Discovering the vineyards at the heart of Alsace

One of the most famous and oldest routes in Alsace is the Alsace Wine Route.
Spanning Alsace from north to south, the route is 120 kilometres of pure enjoyment, combining tradition with stunning panoramic views.
Alsace wines are truly unique, thanks to the location of the region, nestling between the Black Forest and the foothills of the Vosges Mountains, and because it has one of the lowest rainfall rates in France.
Alsace wines come in 7 varieties, mainly white: Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris and one red: Pinot Noir. Our 5 wine producing districts (Dieffenthal, Scherwiller, Châtenois, Kintzheim and Orschwiller) welcome you for an original stay in the heart of wine country.

A “Vignobles & Découvertes” destination

The Sélestat Haut-Koenigsbourg region is designated as a “Vignobles & Découvertes” area, together with many local businesses, such as accommodation providers, winemakers, restaurant owners, and more.
They all share one goal: showcasing the tangible and intangible local heritage and fostering the development of high-quality wine tourism.

A Grand Cru and a municipal designation of origin

Alsace boasts 51 Grands Crus. Grand Cru Praelatenberg wines are produced on the slopes of Kintzheim and Orschwiller, at altitudes between 250 and 350 metres. It’s a terroir where Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat and Pinot Gris develop to perfection.
It produces wines that age well, developing very distinctive characteristics and a strong personality, over time.
Renowned for its wines, especially the Riesling, Scherwiller is one of the three largest towns in the Bas-Rhin, in terms of vineyard surface area.
Only wines produced from the Riesling grape variety may lay claim to the Alsace, Scherwiller label of origin.

Terroir of Rittersberg

This terroir is located at the base of the medieval Ortenbourg Castle, uphill from the village of Scherwiller. (Rittersberg means “Hill of the Knights”.)
The soil is very rich in granite (binary granite), and it’s sandy, dry, warm and acts as a filter.
Thanks to a microclimate, it tends to be 7 to 8 degrees warmer here than the Alsatian average. In short, Rittersberg has all the ingredients for an exceptional wine.

Tasting Alsace wines and touring wineries

From pruning to harvesting and winemaking, Alsatian winegrowers work year-round to produce the famous wines of Alsace.
Visit a wine cellar or winery, to discover their history and share a pleasant, wine-themed moment.
There’s something for everyone, whether you visit a historical wine cellar with barrels from 1900, or a more contemporary winery made out of wood and straw, making wine using organic or biodynamic production methods.
Discover our top spots.

The enoteca of Scherwiller

In this exceptional setting, the history of Scherwiller wines is carefully safeguarded.
The members of the Scherwiller syndicate of winemakers preserve the best varieties and vintages from the village’s wineries here.
There’s enough space to eventually store up to 2,600 bottles. (not open to the public)

Enjoying a family outing in the vineyards

Get out and about as a family, and take a walk on the Rampart and Vineyard trails - a fun and educational way to discover the local heritage.
And thanks to the “Mysteries of the Vineyards” treasure hunt, your kids will uncover all the secrets of our wine villages.

Touring the vineyards, differently

There are plenty of ways to explore the vineyards and enjoy a unique experience; for example, walking, riding on an electric motorcycle or in a Citroën 2CV.
As for cyclists, they’ll want to try the Vineyard Cycle Route, which runs parallel to the Alsace Wine Route. Between Dieffenthal and Orschwiller, the landscape is spectacular, with vineyards as far as the eye can see and castles in the background.
Really well worth a visit!

Guilds for celebrating vine and wine

The Guilds of Rieslinger (Scherwiller) and of Saint-Urbain (Kintzheim) celebrate the vineyards through public wine tastings.
They also participate in many local events and wine festivals.