Make A Wine River Cruise Your Next Adventure

Perhaps you are an expert in world varietals, or simply someone who enjoys a good glass of merlot paired with the right cheese, and the right view. Either way, if you love wine and traveling, a wine river cruise is the ultimate experience to add to your bucket list, and this post is meant to show you why – and how to book the one for you!

Wine Regions at Your Doorstep

For wine enthusiasts, Europe is quite a destination with its rolling vineyards steeped in history and tradition. Wine river cruises in Europe offer the perfect blend of exploration and relaxation, making them a must-add to any wine lover’s bucket list.

With brands such as AmaWaterways, Viking Cruises, and Uniworld taking you around the idyllic waterways of Europe’s most celebrated wine regions, the choices are endless!

Glide through the sun-drenched valleys of the Rhine in Germany, where you’ll encounter the crisp Rieslings and rich Pinot Noirs. Explore the majestic Douro Valley in Portugal, famed for its fortified Port wines. Savor the romance of France’s wine regions, from the elegant wines of Bordeaux to the robust reds of the Rhône Valley. Each of the best wine river cruises’ itineraries has been meticulously crafted by experts, immersing you in the heart of these prominent winemaking areas.

Beyond the Grape: The Best Wine River Cruises In Europe

Wine river cruises go beyond simply transporting you from one vineyard to the next. These immersive journeys weave wine education into the very fabric of your experience. 

Chat with your ship’s expert sommeliers about the various grape varietals you will find in your journey. Visit family vineyards to learn about centuries-old winemaking techniques and the unique terroir of each region. 

Make your shore excursions a delightful wine adventure, with guided tours of historic wineries, tastings led by passionate winemakers, and exclusive access to private cellars.

You will see, wine river cruises are not just about the destination; they’re about the journey itself. 

Sure, wine does take center stage but these cruises all offer a well-rounded European experience. Onboard, you get luxurious amenities, impeccable service, and gourmet dining experiences. Off-board, the day is spent exploring charming towns and historic cities along the riverbanks.

AmaWaterways Wine River Cruises

We recently had the pleasure of hosting a Wine Trivia Event with AmaWaterways, in which our guests had a chance to test their knowledge about wines, while learning about the brand’s unique itineraries and service. Did you watch it? If not, make sure to go to the recording right here.

During this event we learned that AmaWaterways is the first cruise company to be part of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, a private culinary society by invitation only, guaranteeing not only the quality of the dishes served and their wine pairings but also details such as presentation. 

Onboard AmaWaterways’ wine river cruise itineraries, expect all plates served to be market-to-table fresh, featuring prime selections of ingredients from the regions visited.

You’re visiting Budapest and eating beef goulash? Obviously, it will be served with a prime wine from the region. 

Offering up to six complimentary shore excursions in every destination visited: AmaWaterways’ guests get everything from walking tours to biking experiences, with no more than twenty guests per tour guide.

Out of their various itineraries, I could personally recommend a 7-night Taste of Bordeaux wine river cruise, departing from Bilbao, Spain, with an added two-night pre-cruise package, where you can enjoy a Grand Cru Classé wine tasting in Libourne, or a Château Boutinet hike with wine and tapas tasting.

Viking Wine River Cruises

If you want to learn in-depth about wines, Viking River Cruises offers particular itineraries meant to dive you deep into some of the finest wine regions in the world. 

Their “Culinary Discovery” cruises are a signature offering, in which food and wine are intricately woven together, with knowledgeable onboard historians and local chefs providing insights into regional culinary traditions.

Take a “Chateaux, Rivers & Wine” itinerary, for example, where you are invited to drift along the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, while learning all there is to know about the regions’ exquisite grape varieties. Here, shore excursions are led by local expert guides, while the ship’s chef offers you a menu of French specialties perfectly paired with an extensive wine list coming straight from Bordeaux’s chateaux, the same ones you will be visiting off-board.

Viking’s focus on cultural immersion means you will find your days filled with onboard lectures, guided tastings, and travels among the region’s fabulous vineyards. 

Uniworld Boutique Wine River Cruises

Uniworld’s “Connoisseur Collection” itineraries cater to wine enthusiasts all around. Expect exclusive shore excursions to private wineries, in-depth tastings led by renowned winemakers, and access to rare vintages. Uniworld’s focus on small-ship cruising allows for a more intimate and personalized experience I particularly love and recommend all the way.

Take a 7-night Douro River Valley wine river cruise, for example. Sailing onboard the S.S. Sao Gabriel, Uniworld’s newest Douro river ship, you will experience your destination both on and off the water, as Uniworld’s ship design is deeply inspired by the places they visit. 

Following the Douro River through Portugal and into Spain, cruise past acres of ripe vineyards. Enjoy private tastings of Port, a sweet wine famous for its raspberry, caramel, cinnamon, and chocolate flavors, and best served as dessert, and meet the winemakers behind them on your shore excursions to charming Quintas.

Tips For The Ultimate Wine River Cruise Experience

Ok, we have covered the main destinations and cruise lines taking you on the ultimate wine river cruises, but how to best enjoy your experience? Let me share some tips with you:

First of all, picking the right time to sail is a must. You will want your wine river cruise to coincide with harvesting season, between September and October. This happens to coincide with shoulder season, meaning that if you book ahead of time you may find some pretty good cruise deals to take advantage of. 

French wine country river cruises tend to be some of the most popular, for obvious reasons. Sail along the Bordeaux area, where Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlots come from or choose an itinerary taking you through the Rhone River so you have a chance to experience the scenic Provence towns of Arles and Avignon. Here, blends such as Syrah and Grenache are the most popular.

However, cruises running along the Danube will also be a wonderful choice, considering stops in Vienna, Budapest, Melk, and Linz – areas known for the Riesling and Gruner Veltliner varieties.

Take a Rhine and Moselle wine river cruise to visit popular wine towns along the heart of Germany’s Riesling wine region, or spend some time gliding through the beautiful Douro river valley to enjoy Portugal’s famous fortified wine, port.

As wine complements food, wine river cruises will certainly include delightful dinner experiences of local dishes paired with their particular grape. 

If you have come this far in your reading I am sure you are feeling the urge to open a bottle of your favorite varietal – go ahead and do so, but while you are at it, make sure to give me a call so we can get to planning your next wine river cruise experience along the rivers of Europe!

Remember, as your expert travel advisor I will not only be able to guide you to the best itineraries but also make sure to pair your experience with great offers and exclusive amenities helping you make the most out of the experience.