the classic German model of making lighter wines with some residual sugar. However, in recent times the distinctions have become blurred, with German producers seeking strength and Alsatian winemakers embracing a lightness of touch. Excellent Pinot Noir is also increasingly being made, in addition to some of the best sparkling wines outside of Champagne.
Of course, you’ll discover all this – and more – on your luxury wine tour through this enchanting part of France. Signposted by the very best luxury hotels and restaurants, you’ll travel through landscapes that encompass hilltop castles, vine-clad slopes, ancient wine cellars, and half-timbered houses ‘painted’ in vivid pastel colors. Regional capital Strasbourg and delightful Colmar merit more exploration than one lifetime can afford; Strasbourg is arguably France’s most prosperous city aside from Paris, bursting with art and architecture. Its cathedral towers above Strasbourg’s lively old town, while Colmar’s winstubs and bars are renowned across France for their hospitality and incredible atmosphere. There are many wine regions across France, which would claim to be Europe’s most diverse, welcoming, and gastronomically exciting. It’s this friendly and healthy competition that keeps France in the premier ranks of European wine destinations. But while we don’t want to play favorites (and upset our friends), we can quietly assure you that Alsace is up there with the best.
Alsace Wine Tours Highlights:
- Private and Exclusive VIP tours of leading wineries
- Stay in special, luxurious accommodations
- Private Driver Guide & Mercedes
- Taste the very best Alsatian wines
- Experience Strasbourg's majestic and timeless Old Quarter
Below is a suggested Itinerary for your private Alsace Wine Tours
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Strasbourg
Welcome to Strasbourg
La Petite France in the medieval fairytale town of Strasbourg - 5* Luxury Historic Hotel, Strasbourg
- Traditional lunch with wine pairings
- Private Mercedes with Chauffeur
Bienvenue! Your Alsatian adventure is waiting for you. At Strasbourg airport, your VIP chauffeur will warmly welcome you to this magical part of France. Sit back, relax and travel in style to one of our favorite local restaurants – Brasserie Au Dauphin. A gourmet lunch of the highest quality is in order – this brasserie is renowned for its excellent service, warm atmosphere and authentic interpretations of Alsatian cuisine. Specialties include choucroute alsacienne, which is sauerkraut flavored with juniper berries and served hot with local sausages, bacon, pork or ham knuckle. So quintessentially Alsatian; warm, hearty and delicious. Munster, the local cheese will also be available for you to savor, in addition to sublime, aromatic and racy Riesling. Afterwards, you must try tarte alsacienne, a moreish custard tart made with local fruits. Coffee and petit fours to finish would do nicely.
After lunch, we have arranged for Strasbourg’s best guide – the charming Veronique – to share the city’s top secrets and most picturesque sights. Gaze in awe at Strasbourg’s cathedral, which is a marvel of European architecture. The west facade was completed in 1284, however, the tallest spire was not finished until 1439. It serves as the perfect counterpoint to the Grande Ile – a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988. It seemingly was created for strolling – the narrow streets of the old city are utterly beguiling, with numerous half-timbered houses, thickets of geraniums and street-side cafes. Getting ‘lost’ in this part of Strasbourg is a very special experience indeed.
Accommodation this evening is provided by the luxury hotel – Regent Petite France Strasbourg, a 5-star address that exemplifies the best in discrete and pampering service. Check-in, unwind and relax. The evening is at your leisure.
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Strasbourg
Expert wine tasting and Michelin dining
Michelin Restaurant 1741 - 5* Luxury Historic Hotel, Strasbourg
- Full Breakfast, Michelin starred lunch with wine pairings
- Private Mercedes with Chauffeur
Start the day in style! Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast and perhaps a river stroll, before your first masterclass in Alsatian wine. A short distance away from your hotel is Strasbourg’s leading wine education center, where your host will guide you through the complexities of the Alsace region. Central to understanding Alsace is the concept of terroir stratification. The idea that one vineyard is superior or inferior to another is at the heart of most French appellations – the Grand Cru appellation (launched in 1983) designed to designate the best vineyards in Alsace. Some of the most famous include Giesberg and Rosacker. Riesling grown on these hallowed sites can last a lifetime.
By now, you must be hungry, so we’ve arranged a gourmet lunch at leading Michelin restaurant 1741, what better destination to enjoy the best of Alsatian wine than at this temple de gastronomie. Each course will be a complete indulgence, a harmonious marriage of classical local dishes with sophisticated, contemporary culinary techniques. Your feast might include scallops paired with roasted Jerusalem Artichoke, or local roast quail, lovingly cooked in a pumpkin and Crémant d’Alsace sauce. All this magic is paired with top-end local wines.
The afternoon is at your leisure. However, we can recommend visiting the Palais Rohan, a majestic former residence for the city’s bishops. In its basement is the fascinating Musee Archeologique, which transports visitors from the Paleolithic period to 800 AD. But if you’re in the mood for more hedonistic and straightforward pleasures, then why not stroll around the old town, stopping at the many small artisan bakeries and coffee shops. Kougelhof – a traditional local cake, baked in a circular Bundt mold – is delicious and a perfect match to a cappuccino.
After an afternoon of sightseeing, return to your luxury accommodation and unwind. The evening is yours – Cellar Tours can recommend several nearby restaurants if you need.
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Strasbourg- Obernai-Scherwiller- Barr
Alsace's majestic vineyards – villages, wine tasting and Tarte Flambèe
Colorful houses in Obernai - 4* Chic Spa Hotel, Barr
- Full Breakfast, Traditional lunch with wine pairings
- Private Mercedes with Chauffeur
After breakfast, check-out from the hotel. Your chauffeur will take you to the heart of Alsace – Obernai is just 31km south of Strasbourg, but feels like a different world. An unspoiled and idyllic walled town, Obernai is perfect for a relaxing and scenic stroll, before your VIP tour, tasting and lunch at leading winery Zeyssolff. Founded in the late 18th century, Zeyssolff is a name synonymous in Alsace with terroir-driven, artisan winemaking. After your detailed foray into the terroir, history, and Grand Cru wines of the domaine, we’ve organized a fun and delicious lunch at a charming and intimate restaurant called Couronne. The staff is so friendly, and the atmosphere is so infectiously buzzy that few diners ever want to leave. Enjoy three different varieties of the signature Tarte flambèe or flammkuchen, paired with exquisite wines. The recipe is simplicity itself, but the results are gastronomic magic. Bread dough is rolled out very thinly in a typical rectangular shape and covered with a variety of toppings, including Munster cheese, crème Fraiche, sliced onions, and lardons – or all of those above! It is then baked to perfection. Sweet fillings are also used to round-off any lunch in style.
In the afternoon, your chauffeur will take you to the delightful village of Barr. We want you to finish the day on a high note, so enjoy a VIP tour and tasting at Klipfel, a boutique producer firmly committed to making expressive, site-specific wines in Alsace. After the tasting, your driver will take you to your hotel. Relax, unwind in your room, use the spa, and take a stroll through Barr. The choice is yours.
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Barr- Saint-Pierre-Illhaeusern- Orschwiller
The best of artisan brewing, castles and local architecture
Chateau Haut Koenigsbourg - 4* Chic Spa Hotel, Barr
- Full Breakfast, Gourmet tasting dinner with wine pairings
- Private Mercedes with Chauffeur
After a gourmet breakfast at your spa hotel, we’ve prepared an itinerary that puts most other luxury experiences to shame. Today is all about discovering the inner soul of Alsace, both contemporary and historic. Enjoy a relaxed morning – perhaps a spa treatment is in order? – before departing for one of Alsace’s leading microbreweries. The region has a long association with brewing – famous names like Kronenbourg sell over 800 million liters of beer in France every year, made in large industrial plants with about as much charm. However, La-St-Pierre is a very different proposition. This family-owned brewery is a niche producer of delicious craft beer, some of the best in France, in our opinion. After a VIP tour and tasting, we’ve arranged something exceptional indeed. Lunch at the two-Michelin-starred restaurant L’Auberge de l’ill is perhaps the ultimate gastronomic treat in Alsace. It is the complete and unrivaled package, a superb setting, great culinary technique, and a wine list which showcases only the best wines of Alsace. We don’t want to spoil it for you, but the salmon soufflé is reportedly the best in Europe, served with a block of puff pastry and a Riesling sauce.
After a long and enjoyable lunch, we’d like you to enjoy a real historical monument of Alsace. Perched on a forest-covered hill, the imposing red-sandstone Chateau Haut Koenigsbourg is a must-visit sight. It was reconstructed in 1908 by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Your chauffeur will then drive back to your hotel, so you can freshen-up, relax and enjoy an evening at leisure. The village of Barr has plenty of local winstubs and cafes to whet your appetites.
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Barr- Ribeauville- Riquewihr- Kayserberg
The splendid villages of Alsace and its most lauded producers
Chateaux Maison Trimbach - 5* Relais & Chateaux Hotel, Kaysersberg
- Full Breakfast, Michelin starred lunch with wine pairings
- Private Mercedes with Chauffeur
Today you’ll experience the best and brightest of Alsatian winemaking, set against a backdrop of utterly gorgeous, picturesque towns and villages. Start your day in Ribeauville, a strong contender for Alsace’s prettiest village. Nestled in a valley, Ribeauville is utterly picture-perfect. It is surrounded by legendary Grand Crus, such as Osterberg and Geisberg. West and northwest of the village are the remains of three hilltop castles, all of which merit some exploration.
Thirsty? We hope so, as Maison Trimbach understands a thing or two about Grand Cru winemaking. Since the 17th century, Trimbach has been making some of the most exceptional wine in Alsace. Clos St Hune is probably the most lauded and celebrated vineyard in the entire region, a majestic Riesling that sells at any price. This detailed and fabulous introduction to the wines of Trimbach could only be equaled by a visit to the breathtaking Riquewihr. The 13th- and 16th-century ramparts, alleyways, and small squares are fantastic for exploring. At the heart of the village resides Hugel, another legendary address in Alsace. Led by the 13th generation, the Hugel family has been inexorably linked with the region’s development and prosperity for centuries. Their wines are uniformly excellent – terroir-driven, structured, age-worthy, and profound. After your VIP tour and tasting at Hugel, prepare to be dazzled by the high gastronomy on offer at Michelin-starred restaurant Le Table du Gourmet. Maestro chef Jean-Luc Brendel is known for his innovative, sophisticated approach to local cuisine; witness scallops and carrot gnocchi; braised deer served with fig mustard and red cabbage and blue lobster paired with Yuzu. The wines will be paired to enhance the flavors of each dish.
After lunch, you’ll have ample time to explore Riquewihr in more detail. In a sense, the best experiences come from unexpected alleyways or boutique shops rather than grandiose sights. There is a timeless quality and charm to Riquewihr that is indescribable, best sampled by simply enjoying a leisurely stroll. However, the 13th-century Dolder is an impressive stone and half-timbered gate, topped by a 25m bell tower. It possesses some of the best views in Alsace.
Your chauffeur will then take you to the final winery for the day. Founded in 1614, Jean-Baptiste Adam boasts a more colorful history than any other wine producer in Alsace. Flanked by the granite slopes of the Grand Cru vineyard ‘Kaefferkop,’ the estate has survived the Thirty Years War, French Revolution, and the Napoleonic wars, starting to export at the end of the 19th century. Today they continue to make a small range of excellent, fruit-driven, and complex whites. Your luxury wine introduction may feature their Pinot Gris Les Natures, which is made from grapes grown without the use of pesticides or man-made chemicals. The Grand Cru Riesling Kaefferkopf is another exceptional wine – among the best Riesling in Alsace.
We hope you’ve enjoyed today’s packed adventure, as it’s time to relax and ease up the pace a little. Your chauffeur will transport you to a very plush and upmarket address – Hotel Relais & Chateaux Le Chambard. Check-in, relax, and perhaps order a glass of Riesling. Dinner is at your discretion, but we do strongly recommend the wonderful bistro in the hotel. The food, service, and wine pairings are guaranteed to impress.
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Kaysersberg-Eguisheim
Quaint Eguisheim
Gourmet dining at La Table d'Olivier Nasti. - 5* Relais & Chateaux Hotel, Kaysersberg
- Full Breakfast, Michelin starred dinner with wine pairings
- Private Mercedes with Chauffeur
After another gourmet breakfast, your chauffeur will take you to the village of Eguisheim. It’s another gem in Alsace’s rich mosaic of quant villages – its gentle streets are ideal for strolling, shopping, and sightseeing. Enjoy the soft and relaxing pace of a restful afternoon in Eguisheim – there are plenty of cafes and bars if you need a well-earned glass of wine. We will make suggestions for a light lunch as dinner tonight is substantial.
When you’re ready, your chauffeur will return you to your luxury accommodation in Kaysersberg. Enjoy late afternoon for relaxing walks, shopping, and photos, in the postcard-perfect center of Kaysersberg, famous for its ornate Renaissance hotel de Ville and, next door, the red-sandstone Eglise ste Croix. After some time to relax at your hotel, dinner is at an exceptional 2 Michelin star restaurant – La Table d’Olivier Nasti. The experience will be memorable and worthy of a long discussion afterward. Nasti is one of France’s greatest unsung gastronomic heroes, an extremely talented chef who enhances the classical flavors with textbook precision, offering a range of multi-textured, sophisticated and yet accessible dishes. Smoked Rhine eel with candied citrus and Arctic char in a honey and fir tree oil vinaigrette deserves an equally splendid wine pairing, which is guaranteed at La Table d’Olivier Nasti.
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Kaysersberg-Turckheim- Colmar
Colmar and the delights of Haut-Rhin
Beautiful vineyards of Haut-Rhin - 5* Relais & Chateaux Hotel, Colmar
- Full Breakfast, Gourmet tasting dinner with wine pairings
- Private Mercedes with Chauffeur
The penultimate day of your Alsatian adventure includes a visit to two very prestigious wineries, gourmet cuisine, and a tour of Colmar, often called the Venice of Alsace. It’s an accolade that is well deserved, but before you arrive in Colmar, we’d love to introduce you to some friends of ours. Domaine Weinbach wrote the book on hospitality – founded by monks in the 17th century; this family-owned estate prides itself on organic farming, low yields, a resolute commitment to quality and sustainability. Their whites are excellent across the board, food-friendly, and approachable wines for the discerning sybarite.
However, there is always competition in Alsace. After your VIP tour and tasting at Weinbach, we’d like you to experience a masterclass in precision winemaking at Domaine Zind-Humbrecht. This family has been making Alsatian wines of unparalleled depth and refinement for centuries; today, they cultivate over 35 hectares of picturesque vineyards in the Haut-Rhin, including 4 Grand Crus, much to the envy of their neighbors. Using biodynamic viticultural methods – combined with serious know-how in the cellar – results in wines of impeccable length, depth, and purity of fruit expression. You’ll discover all this and more during the VIP tour and tasting we have arranged.
But there are more exclusive and unmissable experiences to come. When you’re ready, the chauffeur will take you to Colmar, a small city of almost indescribable beauty. Lunch is at your leisure – we will gladly offer some suggestions – and we want you to have plenty of time to explore Colmar on foot. In addition to your free time, we have arranged for an expert guide to show you the choice highlights, including Petit Venise, Musée Bartholdi, and the Temple St-Matthieu. The medieval streets of Colmar’s old city are lined with dozens of half-timbered houses, numerous boutiques, and, of course, street-side cafes. Many visitors love to get ‘lost’ for an afternoon, so after your VIP tour is finished, why not explore a little yourself.
The evening will unfold at a very leisurely pace. Relax in your luxury accommodation – Hotel-Relais & Châteaux – La Maison des Têtes – before a farewell dinner at the Michelin-starred Restaurant Girardin. It’s the perfect setting for your final gala dinner – sumptuous contemporary décor, faultless service, and imaginative, sophisticated cuisine. Run by Marilyn et Eric Girardin (originally from Strasbourg), the restaurant strikes a delicate balance between modernity and tradition. Frogs legs – delicious, trust us! – are served with a sweet garlic puree and hazelnut oil dressing, while the signature venison dish should win awards. A fillet is roasted and then poached in an Alsatian saffron broth, lending the meat an incredibly soft and inviting texture. The contrasts, flavor combinations, and quality of base ingredients at this restaurant are absolutely outstanding. We wish you Bon Appetit!
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Colmar- Strasbourg
Farewell and departure
See you again soon, Au Revoir! - -
- Full Breakfast
- Private Mercedes with Chauffeur
It has been such a pleasure hosting you this week. We hope you’ve enjoyed a rewarding, exciting, and relaxing trip through the gastronomic, scenic, and cultural delights of Alsace. After breakfast, your chauffeur will take you to your final destination in Strasbourg. Bon Voyage!