Half-Day Alsace Wine Tour

Half-Day Alsace Wine Tour, 4 hours, rated 4.8 across 384 traveller reviews.

Overview

Ophorus runs this four-hour outing from Strasbourg with a simple shape: a minivan ride into wine country, two winery tastings, and the drive back. The first stop is Obernai, a town on the Wine Route, where the group gets a tasting and a walk. A second tasting follows in a typical Alsace caveau, and along the way the group learns about the 7 different types of Alsace wine.

Groups are capped at 8 passengers and the whole tour runs in English. It stays adults only, for visitors 18 and over. Tastings, a walk around Obernai, and the view from the minivan window fill the rest of the time.

There is no hotel pickup. The meeting point is 8 Place de la Gare in Strasbourg, and the tour ends back at the same spot. One local habit to know before booking: French tastings usually come without snacks, so the operator recommends a proper meal beforehand.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Place de la GareThe group gathers at 8 Pl. de la Gare in Strasbourg. Hotel pickup is not offered on this tour.
2. Drive to ObernaiA transfer of 30 minutes out of the city toward the Wine Route.
3. Obernai tasting and walkThe longest stop, at 95 minutes, pairs a first wine tasting in a selected winery with a walk around Obernai.
4. Drive the Wine RouteAnother transfer of 30 minutes, this time along the wine route between the two stops.
5. Caveau tastingA second wine tasting of 45 minutes in a typical Alsace caveau.
6. Return to StrasbourgThe van takes 40 minutes back to 8 Pl. de la Gare, where the tour ends.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points pulled from the listing and from what travellers have said afterwards.

• Eat beforehand. The listing is direct about this: in France, snacks are usually not served during tastings, to preserve the purity of the wine's flavour. Have a good breakfast or lunch before the meeting time.
• Bring ID. A passport or ID card sits on the operator's bring list, along with comfortable shoes for the walk in Obernai. The tour is for adults 18 and over only.
• Getting there. Hotel pickup is not offered. Meet at 8 Place de la Gare and plan the journey there yourself, since the van departs from that address.
• Small group. The van holds 8 passengers at most, and a minimum of 2 adults is needed for the tour to run. One traveller said a lovely small group made the day all the better.
• Your guide. A driver-guide leads the trip, and many reviewers praise the guides' knowledge of wine and of the Alsace region. Several also describe the guides as pleasant and gracious hosts.
• Language. The whole tour is conducted in English only. Travellers who do not speak English comfortably should pick a different departure, as no other language is offered on this tour.

Common issues. The tour requires a minimum of 2 adult passengers to operate, so very low bookings can stop a departure. One reviewer wished small snacks such as cheese or pretzels came with the tastings, though the listing warns that French tastings usually serve none. Another reviewer, visiting in late December, noted the stops were wineries rather than vineyards, with nothing growing to see at that time of year. Also note there is no hotel pickup, pets are not allowed, and entrance fees, meals, drinks, gratuities and personal insurance are not covered.

Common Questions