VTC Alsace Wine Route — Private driver, transfers between villages

Why a private driver

Why discover the Wine Route with a private driver?

Tastings without driving limits

The Wine Route offers 7 grape varieties — Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir. Your driver drives, you focus on the aromas and vintages.

Pedestrian villages and impossible parking

Riquewihr, Eguisheim, Kaysersberg: the most beautiful villages are pedestrian-only or crowded in high season. Your driver drops you at the entrance and picks you up at the agreed time.

Fully customized itinerary

The chauffeur-driven service gives you total freedom: you decide the villages, cellars and pace. Elsass VTC adapts to your schedule, not the other way around.

Groups and families in a comfortable van

Our van accommodates up to 7 people — ideal for groups of friends, families or teams wanting to share a Wine Route day without multiplying cars.

Christmas markets and high season

In December, Colmar, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr and Eguisheim each organize their Christmas market and together attract several million visitors. Your driver handles access and parking in this peak period.

From airports upon arrival

Euro-Airport Basel-Mulhouse is about 35 minutes from Colmar, the southern gateway to the Wine Route. Elsass VTC handles the transfer and can start the tour right after you land.

The Alsace Wine Route, 170 km to explore with your driver

Inaugurated in 1953, one of the oldest tourist routes in Europe connects Marlenheim (Bas-Rhin) to Thann (Haut-Rhin) over 170 kilometers, crossing 119 towns along the Vosges foothills covered with vineyards. It concentrates 51 of the 53 Alsace Grands Crus and more than 300 wine estates offering tastings and visits.

The route is split into two areas: the Bas-Rhin part (from Marlenheim to Barr and Sélestat) and the Haut-Rhin part (from Ribeauvillé to Thann via Colmar). Elsass VTC operates across the entire region, with pickup at home or hotel from Strasbourg, Colmar, Basel or Alsace airports.

Grands Crus and emblematic grape varieties

Alsace is the only French wine region that vinifies its grape varieties as mono-varietals — each bottle bears the name of the grape it contains. Riesling, king of the Grands Crus, produces mineral wines with great aging potential on the granitic and sandstone soils of the Vosges. Gewurztraminer, with its aromas of rose and lychee, is the most identifiable grape in the world. Pinot Gris, sometimes called Tokay d'Alsace, offers powerful, smoky wines on the clay-limestone soils of Haut-Rhin.

Day itineraries with Elsass VTC

The chauffeur-driven service is the best formula to explore the Wine Route — your driver remains available for the entire agreed duration, you compose the itinerary. A few suggestions:

Classic Haut-Rhin day: Colmar in the morning, Eguisheim before lunch, Riquewihr in the afternoon, Ribeauvillé at the end of the day
Winegrower day: 3 to 4 estates by appointment between Barr and Colmar, with a picnic in the vineyards
Christmas market day: Kaysersberg in the morning, Riquewihr in the afternoon, Colmar in the evening
Wine Route weekend: Bas-Rhin (Barr, Andlau, Obernai) on Saturday, Haut-Rhin (Colmar, Eguisheim, Munster) on Sunday

Most visited Grands Crus with Elsass VTC: Schoenenbourg and Sporen (Riquewihr), Kirchberg (Ribeauvillé), Schlossberg (Kaysersberg), Eichberg and Pfersigberg (Eguisheim), Kastelberg, Wiebelsberg and Moenchberg (Andlau).

Wine Route and Alsace Christmas markets

In December, the Wine Route transforms into a succession of medieval Christmas markets — Kaysersberg (voted best Christmas market in France), Riquewihr (in 16th-century alleyways), Eguisheim (circular illuminated village) and Colmar (5 themed markets in the old town). Elsass VTC offers discovery tours with special packages for this period.

Must-see villages of the Wine Route

Colmar

Capital of Alsace wines, Little Venice, Unterlinden Museum. Natural starting point to explore the Haut-Rhin vineyards.

Riquewihr

Intact 16th-century ramparts, Grands Crus Schoenenbourg and Sporen. The most visited village on the Wine Route. 2 to 3 hours.

Ribeauvillé

Three medieval fortresses on the ridges, Grands Crus Kirchberg and Osterberg, lively Saturday morning market. 2 to 3 hours.

Kaysersberg

Most beautiful village in France 2017 — dominant castle, medieval fortified bridge, Grand Cru Schlossberg. 2 to 3 hours.

Eguisheim

Unique circular village, Grands Crus Eichberg and Pfersigberg. 1h30 visit.

Obernai

Fortified medieval town in Bas-Rhin, Grands Crus Kastelberg and Moenchberg in nearby Andlau. Northern gateway to the vineyards. 2-hour visit.

Good to know: Euro-Airport Basel-Mulhouse (EAP) is about 35 minutes from Colmar, the southern gateway to the Wine Route. Strasbourg-Entzheim airport (SXB) is about 30 minutes from Barr and the northern entrance to the vineyards.