The Museum of Alsatian Wines, known as Vino Storia, is on the Place de la Cathédrale in the old town, and it offers a compact introduction to the history and character of the region's wine. The entry ticket includes an audio guide that leads you through the story, and the visit finishes with a tasting, which makes it a convenient way to try Alsace wine without leaving the centre. Alsace is unusual among French wine regions because it labels most of its wines by grape variety rather than by village, and it makes mostly dry white wines from Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Muscat, plus Pinot Noir and sparkling Crémant. A museum visit is the ideal place to understand those labels before you head to the vineyards or order at dinner. It is open every day from ten to six according to the booking page, so it also works as a flexible plan on a rainy afternoon or a cold winter evening. The visit is gentle and suits adults and curious teenagers alike, and it sits next to the Choco Story museum, so the two can be combined in an afternoon.
What the visit covers
The museum traces how wine shaped Alsace, from medieval monastic vineyards to modern organic producers, and explains how the soils of the Vosges foothills, the sunny, dry climate and the grape varieties combine. The tasting at the end lets you compare styles, and the staff can answer practical questions about what to buy and how to read a label. Treat it as an orientation rather than a cellar-door experience.
Making the most of it
Go on the first day of a visit, so you can use what you learn at dinner and on the Wine Route. If you plan a village day trip, the museum is a good warm-up the evening before. It pairs well with a longer tasting at a family estate in the villages, where you can meet the person who made the wine.
The museum is small, so it is easy to fit between the Unterlinden Museum and lunch, and it is a good choice with a mixed group, since non-drinkers can join the tour and the audio guide without the tasting.
Practicalities
The entry ticket with audio guide and tasting costs a modest amount, and the tasting is for adults of legal drinking age. Children can generally join the visit, but check the rules at the door. The booking page shows availability for the same day, but in December it is wise to book ahead. If you want to take bottles home, ask the staff about shipping or the rules for carrying wine in hand luggage. For a longer tasting, join a half-day wine tour from Colmar or visit a family estate in a nearby village.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided museum visit with an audio guide, finishing with a wine tasting.
Best time
Any afternoon or evening, ideally early in your trip so the knowledge helps at dinner and on the Wine Route.
How long
About an hour.
Tips
Book ahead in December, bring ID if you look young, and ask the staff for recommendations to buy.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Wine beginners and anyone who wants an easy, central tasting.
- Families
- Children can usually join the museum part; the tasting is for adults.
- Couples
- A relaxed hour with a glass before dinner.
- Pair with
- Choco Story next door, the Unterlinden Museum and dinner in the old town.
- Time needed
- One hour.
Good questions
What does the ticket include?+
The entry ticket includes an audio guide tour and a tasting at the end of the visit. Check the booking page for the current details.
Where is it?+
It is on the Place de la Cathédrale in the centre of Colmar, close to the old-town sights and the Choco Story museum.
When is it open?+
The booking page lists daily opening from 10:00 to 18:00. Confirm the hours for your date, especially around holidays.
Is it suitable for non-drinkers?+
Yes. The museum and audio guide are enjoyable without the tasting, though the tasting is the main extra.
Is it a replacement for a Wine Route tour?+
No. It is a good introduction, but a village day trip or an estate visit gives you vineyards and producers.
