David’s research had produced little up-to-date published material on Alsace, so no sooner back from Verona, than we were off again, this time via Basel airport.
Colmar in Alsace – and a very smart hotel in the centre, backing onto ‘Little Venice’
We hired a slightly grander car than usual – whose SatNav proved very useful to David when I was indisposed. For the third time in as many weeks, I developed a high temperature and spent two days in bed, more or less, punctuated by brief evening excursions to fine restaurants (the place was awash with Michelin stars) about which I can remember virtually nothing.
I do remember visiting Riquewihr, and being shown round Schoelhammer vineyard whose slopes rise steeply above the village, before a very good lunch in the company of Keven Bircker of Famille Hugel. This was our first full day in Alsace.
Sadly, I have no clear recollection of Eguisheim where these photos (below) of beautiful mediaeval religious sculpture were taken, but I do remember a fascinating meeting on our final day with Olivier Humbrecht whose English was impeccable, his knowledge encyclopaedic, and whose imagination and vision were inspirational. Thank you!
The actual itinerary was as follows:
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Tuesday 24 April
17.00 Arrive into Basel and travel to Colmar
Afternoon Check in at Hotel le Colombier
7 Rue Turenne, 68000 Colmar
Tel: +33 3 89 23 96 00 Email: info@colombier-suites.com
Web: http://www.hotel-colombier.com/en/
Wednesday 25 April
8.30 Depart for Kientzheim
9.00 – 10.30 Visit and tasting at DOMAINE PAUL BLANCK
32 Grand-Rue, 68240 Kientzheim
Frédéric Blanck- frederic@blanck.com
Tel: +33 3 89 78 23 56 Web: http://www.blanck.com
10.30 Depart for Riquewihr
11.00 – 12.30 Visit and tasting at FAMILLE HUGEL
3 Rue de la 1E Armée, 68340 Riquewihr
Kevin Bircker – kevin@famillehugel.com
Tel: +33 3 89 47 92 15 Web: http://www.hugel.com
12.30 Lunch at Hugel
14.00 Depart for Turckheim
14.30-16.00 Visit and tasting at CAVE DE TURCKHEIM
16 Rue des Tuileries, 68230 Turckheim
Emmanuelle Gallis – e.gallis@cave-turckheim.com
Tel: +33 3 89 30 23 60 Web: http://www.cave-turckheim.com/gb/
16.00 Depart for Colmar
16.30 Meeting at CIVA
12 avenue de la Foire aux Vins, 68000 Colmar
Foulques Aulagnon – foulques@civa.com
Tel: +333 68 34 00 19 / +33 6 62 63 10 77
Thursday 26 April
8.00 Depart for Traenheim
9.00 – 10.30 Visit and tasting at DOMAINE FREDERIC MOCHEL
56 Rue Principale, 67310 Traenheim
Guillaume Mochel – guillaume@mochel.net
Tel: +333 88 50 38 67 Web: mochel.alsace
10.30 Depart for Bergbieten
11.00 – 12.30 Visit and tasting at DOMAINE ROLAND SCHMITT
35 Rue des Vosges, 67310 Bergbieten
Bruno Schmitt – bruno@roland-schmitt.fr
Tel: +33 3 88 38 20 72 Web: http://www.roland-schmitt.fr
12.30 Lunch at Domaine Roland Schmitt
14.00 Depart for Andlau
14.30 – 16.00 Visit and tasting at DOMAINE KREYDENWEISS
12 Rue Deharbe, 67140 Andlau
Antoine Kreydenweiss – marc@kreydenweiss.com
Tel:+ 33 3 88 08 95 83 Web: http://www.kreydenweiss.com
16.00 Depart for Mittelbergheim
16.30 – 18.00 Visit and tasting at DOMAINE ANDRE RIEFFEL
11 Rue Principale, 67140 Mittelbergheim
Lucas Rieffel – andre.rieffel@wanadoo.fr
Tel: + 33 3 88 08 95 48
Friday 27 April
8.00 Depart for Rouffach
9.00 – 10.30 Visit and tasting at DOMAINE MURE
D83, 68250 Rouffach
Véronique Muré – domaine@mure.com
Tel: + 33 3 89 78 58 00 Web: http://www.mure.com/en/
10.30 Depart for Wettolsheim
11.00 – 12.30 Visit and tasting at DOMAINE JEAN-CLAUDE BUECHER
31 Rue des Vignes, 68920 Wettolsheim
Franck Buecher – contact@cremant-buecher.fr
Tel: + 33 3 89 80 14 01 Web: http://www.cremant-buecher.fr/en/
12.30Lunch at Jean-Claude Buecher
14.30 Depart for Turckheim
15.00 – 16.30 Visit and tasting at DOMAINE ZIND-HUMBRECHT
4 Route de Colmar, 68230 Turckheim
Olivier Humbrecht – o.humbrecht@zind-humbrecht.fr
Tel: + 33 3 89 27 02 05 Web: http://www.zindhumbrecht.fr/en/
Saturday 28 April
Morning Check out of hotel
Phone Numbers:
Foulques Aulagnon: +33 6 62 63 10 77 (mob.), foulques@civa.fr
Blandine Rayon: +33 7 86 32 00 81 (mob.), blandine@civa.fr
countrymouse 