Our first stop was our winemaker in Mittelberhheim, Jean-Pierre Rietsch and the family, parents Pierre and Doris and sister Anne-Lise. We arranged a tasting for Monday and then carried on to the Kastelberg hotel in the next village, Andlau.
We have been visiting this part of Alsace for more than 20 years and it's very much like returning home. We visit the same restaurants, hotels and vigneron and look around to see what has changed so the first thing was a walk around the village. There had obviously been plenty of rain because the rivers were full.
We retired to the hotel terrace for a beer before dinner. We were very much hoping that Andre, owner and chef of the Kastelberg, would have his asparagus menu available, it being the right time of year - we were not disappointed. We started with asparagus soup followed by asparagus wrapped in ham
and then creme brûlée to finish. The restaurant was full and the staff were kept busy. As with our vigneron, the hotel is a family establishment with father and son, Andre and Phillippe in the kitchen, and wife and sister-in-law, Nichole and Joelle serving.
When we first visited this hotel, we noticed that one table, tucked in the corner, that was always reserved for guests known to the owners. Usually it was an older couple and we assumed that these were regular visitors. After so many years, we are now included in the class of regulars and are seated at this table and brought a complementary aperitif.
The next morning, Sunday, we set out for a walk armed with a packed lunch from Andre which would feed an army! We had no particular plan in mind, so set out in the direction of Barr which is the other side of Mittelbergheim, through the vines and into the forest. This photo overlooks Andlau with the plane across to Germany in the distance.
In the forest, we passed the Chapelle St Anne, or what is left of it
The forest here is always fascinating and rather Tolkeinesque to me.
Heiligenstein was our next stop where we know that Jean Pierre has some vines.
The grape grown in this small area is Klevener de Heiligenstein, also known as Savagnin Rose. The grape is only allowed to be grown in a small number of villages near here.
We then turned towards Barr on our way back and where we stopped for a late lunch.
We paused in Barr for a cup of tea and admired these impressive ice cream cakes.
By now, Pat had developed a blister and so we returned to the hotel and ate there that evening.
Pat and John on tour
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