Europe Wine Adventures: Alsace Day 2
We spent the day, for the most part, kicking around Obernai and figuring out the wine route. First the wine route, or Alsace Wine Route (Vins d’Alsace). This road winds through the French countryside from Strasbourg to Colmar, dotted with small towns filled with winemakers. We set off south, from Obernai, and made it through about 4 towns.
The roads between the towns are nice, winding through vineyards and hillsides. Small towns are visible along the way, nestled in a sea of green patchwork fields. Up on the mountainside you can make out a castle, standing proudly at the highest point. Upon entering a town, the road becomes incredibly narrow and keeps me, as the driver, on my toes. Eerily, most of the towns we went through were very quiet and didn’t have a lot of cars or people.
Amanda and I stopped at a few towns and wandered around a bit, though. Tasting rooms are open, but not necessarily manned, so it takes a little bravery to wander in and see if it is a tasting room (especially since we don’t read French that well) and then find a host. I’m sure over the next couple days we’ll get a bit more comfortable with it, but initially we’re a bit tentative.
One winery we stopped at we tried the Pinot Gris and the Pinot Gris Barrique (which saw 5 months in smaller barrels). It was a great contrast. The regular Pinot Gris had a bit of residual sugar and full, soft fruits in the mouth; a lush feel and a little sweetness to carry the finish. The barrique-ed version had wood on the nose and in the taste. The fruit was definitely muted, but still present. Amanda likes the wood-presence and preferred the latter; and, maybe in the right setting I would, also. But as a nice summer white wine, the classical Pinot Gris was more my preference.
After a few other stops for tasting and pictures we went back to Obernai to find some food. We had lunch at a nice little café – some salads and a glass of wine. Then Amanda and I walked the ramparts, a wall around the city built in the 12th century. It didn’t take long to walk, but it was interesting. There are several places where the old wall has been incorporated into the structures of newer buildings; even some of the towers remain and have been used.
Tomorrow we’ll head in to Strasbourg to visit the cathedral, Le Petit France (for lunch) and probably a canal tour. Then, of course, we’ll have to figure out where to watch the Germany match… being so close to the German border, there are a lot of fans here.
