We will be in Alsace from September 14 - 19, staying in Colmar. In searching for festivals in the area, I found this wine festival on Sept 14 and 15th. I cannot find much of a description of the event and no YouTube videos. Has anyone attended this? Do you recommend it? Do you know of any other such special events in the area at this time?
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12313 posts
If you can get to a wine festival, I'd do it. Wine tasting isn't as normal in Europe as in the US wine areas. I've been to a Bordeaux wine festival. Hundreds of area wineries came together in Bordeaux for tastings and there was added entertainment (live music, fireworks, etc.)
Checking my schedule, I'll be in Burgundy on the 14th and 15th, not getting to Alsace until the 19th - so I'll miss it. Was there a link you used to check the festivals?
Posted by
59 posts
I would recommend any German wine festival. It is a chance to sample not just wine, but food you might not otherwise find in restaurants such as zweibelkuchen (onion tart), a large variety of sausage and cheeses and regional specialties. There will also be the opportunity to try new wine, which is the grape juice that hasn't fully fermented. There will be music and picnic tables where you can ask to sit, "Ist hier frei (ph. fry)" . It is a quick bus ride from Colmar to Riquewihr. If you have any doubts about the caliber of wine you will encounter, here is a link which details many of the wines made there https://best-of-upper-rhine.com/winemakers-vineyards-wine-tasting-wine-tours-alsace-kaiserstuhl/wine-tasting-in-riquewihr-preferred-winemakers/
Posted by
Niagara, Ontario
1662 posts
I'd go. Maybe take the bus to Ribeauville first for a couple of hours then hike the trail to Riquewihr.
The festival appears to be hosted by the Riquewihr Male Choir this year. We based in Riquewihr for three weeks during the September of 2014 or 15. I don't know if it was the same event or not but when we were there something similar was going off hosted by a cycle club.
Particularly fond of the crémant, which was cheap and plentiful.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
1742 posts
Riquewihr is an awesome town for a wine festival. It’s also where the original use of the word “Gourmet” came from.
We stayed in Ribeauville and walked the 2.5 miles through the vineyards to Riquewihr for the VE Day parade and celebrations.
Ribeauville has a Wine Cooperative near the entrance to its.old town. The Coop has dozens of local vintners pouring samples of their wines and selling them all under one roof. It makes for a really convenient wine-tasting and buying experience.
Have fun in France!