After traveling a week on the Route des Vins d’Alsace I gathered great memories of plenty of vineyards, wine makers and excursions. Here is a list of my 10 top things to do in Alsace if you want to have your own #DrinkAlsace Experience

1. Sleep in a bubble

Did you ever dream of spending the night surrounded by nature? Staring all night at the stars in all comfort? Don’t miss out on this unique “glamping” experience! Traits’Anes offers a great deal of rather unique accommodations and the hosts can make some mean home made Flammekueche.

Sleeping bubble
Address: Traits’Anes, 68470 Mitzach, Tel +33 3 89 75 95 62, www.traitsanes.com

2. Fly in a hot air balloon

No better way to view the vineyards from above than in a hot air balloon. Let the wind take you wherever it may and enjoy the magnificent landscape from high altitude!

Balloon in the vineyards

3. Cook with Joëlle Cuisine

Joëlle is in love with her kitchen and she loves to share this passion with everyone who is passing by.  Stay the night in her beautiful farm and enjoy a cooking class with her. You’ll have a lot of fun, that’s a promise!

Joelle Cuisine

Address: 30 Rue de Colmar, 68150 Ostheim, France, +33 6 88 70 46 62, www.joelle-cuisine.fr

4. Have a Qigong session in the vineyards

Search for your inner self together with Philippe Blanck in the middle of his vineyard. After a relaxing Qigong session you can taste his wines and enjoy the spectacular view from his vineyard. You’ll see the wines will taste entirely different if your mind is at ease! A real experience!

Qigong in the vineyard

This session is part of La Parènthese Vigneronne program. More info: http://parenthese-vigneronne.com

5. Go for a cheese and white wine tasting

Do you think that red wine and cheese is the best match? Wrong! The white Alsace wines are a match made in heaven with plenty of cheeses, specially local ones like Munster. Enjoy the best of French culture with creamy cheeses and crispy wines!

Cheese and wine tasting

6. Bike in the vineyards

Speaking of an amazing experience… Take your sunglasses, bring your camera and jump on a bike. You will be amazed of how relaxing this can be. Don’t hesitate to rent an electric bike if you are not a well-trained cyclist, because the hills are very steep.

Biking in the vineyards

Tourist office of Barr: Place de la mairie, F-67140 ANDLAU, + 33 (0)3 88 08 65 31 www.pays-de-barr.com

7. Learn about biodynamic wines

The Alsace wine region is renowned for its bio and biodynamic wines. You will find plenty of good wine makers who master the art of making bio, biodynamic and even natural wines respecting nature and its elements. This results in wines that reflect true ‘terroir’ and the savoir-faire of the wine makers. Don’t hesitate and go visit them! Zind-Humbrecht and Julien Meyer are not to be missed!

Zind Humbrecht

Don’t forget to make an appointment before passing by:
Julien Meyer, 14 Route du Vin, 67680 Nothalten, France, +33 3 88 92 60 15
Zind-Humbrecht, 4 Route de Colmar, 68230 Turckheim, France, Tel +33 (0) 3 89 27 02 05

8.Visit Little Venice in Colmar

At the heart of the Alsace Wine Route you will find Colmar, the most famous town of Alsace. With charming colourful houses, small cobblestone streets and canals passing through the city it gets its reputation of being La Petite Venise or Little Venice. Jump into one of the boats and let the French gondolier take your around!

La petite Venise, Colmar

Address: Quai de la Poissonnerie, 68000 Colmar, Tel : +33 3 89 20 68 92

9. Eat Flammekueche

Flammekueche or “tarte flambée” is the specialty of the Alsace wine region. All along the Route des Vins d’Alsace you will find traditional restaurants offering this very thin bread dough covered with fromage blanc or crème fraîche and onions. Don’t hesitate to grab a piece of this delicious “local pizza”.

Flammekueche

 

10. Picnic at Château de Hohlandsbourg

The Château de Hohlandsbourg near Colmar is a beautiful ruined castle from the 13th century. Take a picnic blanket, some “fromage” and a bottle of Alsacian wine with you and enjoy lunch with a spectacular view over the valley. You can also have lunch in the restaurant of the castle.

Chateau de Hohlandsbourg

Address: Route des Cinq Châteaux, 68920 Wintzenheim, Tel: +33 3 89 30 10 20