Alsace: Alsatian Wine Tasting Tour and Alsatian Lunch

The most memorable part of this Gertwiller experience is the cellar itself, where massive oak barrels from 1850 still help tell the story of Alsatian winemaking. You’ll follow the path from grape to bottle, then sit down to regional food in a new projection-filled dining room.

I like the mix of wine education and a proper local meal, rather than a quick tasting at a shop counter. I also like the family connection: Zeyssolff, the producer behind Au Péché Vigneron, has been making wine since 1778 and now farms organically. The main consideration is timing. At 2.5 hours, this is a focused visit, not a full-day tour of Alsace’s wine villages.

Key points to know before booking

• A working family winery since 1778: You get a direct introduction to a long-running Alsatian wine producer.
• The cellar dates to 1850: Large old oak barrels give the tour a strong sense of place.
• The tasting is paired with lunch: Wine accompanies the soup, meat pie, cheese, and desserts.
• Lunch includes classic Alsatian dishes: Expect kougelhopf, Bibeleskaes, and other regional specialties.
• The winery is now organic: The tour connects older cellar traditions with current production methods.
• English and French tours are available: The live guide explains the process in either language.

A family winery with roots going back to 1778

Au Péché Vigneron sits in Gertwiller, a small Alsatian wine town on the main road at 156 Route de Strasbourg. The experience is run by Zeyssolff, a winemaking family whose connection to the area reaches back to 1778.

That long family history matters here because the visit is not only about sampling finished bottles. You’re shown the place where the wine is made, and the guide explains how the work continues from grape to bottle. The winery is now in organic production, giving the visit a useful link between old cellar methods and present-day farming.

You should expect a warm, food-centered introduction to Alsace rather than a technical seminar. The guide speaks French or English, and the tour is designed to explain the traditional process in a clear, approachable way.

Finding the cellar in Gertwiller

The meeting point is easy to miss if you are watching only for a traditional winery entrance. Stay on the main road and continue to the large parking area. Do not turn onto the small street on the left.

The shop entrance is across the street from the parking lot. Look for a wooden cube set between a purple house and a blue house. That detail is worth saving before you arrive, especially if you are driving and have several addresses in your navigation app.

The tour begins and ends at the same place, so you do not need to arrange a separate return transfer. The supplied meeting information gives 156 Route de Strasbourg as both the start and finish point.

Walking through the 1850 cellar

The guided cellar visit takes about one hour. Its star feature is the collection of large oak barrels, including barrels dating from 1850. You’ll see the setting where older Alsatian traditions are still part of the explanation, rather than simply hearing about them in a tasting room.

The guide walks you through the winemaking process step by step. You’ll learn how grapes become wine, how the wine is handled in the cellar, and how it eventually reaches the bottle. The value of this part is practical: once you understand the stages, the tasting has more meaning.

I appreciate that the cellar comes before the meal. You first learn what the winery does, then taste the results. That order helps you pay attention to the differences among the wines instead of treating the tasting as a series of unrelated pours.

The tour also gives you some context about the Alsace region. Brochures and regional information are included, so you can continue learning about local specialties after the visit. The experience is not presented as a grand museum tour. It is a direct look at a family winery, which may suit you if you prefer working places to highly staged attractions.

Tasting Alsatian wines after the tour

After the cellar visit, you taste the wines produced by the family winery. The tasting is included in the price, along with the guided tour and lunch.

Specific varieties and the number of tasting pours are not listed, so you should not book this expecting a fixed wine-flight menu with detailed bottle information in advance. The guide explains the wines in the context of the cellar and the Alsace region, which keeps the focus on local production.

The wine is also used at lunch, with a wine served alongside each course. That pairing adds real value to the tasting because you can see how Alsatian wines work with food, not just sample them by themselves.

If you do not want to travel home empty-handed, bottles are available for purchase at the winery. This is convenient, but remember that any bottles you buy are an extra cost beyond the $74 experience price.

Wine tasting is limited to adults age 18 and older. If you are visiting with children, they can have a separate menu, described below, while adults take part in the wine portion.

What you eat in the Alsatian lunch

The lunch takes about one hour and is served in the winery. It is built around familiar Alsatian foods, with several courses that give you a broad sample of the region’s cooking.

You begin with a soup. The exact soup is not specified, but it provides a simple opening course and a chance to try the wine pairing before the more substantial dishes arrive.

Next comes an Alsatian meat pie. Regional meat pies are a useful introduction to the hearty side of Alsatian food, and this course gives the meal a more substantial center than a tasting-room snack.

You’ll also receive a plate of different cheeses. This is another place where the wine pairings matter. Cheese can make a wine taste quite different from how it tasted during the cellar tasting, so pay attention to the change as the meal progresses.

Dessert includes two Alsatian specialties: a slice of kougelhopf and Bibeleskaes. Kougelhopf is a ring-shaped Alsatian yeast cake, while Bibeleskaes is a creamy Alsatian fromage blanc. Together, they provide a sweet finish and a fresh dairy element.

Coffee or tea rounds out the meal. The published lunch details also say coffee will finish the cellar visit, so you can expect a hot drink near the end of the experience.

The projection-filled dining room

The meal is served in a new restaurant space designed around the relationship between wine and tourism. Lounge music plays while images are projected onto the walls, creating a more theatrical setting than a standard winery lunchroom.

Some people will enjoy this added atmosphere, especially if you like a meal with a visual element. Others may prefer a quieter, more traditional dining room. The projections are part of the concept, so keep that in mind if you are seeking a plain cellar meal with little decoration.

The room gives the lunch a distinct finish, but the food remains the main reason to choose this experience. You are not simply watching a presentation. You are eating several regional dishes and tasting wine with them.

Is $74 a fair price?

At $74 per person, the price includes the guided cellar tour, wine tasting, regional lunch, coffee or tea, dessert, brochures, and information about Alsace. That is a solid package if you already want both a winery visit and a meal.

The value is especially clear for someone who would otherwise pay separately for a tasting and lunch. You also avoid the problem of finding a restaurant that serves several Alsatian specialties in one sitting. The meal covers soup, meat pie, cheese, kougelhopf, and Bibeleskaes, giving you more than a small snack with your wine.

The price is less compelling if you only want to sample a few wines or if you prefer to choose your own lunch. This is a set experience, so you are paying for the complete combination of cellar visit, guided explanation, paired food, and dining-room presentation.

It is also worth remembering that bottles purchased as souvenirs are not listed as included. Budget separately if you plan to bring wine home.

Vegetarian and children’s options

Vegetarian options are available, but you need to request one in advance. Do not assume the standard meal can be changed at the last minute. Mention your preference when booking.

Children can receive a separate menu with knacks, vegetable chips, a drink, and dessert. You can also choose not to register children in advance and allow them to select a menu on the spot.

Children do not take part in the wine tasting, since participants must be at least 18. The family-friendly meal option makes it possible to include children, but the central focus remains wine production and adult tasting.

Timing, language, and practical planning

The full experience lasts 2.5 hours, with about one hour for the cellar tour and one hour for the regional meal. The remaining time covers the tasting, transitions, and the end of the visit.

Starting times vary, so check availability before you build the rest of your day around it. Since the visit begins and ends in Gertwiller, it fits well into a driving route through the Alsace wine area. It is less convenient if you need a tour that collects you from Strasbourg or another nearby town, since no pickup service is included in the supplied details.

A live guide conducts the tour in French or English. That is useful if you want to ask questions while walking through the cellar rather than rely only on printed material.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Alsace schedule is still shifting.

Who will enjoy this winery visit most

I would choose this experience if you want several parts of Alsace in one compact outing: wine, cellar history, regional food, and a family producer. It is a good fit for couples, small groups, and adults who want a relaxed introduction to local wine without committing to a full-day wine route.

It also suits food-minded visitors. The meal is not an afterthought. The menu moves from soup to meat pie, cheese, and two regional desserts, with wine alongside each dish.

You may want a different experience if you want to visit several wineries, compare many producers, or spend hours walking among vineyards. This visit stays in one winery and lasts 2.5 hours. It gives you a focused look at one family’s production rather than a broad survey of Alsace.

The projection-filled restaurant may appeal to you if you like a lively setting. If you want silence and a very traditional meal, that part may feel more designed than necessary.

Should you book Au Péché Vigneron?

Book it if you want a well-priced half-day introduction to Alsatian wine and food. The old barrels, organic production, family history since 1778, and substantial regional lunch give the visit more substance than a basic tasting.

I would especially recommend it for a first visit to the Alsace wine area or for anyone traveling by car through Gertwiller. Request the vegetarian menu in advance, arrive at the wooden cube entrance by the large parking lot, and leave room in your budget for bottles if you want souvenirs.

Skip it if your priority is a flexible restaurant meal, a large selection of independent wineries, or a tour that includes transportation from your hotel. For everyone else, $74 buys a neatly timed combination of cellar access, wine, food, and local context.

FAQ

Where does the Alsatian wine tasting tour take place?

The experience takes place at Au Péché Vigneron in Gertwiller, at 156 Route de Strasbourg in the Grand Est region of France.

How long does the experience last?

The full activity lasts 2.5 hours. The guided cellar tour takes about one hour, and the regional food portion takes about one hour.

What languages are available?

The live tour guide speaks French or English.

What is included in the price?

The price includes Alsatian wine, the guided cellar tour, brochures, information about the Alsace region, lunch, coffee or tea, and dessert.

What food is served at lunch?

The meal includes soup, an Alsatian meat pie, a selection of cheeses, a slice of kougelhopf, Bibeleskaes, and coffee or tea. Wine accompanies each dish.

Are vegetarian meals available?

Yes. Vegetarian options are available, but you need to specify your request in advance.

Can children join the experience?

Yes. Children can have a menu with knacks, vegetable chips, a drink, and dessert. They do not participate in the wine tasting, which is limited to people age 18 and older.

Is parking available?

Yes. You should stay on the main road and park in the large parking lot. The entrance is across the street, in a wooden cube between a purple house and a blue house.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The experience also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.