“Riquewihr is like a living painting, where every street is a work of art and every glass of wine a poem.”
Located a few kilometres from Colmar, Riquewihr is one of those Alsatian villages you absolutely must see if you’re a fan of wine tourism.
The fortified architecture, combined with the typical style of Alsatian houses, makes this village one of the most representative of the local art. Add winemaking excellence to that, and it becomes a paradise on earth for wine lovers.
This village is an extraordinary place that has managed to showcase all of its heritage.
Over the centuries, Riquewihr enjoyed a period of prosperity thanks to its vineyard, producing renowned wines such as Gewurztraminer and Riesling.
Thanks to the preservation of its architectural heritage, Riquewihr draws visitors for its historic charm, its vineyards and its setting within the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park.
Speaking of the vineyard: Riquewihr is famous for its wines thanks to several key factors that contribute to the exceptional quality of its production. Here are a few of the main ones:
- Microclimate and exceptional terroirs: Riquewihr benefits from a microclimate and unique terroirs that are ideal for winegrowing. The village is protected from westerly winds by the Vosges massif and enjoys a semi-continental climate with dry, hot, sunny summers.
- A thousand-year-old winegrowing tradition: Winegrowing in Riquewihr dates back centuries, allowing winemakers to perfect their methods and pass their expertise down from generation to generation.
- Grands Crus: Of the 51 terroirs classified as “Grands Crus” in Alsace, 13 lie in the Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr area, a testament to the superior quality of the wines produced here.
- Geological diversity: The Riquewihr vineyard sits on a geological fault line, offering a great diversity of subsoils — from granite to limestone, taking in volcanic and sandstone soils along the way. This diversity lets the different grape varieties thrive to the full.
These elements combined, along with the winemakers’ expertise, make Riquewihr’s wines not only among the best in Alsace but also internationally recognised for their quality.
You only have to wander through the village to see it for yourself:
But we’ll also take the time to linger in the cheese shops and ageing cellars — a rather unique place that carries on a celebrated know-how. Whatever you do, don’t go in! You’ll give in for sure.
As you know, we love sharing our lovely discoveries with exceptional quality-to-price ratios! So we couldn’t end this article without telling you about a charming estate in Riquewihr:
MITTNACHT-KLACK, Domaine Les Tuileries — and we had the chance to taste their lovely Pinot Gris:
That golden colour charmed us, and the Pinot Gris did the rest; at under €15 a bottle, it’s perfect for any occasion.
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