Small-Group Alsace Wine Route

A small-group guided tour of wineries along the Alsace wine route, with tastings. It departs from Strasbourg, across the Rhine from Freiburg.

Overview

This full-day tour runs out of Strasbourg, with a 9:00am start and eight hours on the road. A guide drives a small group of no more than eight people along the Route des Vins d'Alsace in an air-conditioned minivan.

The day combines two things: village time and cellar time. You stop in wine-route villages such as Dambach-la-Ville, Ribeauvillé, Mittelbergheim and Riquewihr, and you visit three wineries for tastings along the way. Expect to sample the varieties Alsace is known for, including Gewürztraminer and Riesling. Reviewers describe winemakers who take time to explain their wines and their terroir, and one called the tasting portions generous. Lunch is not included, and food and drinks beyond the tastings are at your own expense.

It suits adults who want a structured introduction to Alsatian wine without doing the driving themselves. Children under 18 are not allowed, the tour is not wheelchair accessible, and at least two adults are needed for a departure to run.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in StrasbourgMeet the guide ten minutes before the 9:00am departure, in front of the Strasbourg Tourism Office at 17 Place de la Cathédrale.
2. Drive the Wine RouteThe day covers the Route des Vins d'Alsace over eight hours total, travelling between villages and wineries by minivan.
3. Village stopsStops include Dambach-la-Ville, Ribeauvillé, Mittelbergheim and Riquewihr. Any food you want during the day is at your own expense.
4. Three winery tastingsThree wine tastings are included across the day, covering Alsatian varieties such as Gewürztraminer and Riesling.
5. Return to StrasbourgThe tour ends back at the original meeting point. During the Christmas period the drop-off is just outside the Grande-Ile district, with the exact address arranged with the guide.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you plan the day, from what the tastings do and don't include to how the small group shapes the pace.

• Eat beforehand. The listing is explicit that snacks are usually not provided during French wine tastings, to preserve the purity of the wine's flavour. Have a proper breakfast before the 9:00am start, and budget for any food and drinks beyond the three included tastings.
• Small group feel. The group is capped at eight travellers, and reviewers often praise the guides' knowledge of wine and of the region's history. Several travellers also mention the guides' recommendations for places to eat and things to see along the way.
• Buying wine. Travellers have ended up buying bottles to take home. One reviewer regretted not bringing a bigger suitcase for more purchases, so plan your luggage or shipping before you taste.
• Weather matters. The experience requires good weather, and if it is cancelled for poor conditions you are offered a different date or a full refund. Check the forecast before you go and ask the operator anything you need to about conditions on the day.
• Getting there. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you must make your own way to Place de la Cathédrale in Strasbourg, arriving ten minutes before the 9:00am departure. The meeting point is near public transportation, which helps if you are coming in from out of town that morning.
• Adults only. Children under 18 are not permitted, and the tour is not recommended for pregnant travellers. Pets are not allowed either, so this is a day to plan without the whole family.

Common issues. The tour needs a minimum of two adults to run, and if that minimum is not met you are offered a different date or a full refund. It does not run on December 25th or January 1st. Lunch, food and drinks beyond the three included tastings are at your own cost, as are gratuities, personal insurance and hotel transfers. The tour is not wheelchair accessible. One reviewer felt their guide favoured certain wineries over the group's interests, though the overwhelming majority praised the winery selection and the guides' knowledge.

Common Questions