Wines of Alsace

Day 1 – Arrive at Camping Pierre de Coubertin

Upon arrival at the campsite, settle into your pitch and then take the opportunity to meet your fellow members with a welcome meeting, drinks and dinner in a nearby restaurant.

Day 2 – Eguisheim TGV-Train Gourmand du Vignoble

Ease into the tour with a relaxing ride on the little land train that will take you through the vineyards in and around Eguisheim. Guided in English, learn about the landscape, the surrounding medieval villages and heritage of the area. Walk around some of the vines and find out about the wine-produced in the area. There will be a wine-tasting aperitif, followed by lunch in a nearby village.

Day 3 – Free day at your leisure

Day 4 – Zellenberg and Katzenthal

Today you will visit Zellenberg – one of the ‘pearls’ of the wine-growing region, perched on a hill amongst the vineyards. Here, you will have a guided walk along part of the ‘Perles du Vignoble’ trail, taking in the geology, flora and fauna, the ampelology and the history of the area. Afterwards, you will have a tour of the cellars and discover the huge 200 year old casks, followed by some wine-tasting.

After a picnic lunch, you will then visit Katzenthal, famed for its vines. Visit a wine producer and their domain and learn about the soil, the vines themselves and about the different grape varieties and how they are grown organically. Sample some of the wines produced here with a tasting session.

Day 5 – Free day at your leisure

Day 6 – Château de Haut-Koenigsbourg

Take a break from the vineyards today with an excursion to the Château de Haut-Koenigsbourg. Find out about the fascinating history of this medieval castle with a guided tour. After a traditional lunch, head over to the ‘Palais du Pain d’Epices’ (Gingerbread Palace) and indulge in the fairy-tale world of this childhood favourite. Find out how it is made and sample some of the treats on offer.

Day 7 – Steam train ride and a boat trip along the Rhine

After a relaxing morning at your leisure, visit Volgelsheim and go on a ride on the Ried Express steam train. The train runs along the banks of the Rhine for 13km between Volgelsheim and Marckolsheim.

After a nostalgic train journey, enjoy the river from a different perspective with a cruise on the Rhine before then getting the steam train back to Volgelsheim.

Day 8 – Free day at your leisure

Day 9 – An excursion to the wine cellars of Barr

An important wine-producing village, Records of the vineyards of Barr have been found dating back as far as the 8th Century!

Visit a cellar which holds a collection of century old oak casks, each able to hold up to 200 Hectolitres of wine. You will have an opportunity to sample the wines produced here and also visit the ‘Museum of Wine’ which houses an impressive assembly of tools and wine-making paraphernalia from by-gone times to present day.

After free time and lunch at your leisure in the pretty village of Obernai, visit Ottrott, a village renowned for its unique production of red wine. Of course, you will be able to taste this unusual wine with a ‘dégustation’, accompanied by some typical Alsatian sweet and savoury nibbles.

Day 10 – Free day at your leisure

Day 11 – Wihr au Val and Colmar

Head south-west today, where the Alsatian vineyards border the Vosges mountains. After a morning visit to a local wine cellar and vineyard, spend the afternoon in Colmar. After free time for lunch, take the tourist train around this picturesque
town followed by a boat trip to discover the Petite Venise area right in the heart of Colmar’s historic centre - so-called for its network of mini canals.

Day 12 – Free day at your leisure

Day 13 – A trip to Riquewihr

Today is all about sparkling wines or ‘crémants’. Start the day with a visit to a family run wine cellar in the charming and picturesque village of Riquewihr. Nestled amongst surrounding vineyards and with its beautiful shops and restaurants and its ‘mouse-hole’ wine cellars, this town is full of typical Alsatian charm.

After a visit to the cellar’s museum and lunch in a nearby restaurant, head back to Ribeauvillé where this time you will visit a modern and innovative cellar, again, centred around sparkling wines.

Day 14 – Free day and farewell meal

Spend the last day at your leisure.

In the evening, visit the ‘Brotherhood of St Etienne’ at the Château de Kientzheim. One of the oldest in France, this brotherhood was originally created to safeguard the quality of wines in the city. It now serves as a place where people can get together to appreciate Alsatian wines and gastronomy.

Join in in one last ‘dégustation’ with the ‘Grand Counsellors’ dressed in their ceremonial robes and silver chains! Visit the underground ‘œnothèque’ – a huge reserve of over 60,000 vintage bottles dating from 1834 to present day.

End this truly unique experience with an evening meal to say farewell to your hosts and fellow tourers.

Day 15 – depart from campsite

Please note that this itinerary may be subject to change and minimum numbers may apply.