Wines, beers...and Rhine castles !

As part of the Interreg project Rhine castles 2023-2025, Alsace Destination Tourisme and its Alsatian, Swiss and German partners are offering a whole series of original events combining architectural heritage and wine and beer with joy and conviviality - and in compliance with the Evin law.

Because the history of vines and hops is closely linked to that of castles and places of power, dating back to Antiquity and the Middle Ages, wine and beer from the Upper Rhine Valley will be in the spotlight in 2023, a year also marked by the 70th anniversary of the Alsace Wine Route.

Over the next three years, we'll be putting on a series of fun events telling the story of several emblematic castles in the Germanic Holy Roman Empire, closely linked to the history of vines and hops... all accompanied by tastings!

The programme is just getting underway and will be added to on this page over the coming months and years. However, you can already book the following dates:

• Thursdays and Fridays until October: Oberkirch (DE) wine trail. With wine tasting. Charge and booking required. In German. Contact Renchtal Tourismus GmbH - 00 49 (0)7802 82600 or info@renchtal-tourismus.de. In German.
• Until 31 October 2023, daily; 1 November to 31 December 2023, daily except Sundays and public holidays: guided tour of the vaulted cellars beneath the Schloßberg in Breisach (DE), where Geldermann sparkling wines are made. Tasting included. Charge and by prior arrangement. In German.
• 6 August 2023: Stroll through the vineyards in the company of the Confréries du Haut-Koenigsbourg, St Urbain and Rieslinger to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Alsatian Wine Route. Meet people from the world of wine, discover heritage sites and taste local produce. In French. Charge and booking required via www.selestat-haut-koenigsbourg.com/lei/detail/113/222006772/1883/balade-dans-le-vignoble-avec-les-confreries-viticoles-orschwiller.html
• 25 to 28 August 2023: Breisach Wine Festival (DE) - between the Breisach Schloßberg and the Rhine, the winegrowers of the Kaiserstuhl and Tuniberg present themselves. Culinary and entertainment programme in German. Free of charge and without reservation. In German. Information via post@breisach-weinfest.de Site - www.breisach-weinfest.de - 00 49 7667 445888-6
• 23 and 24 September 2023: Tulip Onion and Flavour Market at Wildegg Castle (Switzerland). As well as rare tulip onions, the market offers regional and seasonal products made by traditional methods. The products meet Slow Food standards. The programme also includes a Slow Wine workshop. There will also be a brewery serving craft beers and Schloss Whisky Wildegg. In German. Free of charge and subject to reservation. Parking fee CHF 5.00 Registration for workshops via Tulpenzwiebel- und Genussmarkt - Schloss Wildegg (museumaargau.ch) from July. Contact manuela.nipp@ag.ch - 0041628871207
• 21 October 2023, visit to Un châtelain nommé Bacchus at Haut-Koenigsbourg, as part of the Fascinating Weekend 2023. In French. Charge and booking required. Online ticketing via www.haut-koenigsbourg.fr/fr/visites/visite-thematique-un-chatelain-nomme-bacchus
• 4 November 2023, theatre and music performances at 4 wine estates in the Durbach region (DE). In German. Paying and must be booked in advance. Pre-sale only / no ticket office on the evening. Contact 0049 1575 3706716 or guenther.laubis@web.de
• ...and many more surprises to come this autumn in other Alsatian castles.

This project has received €2.9m in European co-financing from the ERDF as part of the INTERREG Upper Rhine programme.