Molsheim opens 66th Fête du raisin with wine tasting and exhibitions

The 66th Fête du raisin opens in Molsheim from October 9 to October 11, bringing three days of wine tasting, a flea market, fruit exhibitions, and live schlager music around the Hôtel de la Monnaie. Final grape harvests wrap up in the local vineyards as the annual community celebration gets underway.

Low Grape Yields Produce Delicate Aromatic Wines

Viticulturist Philippe Heitz is still harvesting parcels of muscat and gewurztraminer, hoping to reach the sugar levels required for late harvest or selective berry sorting designations. The growing season featured a hot summer, early grape-picking dates, and lower overall yields across the region. Even so, the fermenting juices in local cellars point toward delicate and aromatic wines.

Other agricultural sectors faced starkly different yields this season. Pierre Schertzer, president of the arboriculturists, reports that cherry and mirabelle harvests were generous, but apple production proved catastrophic with small and scarce fruit. The Verexal from Obernai and the Rothgerber farm from Traenheim are supplying iconic golden apples, while the Saint-Blaise biodynamic farm from Valff contributes pumpkins, tomatoes, and autumn vegetables to the annual fruit and vegetable display at the Coulaux cellar.

Jean-Pierre Augst, secretary general of the Strasbourg mycological society, notes a similar drop in mushroom foraging yields. We usually present 400 species, this year we will only have about a hundred, Augst said. The society will host themed tables displaying edible and toxic mushroom families and offer identification services for casual foragers.

Tasting Events and the 2026 Grape Queen Election

Festivities kick off Friday at 8 p.m. at the Espace St-Joseph with an unconventional wine-tasting evening featuring unexpected pairings designed by caterer Azevedo. The event includes musical accompaniment from the duo Ça ne manque pas d’air. Tickets cost 20 euros with limited seating and mandatory reservations via email at comfete.molsheim@orange.fr.

Following the agricultural exhibitions and food displays, the weekend culminates in the election of the 2026 Grape Queen. Eight candidates are in the running to succeed Laurine during a Saturday evening dance ball featuring music from the Rosy Stars orchestra and catering by Les Bretzel bleus.

Sunday Markets, Choucroute, and Nico Names in Concert

Sunday features a dense schedule starting with a flea market and autumn rummage sale organized by the Lions Club of Molsheim Vallée de la Bruche. René Eck notes that about 40 exhibitors had registered by early October, approaching the roughly 80 stands seen in 2025. Online reservations through HelloAsso remain open until the eve of the event depending on available space.

The day’s schedule includes a 10 a.m. mass at the Jesuit church, followed by the queen’s weighing ceremony and a traditional welcoming drink on the parvis of the Hôtel de la Monnaie at 11:30 a.m. Visitors can purchase choucroute meals from Les Bretzel bleus ahead of afternoon tea dances with the Marley Brown orchestra and fruit and mushroom exhibitions running from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Alsatian singer Nico Names headlines the afternoon schedule at 4:30 p.m. Fresh from performances at the Paradis des Sources in Soultzmatt, the schlager artist brings his extensive repertoire to Molsheim to close out the weekend events.