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Alsace, #Winophiles and #AlsaceRocks
June brings our French Winophiles group to Alsace. Thanks to Teuwen Communications and the #AlsaceRocks promotion, we will be highlighting wines from this region. I had the opportunity to visit in the fall, and I fell in love. Maybe you will, too!

Seriously, this is a typical view in Alsace. Morning in Ribeauville.

Schedule Your Visit to Alsace
Alsace is under-appreciated by American wine drinkers. Look in your typical wine shop, even a well-stocked shop. You’ll see the tall, flute shaped bottles of Alsace mixed in with German wines, and usually only a few. We’re missing out on so much! Even more-so, the region is historic, beautiful, and for a visitor, one of the sunniest, driest regions in France. You could easily add a few days on to your visit to Paris and Champagne and you might find a new favorite spot for a return, dedicated visit.

Pro Tip: If you visit France in the fall, Alsace is your best bet for dry, sunny weather

We visited in late October. We saw the very end of harvest of the normal dry wines.  Grapes for Vendange Tardive and Selection Grains Noble (SGN) wines were still hanging on the vine. Dawn saw clear blue skies, followed by a thick fog every morning (perfect for botrytis!) followed by clearing and bright sun for beautiful hiking weather. Ruined castles in the mountains, perfect for a picnic lunch. Pick up bread, charcuterie, cheese, and a bottle or two of wine and you are set for a great adventure. Don’t forget reservations for dinner!

(click on any photo for a full size slide show, click on “escape” to return)

Our AirBnB host had a series of hikes mapped out for our enjoyment. How nice is that!

Even though dawn was clear, the morning brings fog after sunrise.

You’ll hike up through vineyards. You never know what you’ll see.

I love vineyard hikes, do you?

Some seriously ancient vines with grapes for Vendange Tardive (late harvest) or SGN

Waiting for the botrytis to arrive

As you ascend, you’ll start to clear the fog

So fun to climb into the sun.

Ruins of old estates look over the countryside

What might it have been like to live here? No cable, for sure.

From a foggy morning to a spectacular view.

Abandoned castles, vineyards, what more could you want?

Afternoon descent back to civilization

Take it all in, this is a memory

Every village has a story, ruins, winery, restaurants for you to explore

Not gonna lie. At the end of a long hike, Choucroute Garni 7 ways is welcome!

At the risk of being politically incorrect, we had fun with the discovery below. One evening, we failed to get a reservation for dinner (don’t make this mistake!). At 8pm, every restaurant and weinstube is full. You’ll be at the mercy of someone willing to take you in. We sat at the bar and had a fabulous evening, but we noticed the local beer posters on the wall. L’Alsacienne‘s identity is tied into “sans culotte”. Look it up.