Basel is surrounded by beautiful vineyards as close as Baselland, as well as in neighboring France and Germany. One of the world’s most beautiful and interesting wine regions—the Alsace—is located right across the French border. It is located between the Rhein and the Vosges Mountains, which block the rainclouds and wind, making this the driest wine region in all of France. While not as renowned worldwide as Burgundy, Bordeaux, or Champagne, it is nonetheless an important wine region with an interesting history. Alsace changed hands a few times between Germany and France during the Franco-Prussian war as well as the first and second world wars. This is the reason for the German names of most of the towns, villages, people, and the wines themselves, not to mention that Alsatian wines come in the tall, thin, green bottles that are characteristic of German wines.

The Wines of Alsace

Alsace is an atypical wine region for France as they produce almost exclusively single-variety wines—that is, wines that are made from only one type of grape. While Alsace makes small amounts of Pinot Noir, the majority of the wines produced are white wines that are fragrant, aromatic, spicy, and packed with unique flavor. The most important wines of Alsace include Riesling, which are full-bodied and dry; Muscat, which are dry and taste exactly like the fruit that they come from; the world’s most flavorful Pinot Gris that range from dry to sweet; and the world’s best Gewurztraminer, a sweeter wine with intense flavors of fruits and flowers. The best Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Riesling come from a small hill in Alsace called the “Käfferkopf,” where wine producers rent space to grow a row of grapes that will produce wines of exceptional quality. So, when you see the name “Käfferkopf” on the label, you can be sure that the elevated price will be worth paying! Last but not least, the Crémant d’Alsace is a beautiful sparkling wine that is made from the same grapes as Champagne, and following the same strict traditional method. It just is not allowed to be called Champagne because that name is reserved for the sparkling wines made in that particular region—but essentially, the Crémant d’Alsace is like a Champagne, with an affordable price tag.

Wine Tasting in Alsace

October is a wonderful time to drive on the wine route through Alsace (la route des vins d’Alsace) and enjoy the 1,000-years-old vineyards and stunning panoramas that illustrate the richness and diversity of the Alsatian terroirs. From Thann to Marlenheim you can discover a succession of enchanting, picturesque, flower-filled medieval towns with cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses. Here, you can sample the local wines that will delight you, both with their taste and with their price. Most towns are lined with wine boutiques that welcome you to come in and taste whatever you please for free; you will normally see a sign in the store window indicating “dégustation gratuite.” There are also many vintners along the wine route where you can visit the “cave”—some by appointment and some without—to sample their wines. Among the most notable towns to stop and visit are Ribeauvillé, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Ammerschwihr, and Colmar. A visit to Wolfberger, the largest wine producer in all of Alsace, is well worth the trip. There are six Wolfberger locations, and in addition to free tastings, some offer daily tours of the production plant and cellars (https://www.wolfberger.com/). For more information on the wine route through Alsace, you can visit their official multilingual sites at https://www.vinsalsace.com/en/ or https://www.wineroute.alsace/.

Become a Grape Harvester for the Day!

If you have always wondered what it would be like to work at a vineyard, here is your chance. From the beginning of the harvest in September until mid-October of each year, you are invited to dive into the harvest atmosphere in Alsace! The winemakers welcome you on their estates to share with you this special moment that rewards a year of work devoted to the development of a prestigious product!

To allow you to live this unique experience in the heart of the Alsatian vineyard, the Vignerons Indépendants d’Alsace, in partnership with tourist agencies, offer you to become a “Vendangeur d’un jour^®” (Harvester for a Day). During this experience, you will be welcomed to the estate to learn about the harvest. Then, equipped with small pruning shears, you will go through the hills to harvest the bunches of grapes following the advice of professional grape harvesters. Good walking shoes and appropriate clothing for any weather are a must! After 1-2 hours of harvesting, you will return to the domaine for a presentation about how they turn grapes into wine, followed by a small wine tasting and lunch with fellow harvesters, prepared for you by the vintner.

The cost for this experience is around € 50, depending on the vineyard. To register, contact the tourist office according to the geographical area you are looking for. The list of winegrowers from north to south of the Wine Route can be found at https://www.alsace-du-vin.com/vendangeur-d-un-jour-37.html.

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