Wine & Food River Cruises
Sail the Douro, Bordeaux, Rhône, Moselle and Wachau — with a winemaker on board on hosted dates.
Get Wine Cruise QuotesEurope’s Great Wine Rivers
Many of Europe’s best-known wine regions grew up on rivers, because the slopes face the sun and the water carried the barrels to market. Sail those rivers and the vineyards come down to the water’s edge. Even on an ordinary sailing, wine is part of the trip; on a hosted wine departure, it is the point.
| River | Wine region | What it is known for |
|---|---|---|
| Douro (Portugal) | Douro Valley | Port wine and Douro reds; steep terraced vineyards around Pinhão and Régua |
| Garonne & Dordogne (France) | Bordeaux | Saint-Émilion, Médoc, Margaux, Sauternes and the city of Bordeaux |
| Rhône & Saône (France) | Rhône Valley, Beaujolais, Burgundy | Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Beaujolais villages, Burgundy near Beaune; Lyon’s food culture |
| Moselle (Germany) | Mosel | Riesling from some of Europe’s steepest vineyards |
| Danube (Austria) | Wachau | Grüner Veltliner and Riesling in the Wachau Valley |
| Rhine (Germany, France) | Rheingau, Alsace | Riesling, Alsace whites; wine taverns in the Rhine Gorge |
Hosted Wine Departures
AmaWaterways runs a dedicated series of Wine Cruises. Each one brings a winemaker, winery owner or sommelier on board for signature tastings, Q&A sessions and food-and-wine pairings, usually alongside wine-focused shore visits. Departures run on itineraries such as the Douro and Bordeaux, and hosts change by date.
Because only a few dates a year are hosted, these fill early. If you have a favorite region, tell us and we will check which dates carry a wine host.
Food on a river cruise
Food is a theme of its own on rivers like the Rhône and Saône, where Lyon is famous for its cooking, and on the Douro and in Bordeaux, where meals are built around local wine. Many ships offer cooking demonstrations, regional menus and market visits.
Tips for Wine Lovers
- Sail at harvest (around September–October) for the busiest, most colorful vineyards.
- Check the airline and customs rules before buying cases to take home — shipping from the winery is often easier.
- Ask whether tastings ashore are included or optional on your sailing.
- Pair a Douro cruise with a few days in Porto, or a Bordeaux cruise with time in the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hosted wine cruise?
A regular itinerary where, on selected dates, a winemaker, winery owner or sommelier sails with you, leading tastings, talks and pairing dinners. AmaWaterways runs a dedicated series of these through regions including Bordeaux and the Douro.
When is harvest season?
Grape harvest in most European river valleys falls around September and October, varying by region and year. It is a lovely time to sail, with autumn color and new wine.
Is wine included on river cruises?
Many lines include wine with lunch and dinner; some include drinks all day. On hosted wine departures the special tastings are part of the program. Ask what is included on your specific sailing.
Find a Wine River Cruise
Tell us your favorite wine region and travel month and our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will look for hosted wine departures and harvest sailings.
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