There are a host of fascinating places to visit along the roads that criss-cross the wine regions of Champagne and Alsace. Including two remarkable communes waiting to be explored by wine lovers and architecture fans.

Les Riceys is a must for any trip along the Champagne Tourist Trail. With no fewer than three listed churches, two châteaux and seven wash-houses, this delightful village has a rich built heritage surrounded by an ocean of vines. In the heart of this charming scenery, various hiking trails allow visitors to explore Champagne's winemaking history. The landscape is dotted with “cadoles”, dry-stone shelters formerly used by winemakers as a refuge during times of extreme heat or cold. These simple structures, reminders of age-old local viticulture techniques, are intricately bound up with the wine region’s identity.

 

With close to 865 hectares of vines under cultivation, Les Riceys is the region’s largest winemaking commune and the only one in France to contain 3 regional AOPs: Champagne, Coteau Champenois and the renowned Rosé des Riceys. This small but charming village is without doubt the perfect place to discover these iconic wines in a relaxed setting.

 

Located on the Alsace Wine Route, the commune of Guebwiller stretches to the foothills of the Vosges, and is overlooked by the mountain range’s highest summit, the Grand Ballon. Classified as a “Tourist Commune” and awarded the label “Land of Art and History”, the town has a pretty architectural heritage, several sites of cultural interest and vast natural spaces.

 

Dominated by parcels of vines that dot the terraces of the Vosges mountains, Guebwiller has unique terroirs and a stunning wine production that includes 4 Alsace Grands Crus: Kessler, Saering, Spiegel and Kitterlé. A magical quartet of which the local winemakers are justly proud!

 

From Champagne to Alsace, the wine regions of the Grand Est offer a potent blend of sophistication and originality for all lovers of fine wines.