We got up early on 1/5 to start down La Route Des Vins D'Alsace (The Alsace Wine Road). For one thing, we had a long drive ahead of us; for another, it was a Monday and we had to remove the car from the St. Thomas Church parking lot or risk another ticket. Anyway, we got on our way, and got lost time and again trying to follow the shifting signs hidden along the winding streets... a much harder drive than Germany's Romantische Strasse. Christine's navigational skills saved the day again, as she'd get us back on the road by following the Christine© Route (more winding yet less touristy). Maybe it just wasn't the right season to do this trip. Still, we gave it a shot, and even managed to buy some wine from a grumpy French lady (who was less grumpy than another winemaker who told us to come back after his lunch hour). All our photos are from 1/5.

Marlenheim
The start of our drive down the wine road - what, grapes don't grow in the winter? Maybe that's why the information center and demonstration vineyard are closed. Christine demonstrates the French attitude... C'est la vie (that's life).

Marlenheim
The Alsatian landscape.

Mittelbergheim (central mountain home)
Vineyards (panorama).

Mittelbergheim
Vineyards (panorama).

Mittelbergheim
Vineyards and the castle Haut Andlau (high Andlau; Andlau is a nearby village) (panorama).

Mittelbergheim
Vineyards (panorama).

Mittelbergheim
Vineyards (panorama).

Mittelbergheim
Vineyards (panorama).

Mittelbergheim
Christine holds up our precious wine road map; in the background, the castle Haut Andlau.

Mittelbergheim
A beautiful landscape with village houses, vineyards, and the castle Haut Andlau.

Maison des Vins (House of Wines), Colmar
Christine in front of the wine press in the parking lot. Colmar is the wine capital of Alsace, and the Maison des Vins is the hi-tech center of the Alsace wine industry (primarily for trade, not tourism).