Only 2 places left in group of 8. We stay in Siena and will visit the great names in Chianti, Montepulciano and Brunello from there. Mail or call for more information!
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Group tour Tuscany : 23-26 of May
Only 2 places left in group of 8. We stay in Siena and will visit the great names in Chianti, Montepulciano and Brunello from there. Mail or call for more information!
Group tour Alsace : 12-14 September
Only 2 places left for tour from 12 - 14 September
You will stay in a nice little hotel near Kaysersberg. The breakfasts and one lunch are included. Dinner can be organized, but that is up to you. Of course we have suggestions for you. From simple and tasteful to very exclusive Michelin Star restaurants.
Included are visits and tastings at 4 wineries. We will visit wineries with very different philosophy's in Bas Rhin and Haut Rhin.
You will stay in a nice little hotel near Kaysersberg. The breakfasts and one lunch are included. Dinner can be organized, but that is up to you. Of course we have suggestions for you. From simple and tasteful to very exclusive Michelin Star restaurants.
Included are visits and tastings at 4 wineries. We will visit wineries with very different philosophy's in Bas Rhin and Haut Rhin.
Monday, February 10, 2014
The Alsace Wine Route - Tour with us JoliSoleil
The Alsace
Wine Route is 170 kilometers (about 106 miles) from Cleebourg in the north to
Thann in the south. This route began in
1953 and takes visitors through the middle of the Alsace wine country vineyards
and villages.
The history of the wine making in Alsace goes back to old Roman
times. Castles dot the landscape, villages, churches, vineyards and wines,
cuisine and traditions all make Alsace a unique and magical European
experience.
The vineyards
of Alsace are among the oldest in all of France. For over 20 centuries this
region of France has produced wine. It began in Roman times with the
legionnaires, also known as the Roman Legion, which is basically the ancient
Roman army.
Here begins
the story of wine laws when in 92 AD Emperor Domitian banned planting vines in
Italy, and ordered uprooting half of the vines in production in all Roman
provinces to increase the production of cereals. Other wine laws followed to combat fraud, to
set boundaries, to regulate varieties, to set labeling standards and so on.
Wine laws began in 92 AD and continue on to this day.
Alsace went
through a disastrous time in viticulture when the 30 years war (1618-1648) came
with mass destruction. Also climate change, and wine guilds that didn't work
out lead to problems in wine making for Alsace that continued on until the
French Revolution (1789-1799). After the French Revolution the wine guilds disappeared
and wine making was able to be reorganized.
In the 19th
century there were no regulations on what varieties of vines could be planted.
Following the instructions of Jean-Antoine Chaptal, Napoleon’s minister of
agriculture, they allowed a high sugar content in the wine believing it
increased the level of alcohol, and following the instructions of Doctor Gall
they believed the best way of making a good wine included adding water to bring
down acidity.
Labeling the
bottle (wine labels are referred to as etiquette in France) with the grape
variety and the name of the region began in Alsace in 1919.
In 1945 Sylvaner, Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir achieved prominence. When France was freed from German occupation. General de Gaulle signed an edict for the first appellation dórigine. The demand for quality caused Alsace winemakers to improve their production. In 1962 Vin dÁlsace was promoted to the rank of AOC (appellation d’origine controlee), and the number of allowed grape varieties had been cut to eleven. A limitation in the size of the vines and a reduction in the maximum yield (130 hl in 1983, 88 in 2000).
The tradition of Alsace is to make dry white wines and Pinot Noir used for rose or red. Oak casks are used for a time for fermentation, also stone and stainless steel are used.The type of varieties grown, the plots of ground they are grown on, terroir, the direction in which the vines face (mostly south and south-east), the amount of rain fall and exposure to sunlight all effect the richness, complexity aromas, sugar content and acidity and other properties . Since the Middle Ages it has been known that maturity of the grapes depends on the best exposure to the sun.
In 1945 Sylvaner, Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir achieved prominence. When France was freed from German occupation. General de Gaulle signed an edict for the first appellation dórigine. The demand for quality caused Alsace winemakers to improve their production. In 1962 Vin dÁlsace was promoted to the rank of AOC (appellation d’origine controlee), and the number of allowed grape varieties had been cut to eleven. A limitation in the size of the vines and a reduction in the maximum yield (130 hl in 1983, 88 in 2000).
The tradition of Alsace is to make dry white wines and Pinot Noir used for rose or red. Oak casks are used for a time for fermentation, also stone and stainless steel are used.The type of varieties grown, the plots of ground they are grown on, terroir, the direction in which the vines face (mostly south and south-east), the amount of rain fall and exposure to sunlight all effect the richness, complexity aromas, sugar content and acidity and other properties . Since the Middle Ages it has been known that maturity of the grapes depends on the best exposure to the sun.
Note on AOC
qualification: 1. Alsace wines can only be bottled in the slender usually green-colored
bottles known as “Flute d’Alsace”. 2.
The wines have to be bottled in the production area.
Monday, February 3, 2014
The Amish in Alsace - Saint Marie aux Mines
Apart from wine the Alsace has many other things to offer. This time we want to tell you something about minerals & gems and ... about patchwork.
Not far from Kaysersberg lies Saint Marie aux Mines. As the name suggests there are mines here. But there is also something else. Saint Marie aux Mines is the craddle of the Amish.
On our city tours we will visit this interesting city and sites.
History
The Protestant Reformation began by Martin Luther, 16th century, started a lot of radical changes in Europe. During the 17th century, Anabaptist, coming from Switzerland moved into the Alsace region in France. One such man was Jacob Amann, the founder of the Amish.
Not far from Kaysersberg lies Saint Marie aux Mines. As the name suggests there are mines here. But there is also something else. Saint Marie aux Mines is the craddle of the Amish.
On our city tours we will visit this interesting city and sites.
History
The Protestant Reformation began by Martin Luther, 16th century, started a lot of radical changes in Europe. During the 17th century, Anabaptist, coming from Switzerland moved into the Alsace region in France. One such man was Jacob Amann, the founder of the Amish.
Out of the Anabaptist community the first Amish settled in Sainte Marie in Alsace.
In addition to being excellent farmers, the Amish also produced excellent gems and minerals from the Sainte Marie aux Mines. To this day the Saint Marie aux Mines still produce fantastic gems and minerals. There is an international show which will be held the 26-29 of June 2014 titled the 51th International Gem and Mineral Exhibition.
Patchwork
In addition to gems, Sainte Marie is also famous for its fabric production and patchwork. An international patchwork show will be held 18-21 of September 2014 for the 14th annual international event. ( Patchwork is the term used for quilting.)
Find these and other events by clicking on "Events" on our website or our public calendar for Alsace.
Mail or call us for more information.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Thursday, December 5, 2013
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