Liberté, liberté, liberté, LIBERTÉ

Statue of Liberty located on Ellis Island NYC? Nope, this lady of liberty is in the middle of a traffic circle in Colmar, France. Titled, “Liberty Enlightening the World” is the historical sculpture and the symbol of collaboration between America and France.

Colmar is a nice stop along route des vins d'alsac

​The French sculptor, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, was commissioned to represent the 1876 Centennial of the American Declaration of Independence commemoration. Bartholdi’s house, now a museum, artistically curates the man behind the international icon, the Statue of Liberty.

The artist designed the Statue of Liberty’s face to resemble his mother. 

The Alsatian wine capital, Colmar, is nestled in the borders between France, Germany and Switzerland. Colmar is also known as La Petite Venise (the Little Venice) because of the many colorful canals running through town. You will also find local retail shops accessorized with images of Liberty Enlightening the World.

​The local wine glass, verre a’ Alsacien. Bouteille de vin d’ Alsace 
The wines from Alsace have their own shaped bottles.

The cool climate, Alsace wine region, is known for producing top tier Grands and Premiers Crus status wines. This region is known for their certified organic/biodynamic viniculture and they produce exciting wines. The vintners are creative and experimental such as implementing cold fermentation and whole cluster fermentation practices to their winemaking.
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Many bone dry Riesling enjoyers prefer Alsatian Riesling because of their brisk minerality and low alcohol levels making it a nice wine. Their Pinot Noir have cool climate character, which reflects its terroir.

Pedigree and lineage run through the vines of Alsatian Riesling. For example, 12th Generation Trimbach Winery, in the cute and colorful town of Ribeauville, sells their world renown wines and their bottle of Riesling can retail for easily over $300. Also, there are Coq au Riesling, the local Riesling, and many producers of Rieslings in between the two ends of wide spectrum.

Many noteworthy grapes d’ Alsace include Muscat, Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer and too many others to name. Many of these grapes are produced  still, sparkling, vin rose or/and dessert wines.
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Sparkling wines from this wine region is Cremant d’ Alsace, also made in the méthode champenoise except their effervescent is a bit less bubby than a full-on sparkling wine from Champagne.

A wine glass chandelier, how clever.

So many cute towns and delicious  food & drink along the wine road  ​

​Art Nouveau style bistros, these are a few of my favorite things.

 Yesterday’s merchant warehouses are today’s local indoor markets. Real men don’t eat quiche? That saying does not apply here in the city of Lorraine. One pleasure is picking up local farm to table things such as quiche lorraine, cheese and a bottle of wine.

The 18th C English Enlightener’s two-year residence while working on his ‘Annales de l’Empire

Local wines paired with local cheeses. Enjoying Munster cheese in Munster, France. Cheese, Cheese, Cheese, Munster is another quaint picturesque town along the Route des Vins d Alsace.  

​Betschdorf and Soufflenheim are some towns along the Alsatian wine road known for quality pottery. Beautiful, sturdy and utilitarian for use of everyday cooking and baking.  

Strasbourg, another stop along the wine road and is known for their annual wine festival.  SALON DES VINS DES VIGNERONS INDÉPENDANT

For the military history buffs, the Maginot line is a remarkable must-see!

Wherever we hang in Europe, we magically seem to end our day with a nightcap at the local Irish pubs.

Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World is a historic symbol across the Seven Seas