Wines
and Cuisine of France
The
Wine Roads of Alsace, Burgundy & Champagne
This
itinerary follows three of the oldest and most famous wine roads in France - Alsace,
Burgundy, and Champagne - and it offers tastings of some of the best wines in
the world. Along the way, you will also discover picturesque small towns and villages
around the French countryside and get a taste of the local cuisine.
Alsace,
located in eastern France and bordering Germany, primarily produces white wines.
It is the only region in France that makes mostly varietals (wines named after
the grape variety they come from): Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris
and Gewurztraminer are the best known. The Rieslings, in particular, are some
of the most noted white wines in the world.
The
wines of Alsace are superb and the regional cuisine is heavenly, but the sightseeing
is unlike anything you have ever seen: from small villages of half-timbered houses
copiously decorated with a rainbow of flowers to the Haut
Koenigsbourg, a majestic medieval castle perched on a high rocky promontory
overlooking the whole Rhine River valley. Not to be missed, of course, is Strasbourg,
the capital of Alsace and the seat of the European Parliament. Tour the historical
center, the Gothic cathedral built of pink stone and the old quarter ("La
Petite France") with more typical timber-framed houses.
Burgundy.
Wine making in Burgundy is a tradition going back a thousand years. Unlike Bordeaux,
where classifications are awarded to individual chateaus (Margaux, Yquem and Lafite
Rothschild, among the most famous), Burgundy classifications are more geographically
centered: Côte
de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Côte Chalonnaise, Beaujolais
and Chablis.
As
in other regions of France, Burgundy wines have their own classifications: grand
crus, premier crus, village and generic Bourgogne. Red Burgundy wines are usually
made from Pinot Noir grapes, and white Burgundies from Chardonnay. (Beaujolais
primarily uses Gamay grapes.) Two "must-sees" in this region: the "Route
des Grands Crus" and the Flemish-Gothic Hospice
de Beaune, with its distinctive brightly-colored tile roof, where the
famous, lavish Burgundy charity wine auction is held every November.
Champagne.
Taittinger, Mercier, Moët et Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Pol Roger are but
a few of the world-famous brands of champagne from the region around Reims
and Epernay. Those and many smaller wine houses are all within easy
access on the "Route du Champagne." Another high point is Notre Dame
Cathedral, a World Heritage Site and a jewel of Gothic architecture where the
kings of France were once crowned. On the inside behind the altar, do not miss
the set of colorful stained-glass windows designed by artist Mark Chagall - an
unusual but wonderfully creative way to match Gothic architecture with modern
art!
In
Paris, if your timing is right, you may even catch the wine festival (Fête
des Vendanges) in early October in Montmartre.
There, you will find a small vineyard, lost in the middle of Paris, with a total
annual production of about 700 bottles. Naturally, the festival is the occasion
for pageantry, music, eating, drinking and all sorts of related merriment.
There
are many possibilities on this route. Let
us know where and when you want to go. With
the help of expert local providers,
we
will create a custom program that fits your interests
and
requirements.
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