Alsace Wine Tours

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!