Ivy

Am planning a trip to Champagne and Alsace in April and am wondering if this time of year will be OK for wine tasting and the wine routes in both places? Any insights appreciated!!

cornelius01

We will be in Champagne country in May and I would also like some ideas. are you staying in Reims?

Aramis

The harvest is in the fall, but the wine doesn't disappear by spring. The routes will still be "active" even though there will be fewer festivals than in the summer and fall.

Try this for a current schedule of events on the Alsatian Wine Route.

http://tinyurl.com/7ewduvy


Google "Alsace wine route events" and you will undoubtedly find more information.

StuDudley

Both Alsace & Reims are farther north than any spot in the continental US. It could be quite cold, & still emerging from winter.

Stu Dudley

Aramis

Technically, Strasbourg is just below 49 degrees latitude, making anything south of it - pretty much the entire Alsatian Wine Route - below the continental US' northern border. But latitude alone does not determine weather; Seattle is farther north than Buffalo, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis, Grand Rapids, Fargo, and Bismarck and I know which of those I would want to visit in April.

It is very likely that the high temperature around Strasbourg will reach the low to mid 20's Celsius (70-75 Fahrenheit) during the latter half of April - it has for most of the last half dozen years. Something in the 60's is almost guaranteed. Nighttime temperatures can drop below 50.

bilboburgler

All the usual wineries will be open for tastings in April as the rest of the year. Accommodation should be easy to find as this will be low season. You using the train or a car?

Wine routes in Champagne does not really exist as the wine is really made in the cellar not the fields (not strictly true be realtively) most of the big houses (Grand marque) are based in Reims or Eperney. Epernay, you can walk around the lot in 15 minutes while Reims is a bigger city with it all spread out so a taxi or bus may be required

Alsace; the wine route is pretty long all the way from the German border in the north to Guebewiller (I just know that is spelt wrong).

While the following links are really for bike users they should be a useful help

http://www.mybikeguide.co.uk/Alsace_Guide.php

and http://www.mybikeguide.co.uk/Champagne_Cellars.php I really do need to write up a better Alsace guide the trouble is I like Alsace wine and I don't want too many people going there

If you dig around the Alsace link you will find the local buses link from Colmar and that would let you tour the southern part of the wine route without risk of drunken driving.

Michel_Paris

We went for a wine tasting in Reims in January, so no worries. In our case it was the Taitinger cellars, inside city limits.

StuDudley

According to this:

http://www.climate-zone.com/climate/...strasbourg.htm

The average temps are 50 in April & 60 in May. Highs are 60 in April & 70 in May.

Stu Dudley

Ivy

Thanks all!! This is really helpful! We will have a car and are pretty seasoned European drivers!! Any hotel recos would be appreciated. High end/luxury ok. Thanks!!

jelopez33

Ivy:
Enter the site of the Tourism Office, and you can request printed material about Strasbourg and Alsace(a full boklet on hotels, a full booklet on restaurants,a pocket guide) you will receive the brocures for free at your home in some 10 days!!!!( I did it as I am planning a visit to Strasbourg and may be Colmar for august-september).Enjoy your planning and trip!!!

Ivy

Thanks Jelopez!! Great idea