Olivier Nasti is a force of nature: holder of the prestigious “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” title, two-star chef at La Table d’Olivier Nasti, the restaurant at the 5-star Chambard hotel in Kaysersberg, and a fervent advocate of his local produce. His top picks speak of his love of both Alsace and his profession. Interview with an enthusiast...

How do you remain on top form? What’s your secret?

Nature. We work in a tough profession, with a punishing schedule. To charge up with the energy I need to get through the day I climb the peaks at Orbey, near Kaysersberg. It looks amazing in the snow!

Of all your recipes, which is your favourite?           

I’ve always worked with wild game in my restaurant, La Table d’Olivier Nasti. It’s a tradition here in Alscace and I’m a huge fan of this particular meat. It’s lean, and has lots of potential. I work with the entire animal, but with finesse and apply a light touch. Haunch of venison is delicious as carpaccio served with a wood sorrel mayonnaise. I also prepare a foie gras and black truffle pie with shoulder of venison, a recipe inspired by the final of the Meilleur Ouvrier de France competition. I serve it with a purée made with a Christine Ferber baerewaecka, a nod to Alsace, as well as mushrooms, spinach and a light sauce.

Which wine would you recommend?

With wild game, it has to be a red Pinot Noir from Alsace*!

 (Remarks taken from Zut magazine!)

 *Red Pinot Noir is one-of-a-kind in Alsace, a region renowned for its white wines. Fleshy, well-structured, with a delicate red colour and a taste of its terroir, Pinot Noir pairs perfectly with red meats and wild game. This is a tasting must!

Set off along the stunning scenery of the Alsace Wine Route and explore the secrets of the vineyard on some unforgettable walks

Discover the wine paths

Head off the beaten track and spend some quality time with friends or family as you enjoy this special fun-packed break. Meet friendly local winemakers in stunningly picturesque countryside and become an expert on the Wine of Alsace and its terroirs and grape varieties. Whether you prefer two wheels or your own two feet, plunge into the winemaking world as you follow one of the fifty or so signposted walking or cycling paths. You’ll be blown away by the know-how of the local winemakers who delight in sharing their wines during tastings at any time of year.

Amazing experiences on the Alsace Wine Route

Every day is different on the Alsace Wine Route because each trail is unique and offers a host of activities. Why not try the amazing Geocaching experience in Pfaffenheim, in the heart of the vineyard, and enjoy a treasure hunt with a modern twist aimed at young and old alike. Or transform yourself into a wandering artist as you learn to sketch the landscape while walking the Andlau trail. These fun walks are a great way to discover Alsace at your own pace during a family day out.

With its tiny bunches of grapes and thick-skinned black seeds, Pinot Meunier - or simply Meunier to its fans - is the grape variety grown in one third of the Champagne region.

Nevertheless, for some obscure reason Meunier is the least favoured of the Champagne varieties. Rare indeed are the winemakers producing 100% Meunier varietals, except on the slopes of Vallée la Marne and most notably in the Champagne Dom Caudron vineyard. Situated 30km south-west of Reims, this co-operative of 130 hectares has concentrated on the Meunier varietal since 1929. The vineyard offers an advanced oenological course focused on 'vins clairs' and champagnes made from their favourite grape varieties. The estate also offers excellent guided tours during the wine harvest. If you want to be one of the first to know about future trends in the world of Champagne, then this is the place for you.

Those who have already experienced one know that a golfing break in wine-growing country generally involves lining up the local beverages as well as your golf shots!

On that principle, 2 golf courses and 3 hotels around Pouilly-Fuissé have joined forces to offer mixed breaks combining two green fees with a one night stay. The La Salle and La Commanderie golf courses both have wooded, immersive grounds and a wine bar as the Club House. The three hotels participating in the offer also play up the local Chardonnay and other Bourgogne wines. This is particularly the case at Château de Besseuil in Clessé where not only do you get to spend the night in a working vineyard, but you can also attend one of their tasting and introduction to wine sessions in their own œnothèque. Warning: significant risk of crooked putts.

The Roche de Solutré is above all a remarkable viewing point, exhilarating even.

The Mâcon vineyards in the foreground, the Saône valley, the Alps and Mont Blanc on a clear day…. A veritable feast for the eyes of the adventurous explorer that you are and not just at the summit. The climb offers amazing effects of perspective, as the Roche de Vergisson, (the Roche de Solutré's little sister), seems to move throughout the ascent. The 45 minute walk, starting in the village of Solutré-Puilly, is quite demanding. After a good work-out for your knees, next stop is a work-out for your elbow at the Atrium in Solutré's village square. This convivial wine cellar designed by the Pouilly Fuissé wine-producers promises in one tasting to bring you on a tour of 4 villages, 15 types of soil, 200 climates and 250 producers of the appellation. A great spot.

People say that Chusclan is the most Provençal of the Languedoc villages.

Logical really, since the only thing between it and Provence is the Rhône. When you arrive, park in the village car-park. It's time to dust off your walking shoes. The short walk to Château de Gicon is an olfactory and visual exercise that will titillate your quadriceps. The castle's architecture - more of a fortress really - bears witness to numerous past owners. Built on the site of a Gallo-Roman villa, the fortress was influential in the Middle Ages and according to legend, it even played host to Saint Louis on his way to the Crusades. At the top, the impressive panorama encompasses the Rhône valley, the Cèze valley and four provinces: Languedoc, Provence, Auvergne and Dauphiné.

The winemakers of Chusclan have been working on the rehabilitation of the site for about forty years. And for good reason. At the bottom of the cliffs, the base of the castle plunges into Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre vines, the three great varieties of the Chusclan appelation. An interestiing point to note is that the 12 hectares of vineyard below the château undergo a separate vinification in order to produce the atypical cuvée Château de Gicon.

A first-class culture and wine holiday in Chablis. 

Day one: Arrival late morning, just in time for a bite to eat in one of the village’s wine bars. Next it's off to see the vines, because that’s partly why you’re here, right? Head to Domaine Guy Robin for a perfect example of a local producer. Vineyard visit with the owner then a tasting of the Chablis, Premier Cru and Grand Cru. The cellar is vaulted, the winemaker is independent and the welcome is warm and friendly. 
Then it's time to drop off your luggage in a bed and breakfast before heading to Le Clos restaurant with its warm and elegant atmosphere. The food menu contains carefully selected dishes and the accompanying wine list is extensive.

Day two: Start with a morning of time travel as you visit the world’s oldest Cistercian abbey, the Abbaye de Fontenay, included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Opt for the guided tour to immerse yourself in the 13th century monk-like atmosphere. Then prepare for your homeward journey with a meal at La Mirabelle in Saint-Rémy, featured in the Michelin Guide 2015. Excellent regional dishes set against an exposed brick decor.

We’re steering you towards La Maison du Colombier in Beaune because the owner, Roland Chanliaud, his new and completely revamped gastro-bar is a mirror image of his epicurean vision.

Stone walls, black paint, crystal chandeliers. You’re torn between flopping into a period armchair or standing at the bar to keep the chef company. And while the setting is elegant, the food isn’t too bad either. Because even though Roland will be the last one to tell you, he’s an important figure on the local gastronomic scene. With 22 years of experience at two and three star restaurants under his belt, he picked up this ultimate accolade himself at his former restaurant in 1996. At La Maison du Colombier he has more freedom to pick and choose produce that interests him. So there’s no menu, just a changing variety of daily inspirations. We’ve heard talk of amazing organic eggs en cocotte with thin slices of Bourgogne truffles. It’s an unmissable part of any visit to Beaune.

Château Lamothe-Bergeron has a couple of famous neighbours, Margaux and Saint-Julien, and some great ideas too.

In 2013, Managing Director Laurent Mery decided to change the way visitors experienced the estate, lock, (vine) stock and barrel, and with impressive results. Light effects, holograms projected onto vats and an easy and relaxed script are all used to make wine-making more accessible and put beginners at ease. Projecting images onto an object used in the alchemy of wine-making is ambitious but effective. Even children love it. After the tasting, it’s off with the shoes for an on-site picnic. Wicker basket, tablecloth, country loaf, terrine, saucisson, cheese and the estate’s Cru Bourgeois followed by cannelés for dessert, all set within the Château’s park. Worth a photo, wouldn’t you say?