Fête des Vendanges d'Ammerschwihr

The Ammerschwihr Grape Harvest Festival

Ammerschwihr, a charming wine-growing village on the Alsace Wine Route, celebrates the harvest each September. The Ammerschwihr Cultural and Festive Association (ACFA) organizes the evening at the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, centered around a traditional harvester's meal and new wine. The last three announced dates have all fallen on a Saturday: September 16, 2023, September 20, 2025, and September 12, 2026.

The Harvester's Meal under the Marquee

The festivities begin at 6:00 PM under a large marquee set up in the square. The harvester's menu includes new wine, charcuterie, walnuts, tarte flambée, and desserts. Live music provides the soundtrack for the evening. The ACFA posters specifically ask attendees to bring their own nutcracker.

Children's Grape Picking and Pressing

Some past editions have started earlier in the afternoon. In 2023, the event began at 5:00 PM at the vineyard garden near the Porte Haute, where children participated in grape picking. The harvest was then brought in a procession to the town hall square, where the grapes were pressed and the fresh juice was enjoyed by all. For 2025 and 2026, the ACFA has only announced the 6:00 PM start time.

Ammerschwihr, City of the Three Blackbirds

Ammerschwihr, nicknamed the "City of the Three Blackbirds," is a key stop on the Alsace Wine Route. First mentioned in 869 as Amalrici Villare, the town preserves historical landmarks like the Tour des Bourgeois (1535), the Tour des Fripons (1535), a Renaissance town hall (1552), and its church, all reflecting its 16th-century heritage. Although 85% of the town was destroyed during the Battle of the Colmar Pocket in 1944-1945, it was carefully rebuilt after the war.

The Grand Cru Kaefferkopf

The Ammerschwihr vineyards are dominated by the Grand Cru Kaefferkopf, whose name means "beetle's head" in the Alsatian dialect. In 1932, the Colmar court legally recognized the Kaefferkopf as Alsace's first protected vineyard site, forty years before the creation of the AOC Alsace Grand Cru. Classified as a Grand Cru in 2007, it spans 71 hectares of hillsides, primarily planted with Gewurztraminer and Riesling.