Marlenheim.

Marlenheim marks the northern start of the Alsace Wine Route, where the region's vineyards begin. Known locally as the "Cité du Vin Rouge" for its red wine, the town is one of the few places in Alsace where Pinot Noir outweighs the usual white grapes. Rows of vines rise on the hills around the town centre, feeding small domaines.

The town itself keeps a quiet, working pace. Wine cellars open for tastings, and local bistros serve dishes built around regional produce, from choucroute to baeckeoffe, poured alongside the wine grown just outside. Paths wind out through the vineyards and into the wooded hills beyond, giving open views back over the rooftops of Marlenheim.

The vine calendar shapes the year here: buds break in spring, the vines fill out through summer, and harvest arrives in September, when the presses start running and the town's rhythm quickens. Marlenheim stays modest in scale — a working wine town, not a showcase one — and makes a grounded starting point for exploring Alsace's wine country.