The Germany/ South and Alsace Tour 2020 by ombiasy WineTours was fully booked but had to be cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Starting on May 15, Annette issued short posts on facebook briefly describing what we would have done on that day had the tour taken place, using pictures from previous tours.
I am re-posting these short daily accounts along with a general introduction to the tour here on my blog.
Germany/ South and Alsace Tour 2020 by ombiasy WineTours
Germany is so closely identified with Riesling (and yes, it is the largest producer of Riesling world-wide) that you may be surprised to learn that the country is also very strong regarding the Burgundy grapes. It is the third-largest producer of Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder), the largest producer of Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder), and the second largest producer of Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder) in the world. Join us as we discover the southern German wine regions that produce bone dry, opulent Rieslings, outstanding Pinot Noirs and whites from Burgundy grapes. We will step across the Rhine River to compare the wines of the Eastern (German) and Western (French) Rhine valley and we will get a feel for the beautiful, quaint Alsace region with its incredible picturesque wine villages dotted with half-timbered century old buildings. Enjoy the Pfalz, the second largest German wine region by growing area and only topped by Rheinhessen, which it borders to the north. From there, the Pfalz stretches to the French border 53 miles to the south and borders Alsace. In this region French and German vineyards melt into one another and some wineries on the French side own vineyards in Germany and vice versa.
For detailed information on the tour schedule, please check: https://ombiasypr.com/index.php/wine-tours/germany-south/germany-south-alsace-itinerary
For pricing and registration, please go to: https://ombiasypr.com/index.php/wine-tours/germany-south/germany-south-alsace-registration
Germany/ South and Alsace Tour 2020 by ombiasy WineTours: Day 7
Today, Thursday, May 21 is Day 07 of the 2020 Germany South & Alsace Wine Tour organized by Ombiasy Public Relations and Wine Tours
Since the pandemic forced me to cancel the tour I will go on the journey mentally and I will share this tour with you.
Today is a holiday in most of Europe's catholic countries: Ascension Day. Usually lots of people go on day trips to go hiking, to visit the wine country, etc. Not today though, Ascension Day 2020. In France restaurants, hotels, wineries are still closed due to the Covid19 threat; in Germany most of these places opened a week ago but people are reluctant to go out and there still are strict hygienic rules in place that make those outings a lot less fun.
This would have been the last day in Alsatian wine country of our wine tour. We would drive up the Vosges mountains to Wihr-au-Val. Here the famous "Munster" cheese is produced and we are going to visit a cheese dairy La ferme Versant du Soleil. We could pet the cows, visit the barns, and Monsieur Mader will show us everything there is to know about making Munster cheese.
Just in the neighborhood there is Vins Schoenheitz Dominique Schoenheitz. After tasting Munster cheese we very much welcome cleansing our palate with the excellent, pure, mineral wines of this domaine. Domaine Schoenheitz cultivates 45 acres of vineyards which are entirely concentrated on the very steep slopes of the magnificent Valley of Munster. These are the highest vineyards in Alsace with granitic soils and extreme conditions for vine growing.
See also:Winemaker Dinner with Adrien Schoenheitz, Owner/ Winemaker, Domaine Schoenheitz in Alsace and Chef Chef Jacques Haeringer at L'Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls/ Northern Virginia/ USA
We are very lucky, lunch time is approaching and besides a cheese dairy, and a winery Wihr-au-Val also boasts of a 1 star Michelin restaurant Le Bistro de la Nouvelle Auberge. Chef Bernard Leray will prepare a fantastic menu and Adrien Schoenheitz, who will join us for the luncheon, will perfectly pair his wine with the dishes. This day is a perfect finale to our journey through Alsatian wines and culture.
I must admit that for me the Alsace is the most beautiful wine region: the unbelievable quaint medieval villages, home to a huge population of storks, the vineyards on the gentle slopes of the Vosges mountains, - the entire region is an eye candy.
For us is time to say Good By to France and to head north to Germany's Pfalz wine region. After a three hour bus ride we will spend the night in Landau, in the heart of the southern Pfalz wine region.
schiller-wine: Related Postings
Announcement: Upcoming ombiasy Wine Tours 2020 - (1) Alsace and Germany South, (2) Rhône Valley, (3) Bordeaux and (4) Germany: Christmas Market, Wine, Concert Tour
Reminder: Rhône Valley Tour by ombiasy WineTours in June 2020
Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in Washington DC, USA (2019)
Winemaker Dinner with Adrien Schoenheitz, Owner/ Winemaker, Domaine Schoenheitz in Alsace and Chef Chef Jacques Haeringer at L'Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls/ Northern Virginia/ USA