A Tantalizing Taste of Alsace: 7-Day Wine, Food, and Cultural Expedition
Which is the country that boasts an impressive wine tradition, an extraordinary cuisine to say the least and an impressive beauty that leaves the heart swollen with wonder, as well as cholesterol?
Think Alsace. Here’s why:
- Fantastic Food: Alsace has some amazing dishes that’ll make your mouth water. Try the local favorite, tarte flambée, or dig into a big plate of choucroute garnie. And don’t skip the pastries!
- Wonderful Wines: This region is famous for its wines. Taste your way through vineyards that offer everything from crisp Rieslings to fragrant Gewürztraminers.
- Charming Towns: Places like Strasbourg and Colmar are straight out of a storybook with their old-world charm. You’ll love the quaint streets and colorful houses.
- Beautiful Nature: With the Vosges Mountains nearby, you can enjoy breathtaking views, take a hike, or just relax in nature.
- Rich Culture: Alsace is where French and German influences mix, giving you a unique cultural experience. Enjoy the local festivals, fairs, and Christmas markets.
So, if you’re up for tasty food, great wine, lovely towns, and lots of charm, Alsace should be at the top of your list.
Day 1: The Strasbourg Serenade
Hotel: Pavillon Régent Petite France (4-star) – Immerse in elegance at $180 per night.
Lunch: L’Épicerie, where tarte flambée whispers the secrets of Alsatian comfort.
Dinner: Au Pont Corbeau, a winstub where the soul of Alsace comes alive on your plate.
Day 2: The Strasbourg Canvas
Morning: Uncover the tales woven in the historic heart of Strasbourg.
Lunch: Le Gruber, a brasserie where escargots are just the beginning.
Afternoon: Delve into the vine-laden poetry at Domaine Allimant-Laugner.
Dinner: La Vignette, where wine and shared plates craft unforgettable stories.
Day 3: Colmar – The Alsatian Dream
Hotel: Hotel Le Colombier (4-star) – A snug nest for dreamers at $150 per night.
Morning: Stroll through Colmar, a tapestry of timber and tranquility.
Lunch: Wistub Brenner, a custodian of Alsatian patisserie tradition.
Afternoon: Sip the spirit of Alsace along the storied Wine Route.
Dinner: La Maison des Têtes, where Michelin stars meet historic charm.
Day 4: Eguisheim – In Cheese We Trust
Morning: Wander Eguisheim’s embrace, a village hugged by vines and vibrant history.
Lunch: La Ferme-Auberge du Tanet, where Munster cheese is the hero.
Afternoon: The Ferme du Zieselberg, a cheese odyssey awaits.
Dinner: Aux Trois Poissons, a family legacy of Alsatian feasts.
Day 5: Vosges Mountains – The High Notes
Hotel: Hostellerie des Châteaux & Spa (4-star) – Bask in luxury at $190 per night.
Morning: Conquer the Vosges peaks, where history and heaven meet.
Lunch: Auberge Frankenbourg, where local flavors sing.
Afternoon: Ribeauvillé calls, with its medieval melodies and quaint charm.
Dinner: Table du Gourmet, Michelin creativity reimagines Alsace.
Day 6: Mulhouse – The Mechanical Waltz
Morning: The Cité de l’Automobile, where vintage engines hum tales of yesteryears.
Lunch: Le Petit Alchimiste, a culinary lab for local zest.
Afternoon: Domaine Zusslin, a green sonnet of vines.
Dinner: La Table de Michel, a starry night of culinary innovation.
Day 7: Au Revoir, but Not Goodbye
Savor a last morning in Alsace, your heart rich with the tastes, your mind painted with the landscapes.
Optional Day 7 Wonders:
- The Unterlinden Museum or the Ecomusée d’Alsace, for a dash more of art and history.
- La Maison du Pain d’Alsace, to savor the final morsels of Alsatian sweetness.
Before you part, let Alsace gift you with its treasures to carry home — the wines, the cheese, the craft, tokens of a land where life, like a fine wine, is savored deeply.