Alsace is one of the great, under-appreciated treasures of the wine world

When you venture off from the Rhine River to drive inland to the Alsace Wine region of France, you will discover the charm of Medieval Chateaux and Renaissance houses along this easy route.  The countryside was beautiful even when the weather is rainy.  Once off the highway, you encounter narrow streets with the Vosges Mountains as the backdrop.  These quaint towns are filled with vineyards, beautiful churches, and many old buildings.  One bridge we drove through was so narrow that the bus only had inches on each side to navigate, glad I was not driving.

While visiting the region, we highly recommend a visit to Maison Joseph Cattin. This independent and family-owned winery, united for over 300 years, has been dedicated to developing the soils' originality to the richness of the grape varieties to give birth to a noble and elegant collection of Alsace wines. Take in the view of the Maison Joseph Cattin Vineyard in this video.

Immerse yourself in a cellar tour and discover the secrets to their beautiful winemaking processes. This tour ends with a free tasting of select wines. Take your wine on the rooftop terrace and enjoy a magnificent view over the vineyard, the Vosges, the Black Forest, and even the Alps!

To bring a taste of this vineyard direct to your door, grab a bottle of Cattin Sauvage Cremant D'alsace Brut from Scout & Cellar. This special wine has a delicate aroma of fresh peach and ripened pear, leading to toasted nuts and fresh-baked brioche flavors. A dry, refreshing finish balances creamy bubbles—this the perfect wine to toast the holidays with loved ones.

There are many towns in the Alsace region to explore, such as Riquewihr and Colmar.  Both are quaint villages with cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses.  The villages have a special combination of picturesque town squares lined with winemaker shops for shopping and tasting.

The Alsace Wine route offers over 1000 wine producers and takes you through France's most beautiful countryside.  There are over 100 miles to explore wineries, vineyards, festivals, and folklore.