The Alsace Wine Route by gravel: an adventure between vineyards and villages
- Jérémie Bourquenez
- Mar 7
- 4 min read
The Alsace Wine Route, famous for its picture-postcard landscapes, flower-filled villages, and renowned vineyards, is an ideal playground for cycling enthusiasts. But what if you explored it in a different way? On a gravel bike, between picturesque roads, cycle paths, and vineyard trails, the experience becomes both sporty and contemplative. It's also an excellent idea for a holiday with your family or your friends!
Why ride the Alsace Wine Route by gravel bike?
The gravel bike stands out for its versatility. Halfway between a road bike and a mountain bike, it allows you to easily switch between tarmac, gravel, forest tracks, or vineyard trails. This is perfect: in Alsace, marked routes run alongside less-traveled paths, ideal for those who love exploring.
A road bike would be limited to paved cycle paths or main roads, and a mountain bike would be too heavy and unsuitable for long distances. But a gravel bike offers total freedom. You can create your own route, combining rolling landscapes, cultural discoveries, and gourmet breaks in Alsatian villages without worrying about uneven surfaces.
The Alsace Wine Route: a journey between tradition and nature
The Alsace Wine Route stretches for over 170 km, from north (Marlenheim) to south (Thann), passing through more than 70 iconic wine-growing villages. It is one of the most renowned wine tourism routes in Europe. It coincides with the EuroVelo 5 cycle route.
But you don't necessarily have to do everything at once to fully enjoy it! The section between Rouffach, Colmar, and Ribeauvillé, for example, is perfect for one or three days of gravel discovery, depending on your pace and level.
Here are some key stops not to miss when you're gravel biking the Alsace Wine Route:
Eguisheim: listed among the most beautiful villages in France, its cobbled streets are best explored on foot. However, gravel paths that run alongside the vineyards can be taken right outside the village.
Turckheim and Wintzenheim: just a stone's throw from Colmar, these wine-growing villages immerse you in a typical Alsatian atmosphere. Several unpaved farm tracks connect the vineyards in complete tranquility.
Kaysersberg , Riquewihr , Hunawihr: a charming trio, accessible via mixed trails and winding country roads, perfect for gravel biking. Be warned: some sections can be steep, but the views are well worth the effort.
The routes are easily customizable according to your desires: a day loop starting from Colmar, a multi-day circuit with accommodation in gites, or a more intense sporting getaway.
Where exactly to ride? Some route suggestions
Gravel biking allows you to get off the beaten track and explore less-traveled routes. Here are a few popular sections along the Alsace Wine Route:
Hattstatt – Gueberschwihr – Rouffach – Westhalten – Hattstatt loop: approximately 35 km, alternating between vineyard paths and small roads. Ideal for a half-day.
Colmar – Eguisheim – Husseren-les-Châteaux – Voegtlinshoffen – Wintzenheim – Colmar: a beautiful loop of approximately 40 km, perfect for admiring the vineyards and enjoying a glass of Riesling at the end of the route.
Noble Valley Circuit: starting from Soultzmatt, passing through Osenbach and the heights of Westhalten. Some very nice gravel sections for more experienced cyclists.
For the more adventurous, it is possible to combine the Wine Route with trails in the foothills of the Vosges, or even climb up to the Petit Ballon or the Col du Firstplan by gravel bike, to combine vineyards and mountains.
And what about logistics?
If you do not own a gravel bike or are coming from far away, the simplest solution is to rent gravel bikes on site.
At Alsace Gravel Bike, we offer recent, high-performance, and comfortable WELT gravel bikes, available in 5 meeting points between Eguisheim and Rouffach, or delivered directly to your accommodation (on request, for an additional fee, within a 10 km radius). Whether you're riding solo, as a couple, or with friends, we'll equip you with everything you need: a ready-to-ride bike, a repair kit, a helmet if needed, and route advice.
Remember to book in advance, especially between May and September, the ideal time to enjoy the good weather, the light, the green vineyards and the restaurants terraces!
Finally, note that if you prefer to ride a road bike, we also offer road tire rentals which will be mounted directly on the gravel bike you rent.
In summary
Exploring the Alsace Wine Route by gravel bike is choosing a different approach to tourism. More freedom, closer to the landscapes, more fluid. You get away from the crowds, you weave between the vineyards, you climb hidden paths, and you discover a more intimate Alsace.
Whether you're a wine enthusiast, a cycling fanatic, or simply curious and looking for nature and charming villages, gravel biking is the perfect way to get around. Book your gravel bike with Alsace Gravel Bike and set off with peace of mind… and properly inflated tires.
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