Discover the Magic of Alsace. Shaped by both French and German heritage, Alsace is a region where every turn reveals a postcard-perfect scene. Our home for the week, the beautifully preserved town of Colmar, provides the perfect gateway to this enchanting landscape—from its medieval lanes and flower-adorned canals to its proximity to some of the most celebrated vineyards in France. Guests will have ample time to stroll through the atmospheric quarters of Colmar and Strasbourg, exploring cafés, boutiques, and pâtisseries: cobblestoned streets rich in culinary traditions and warm, inviting Winstubs.

 

The Wines of Alsace: A World-Class Experience. Alsace offers some of the most expressive terroirs in Europe, renowned for its exceptional white wines and, increasingly, for its reds. Our tastings will showcase the noble grape varieties—Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Gris—exploring the elegance for which Alsatian wines are celebrated, from biodynamic innovators to long-established family domains. Enhancing this experience, a first-class hotel and sumptuous dining ensure comfort and indulgence throughout the journey, led by renowned wine expert Todd Ross, a professional local guide, and internationally award-winning photojournalist Peter Martin, Managing Director of Martin Keegan Tours LLC.

 

SUNDAY, Day 1 – Welcome to Alsace! Guests will be picked up from Strasbourg Airport by private minibus and transferred to Colmar, where we’ll check in to the charming and historic five-star La Maison des Têtes Hôtel. After settling in, we’ll gather for a casual wine-tasting introduction to the Alsace region and review our itinerary for the week. Dinner tonight is just a five-minute walk from the hotel at Lucas et Chris, a friendly bistro run by two of Colmar’s native sons, Lucas Gaertner (in the kitchen) and Chris Roldan, who lay out a table of well-crafted, wholesome fare.

 

MONDAY, Day 2 – (Ribeauvillé and Zellenberg) After breakfast, we visit F.E. Trimbach, one of Alsace’s most iconic family-run wineries, based in the village of Ribeauvillé. Crafting wines since 1626, the 13th generation today continues the family tradition, cultivating the estate’s vineyards and producing highly acclaimed wines. Lunch will be at Au Relais des Ménétriers in Ribeauvillé, where the chef prepares true traditional French cuisine, sourcing ingredients from local farmers. Our afternoon tasting visit is at Marc Tempé in nearby Zellenberg. This domaine was founded in 1993 by Marc and Anne-Marie, both born into winemaking families and fully committed to biodynamic viticulture: hand-harvested grapes, horse-ploughed vineyards, and no chemical additives. Dinner tonight is just a short walk from our hotel at Winstub Brenner, an authentic bistro in the heart of Little Venice, serving regional fare in a warm, inviting setting.

 

TUESDAY, Day 3 – (Colmar, Marché Couvert and Wettolscheim) After breakfast, guests are invited to join a 2.5-hour walking tour of Colmar, one of Alsace’s most picturesque towns. We’ll begin in Old Town Colmar, where centuries-old half-timbered houses, flower-laden balconies, and cobblestone lanes set a storybook scene, passing through lively market streets and revitalized public spaces. No visit to Colmar is complete without a wander through La Petite Venise, the romantic canal-side quarter where pastel façades reflect in the water and centuries-old merchant houses evoke a timeless tranquility. Guests will have time to explore, with lunch on their own today, guided by our recommendations. In the afternoon, we’ll head to the village of Wettolsheim to visit the distinguished Alsace estate run by the Barthelmé family, whose wine-growing lineage stretches back to the 17th century. Their wines are celebrated for being balanced and expressive, capturing the diversity of Alsace soils and microclimates. For dinner this evening, we’ll head to the docks of Colmar’s Little Venice for a fine dining experience at Le Quai 21, where chef Frédéric Tagliani brings Mediterranean touches to his dishes, a nod to his Italian origins.

 

WEDNESDAY, Day 4 – (Kayserberg and Turckheim) After breakfast, we take a short drive through the hills above Kaysersberg to Domaine Weinbach. Tracing their roots back to 1612, the Faller family cultivates some of Alsace’s most prestigious terroirs, all farmed organically and biodynamically, and celebrated worldwide for their elegance and remarkable ability to age gracefully. Lunch today is in Kaysersberg at Winstub du Chambard, where Olivier Nasti revisits Alsace produce with joyous results—a true haven for those who enjoy hearty local cuisine. In the afternoon, we head to Turckheim to visit Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, one of Alsace’s most acclaimed estates, founded in 1959 from the union of the Zind and Humbrecht families. Their wines are among the region’s most celebrated, producing outstanding Rieslings, Gewürztraminers, and Pinot Gris. Dinner tonight is on one’s own in Colmar, with our recommendations.

 

THURSDAY, Day 5 – (Day in Strasbourg) After breakfast and a short drive to Strasbourg, we’ll begin our day with a 2.5-hour private walking tour starting in La Petite France, a UNESCO-listed neighborhood where half-timbered houses, narrow lanes, and tranquil canals create one of the most atmospheric scenes in all of Alsace. We’ll visit Strasbourg Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture whose soaring spire once made it the tallest building in the world, and explore the Neustadt district with its grand boulevards. Lunch today is at La Vieille Enseigne, which serves refined Alsatian cuisine and boasts an exceptional wine cellar with more than 5,000 bottles. After lunch, guests will have the afternoon to explore the shops and markets of Strasbourg on their own. Dinner tonight is in Colmar at Le Comptoir de Georges. This former butcher’s shop in the Little Venice neighborhood has been transformed into an appealing brasserie offering carefully prepared Alsace specialties.

 

FRIDAY, Day 6 – (Rorschwihr and Riquewihr) Our last full day in Alsace begins in the village of Rorschwihr at Domaine Rolly Gassmann, a family-owned estate with origins tracing back to the 17th century. Rolly Gassmann stands out among Alsace producers, creating wines of remarkable depth and aging potential. Lunch today is in the iconic winemaking village of Riquewihr at La Grappe d’Or, an inviting restaurant serving regional delicacies, housed in a flower-decked building dating to 1554. Our wine-tasting journey for the week concludes in Riquewihr at Famille Hugel, a 13-generation, family-owned estate renowned for shaping the identity of Alsace wine worldwide. The family cultivates only the noble Alsatian grape varieties—many classified as Grand Cru—producing wines acclaimed globally, with 90% of production exported to more than 100 countries. Our farewell dinner this evening is at our hotel’s Michelin-starred Restaurant Girardin, which showcases the terroir of Alsace.

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SATURDAY, Day 7 - Early morning departure today for a shuttle back to Strasbourg Airport SXB for flights home or onward travel.