Wettolsheim Wine Festival

A Wine Tradition of Over Half a Century

For over fifty years, the village of Wettolsheim, located a few kilometers southwest of Colmar on the prestigious Alsace Wine Route, has celebrated its wine tradition every summer during the Wine Festival. Organized by the CLOSA (Liaison and Organization Committee of Societies and Associations), this event has become a must-attend for lovers of Alsatian wines and traditional folklore. The village, renowned for the quality of its terroirs, produces remarkable wines that are the pride of its winemakers.

Saturday Evening: Festive Atmosphere and Tastings

The festivities begin on Saturday evening from 6 PM with the opening of tasting stands set up in the village streets and on the Town Hall square. Wettolsheim winemakers offer their best vintages — Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Sylvaner, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir — in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Several regional orchestras take turns animating the evening, offering varied musical ambiances that invite dancing. Food stalls offer Alsatian specialties: tarte flambée, pretzels, charcuterie, and other local delicacies.

Sunday's Folk Parade

The highlight of the festival is the traditional folk parade that winds through the streets of Wettolsheim on Sunday from 3:30 PM. This colorful procession brings together about fifteen associations and musical groups (cliques) from the village and surrounding areas, in traditional Alsatian costumes. Decorated floats, brass bands, folk dance groups, and majorettes parade through the flower-lined alleys of the village to the applause of the public. This parade perpetuates Alsatian traditions and is a key moment of village conviviality.

Fireworks and Family Atmosphere

Sunday continues with festive meals under a marquee, accompanied by regional music and entertainment for the whole family. The day ends in apotheosis with a grand fireworks display around 10:30 PM, illuminating the surrounding vineyards. The family-friendly and authentic atmosphere of this village festival, far from large commercial events, attracts thousands of visitors each year who come to share the passion of Wettolsheim winemakers for their terroir.

Wettolsheim, an Exceptional Wine Village

Wettolsheim is a typical wine village on the Alsace Wine Route, nestled at the foot of the sub-Vosges hills. Its half-timbered houses, winstubs, and tasting cellars bear witness to a long winemaking tradition. The village benefits from an exceptional terroir, with varied soils that allow for the production of a wide range of very fine Alsace wines. The Wine Festival is the ideal opportunity to discover these oenological treasures in their natural setting.