Those looking for a wine tasting weekend in a less familiar wine region can take advantage of Grape Escapes' new itinerary to Alsace in eastern France. The wine tour specialist offers two to three night breaks to the 16th century village of Riquewihr visiting Alsatian vineyards and dining in local winstubs, with prices starting from £171 per person.
The small medieval village of Riquewihr is located at the foot of the Vosges Mountains on the Alsace wine route and is known for its Riesling. Grape Escapes' guests stay at the boutique Hôtel de la Couronne in the centre of Riquewihr, which dates back to 1550 and is built in the traditional vernacular style. The hotel is in walking distance from a number of wineries.
From Riquewihr, guests will be taken on a guided tour to the award winning Dopff Irion estate. Dopff Irion's vineyard's produce rich, powerful wines and ten of the estate's hectares are classified Grand Cru. The guide will explain the domain's vineyards and growing techniques and take guests into the estate's cellars for a tasting session.
There is also a visit to a smaller, family run producer where visitors will meet the owner. He will explain his 'soft' methods of growing using natural fertiliser and biological insecticides to grow clean, concentrated grapes. This unusual vinification technique will be sampled in a tasting session.
The cuisine of Alsace can also be enjoyed with a traditional three course meal in an Alsatian winstub, which are country style restaurants. Guests will be served local specialties such as Sauerkraut (pickled cabbage), Baeckaoffa (lamb, beef and pork stew) and tartes flambées (dough with cheese, onion and lardons). This will be accompanied by a Crémant and local Riesling.
The tour is available anytime throughout the year mid week and at the weekend and prices start at £171 per person. This includes two nights bed and breakfast, the guided tours and the winstub meal. Additional nights and different hotels are available. Travel to Alsace is not included but Grape Escapes can advise on the best way to travel to the region.
Further enquiries and bookings can be made at www.grapeescapes.net
About Grape Escapes
Grape Escapes is a specialist in travel to the French wine regions offering a selection of gourmet wine-tasting weekends in Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Loire and the Rhône. Catering for all food and wine lovers from the serious connoisseur to enthusiastic beginner, Grape Escapes' small group tours average just 12 guests and blend tastings at prestigious Châteaux and Champagne houses with more intimate invitations as the guests of smaller family-run estates. Grape Escapes also offers longer tailor-made self-drive itineraries, private group tours for friends or social groups such as hen weekends and weddings.
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