Experience Unique Wine Cruises

Whether you are a wine connoisseur or simply indulge in a sip here and there, AMA Waterways offers a fantastic way to add a unique, epicurean dimension to their itineraries on legendary rivers like the Danube, Rhine and Seine.  Not only do guests enjoy sightseeing in grand capitals and charming villages, but they are also treated to excursions that are specially designed to immerse them further in the rich heritage of Europe’s renowned wine regions.  Wine tastings and exquisite food and wine pairings please the palate while exclusive tours provide insight into the different grape varieties harvested along major European waterways.  In addition, each cruise features one or more wine experts that host tastings and lead discussions about everything wine.

The Garonne

The Garonne, The Dordogne and the Gironde Estuary wind through the famous world of gourmet flavor known as the Bordeaux region - home to the most highly coveted blended wines in the entire world

In the corner of southwestern France, the Garonne and Dordogne rivers merge together to form the Gironde Estuary that naturally divides the famous Bordeaux region into Left and Right banks.  AMA’s Taste of Bordeaux itinerary takes you to experience the most impressive winegrowing areas and their signature blends.

Left Bank

The flatter, gravelly lands of the left bank embrace the heat of the sun south of the Gironde, giving life to many rich red blends and sweet white blends – like those of the Medoc and Sauternes regions.  Dark fruit, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignons rule this side of the river, blended with Merlot, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot grapes.

Right Bank

The limestone and clay soils of the right bank are perfect for Merlot, the most popular grape used as a base for blends in Bordeaux.  Prestigious appellations like Bourg and Saint Emilio produce some of the best Merlot based blends that are combined with Cabernet, and other grapes, to achieve significant structure and supple fruit flavors.

The Seine

Inspirational sights, famous landmarks and authentic Champagne are just a few of the amazing things you will indulge in along the Seine River.

The curvy nature of the Seine River can be disorienting when you’re in Paris.  Not to worry, just remember to face downstream so you can tell the Left bank from the Right. 

The wine variety that instantly characterizes northern France comes from the Champagne region, about 90 miles east of Paris.  Stemming from chalky soils and cool temperatures, these sparkling varieties produce a sweet effervescence and unparalleled quality that merit exclusive classification as the one-and-only wine known as “Champagne.”

Another specialty drink is found closer to the English Channel.  Normandy’s fruit-filled orchards are picked and pressed into a rich cider brandy called Calvados.  Made from over 170 apple and pear varieties, this rustic spirit is distilled twice and barrel-aged for at least two years before bottling.  The result is a palate-pleasing liqueur bursting with complex apple elements and hints of cinnamon spice.

The Rhone

Enjoy magnificent scenery and glasses filled with prestigious red and white wines as you cruise through the Rhone Valley.

The Rhone River makes it first appearance in the Swiss Alps and then runs through the heart of France to join the Mediterranean Sea.  Besides providing captivating views of medieval towns and colorful landscapes, it connects the dots between thousands of vineyards from Lyon to Avignon. 

The valley traces the path of the river for almost 150 miles, hypnotizing travelers with grape-covered vines gripping to its steep sides.  Since it’s so large, the climates vary greatly from north to south – as does the soil and wine quality.  Thus, the Rhone is divided at the town of Valence into two worlds of wine.  The Northern Rhone and the Southern Rhone.

What the Northern Rhone lacks in terms of size it makes up for with prestige.  Its continental climate and granite soils fuel the exceptional quality achieved by the noble vines in this region.  Syrah grapes, like those used in the famous Hermitage wines, are so impressive that it’s the only red grape variety allowed to be grown here.  Some appellations allow a limited percentage of Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne white grapes to be used for notable blends and deliciously rare whites.

A warmer climate is enjoyed in the Southern Rhone, with hot summers and mild winters.  The larger sub-region is responsible for nearly 95% of the entire region’s wine, including a wide range of everyday whites, rosés and Grenache-based red blends from the Côtes du Rhone appellation.  And even though the south develops many common wines, they also create a variety of powerful, high-quality reds and whites in areas like Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The Douro

Fall in love with the rugged beauty of Portugal's Douro River Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Land near a river, and naturally protected by mountain ranges, inspired winemakers to plant vineyards along the Douro, but wild landscapes and nutrient-poor soil made this an extremely difficult task.  The birthplace of port wine would simply not exist today it if hadn’t been for the centuries of determined winegrowers who laboriously carved rows of vines into the steep, dramatic terrain.

Their efforts proved worthwhile.  Angled, rocky terrain just so happens to be ideal for the growth of grapes.  Over the years, the magnitude of the Douro Valley wine region has grown remarkably and is now divided into three parts. 

Baixo Corgo lies closest to the Atlantic.  While its smallest of the three regions, it is more than 33,000 acres of vineyards and yields the largest cultivation of grape vines.  Rainfall and ocean-fresh air help nourish the soil.  The vineyards threaded through these drastic slopes give life to rich, tawny ports, red and white table wines and sparkling Vinho Verde from the Minho Provence.

Cima Corgo is home to a drier climate and proves to be the most fruitful region.  The 50,000 acres of vineyards that cling to the Douro’s heartland produce remarkable, long-lasting table wines and ports like those of the Vintage variety in Pinhao.

Douro Superior is the easternmost sub-region.  Its dry conditions, slate-like soil and continental climate give life to some of the finest, most impressive Vintage Ports in all of Portugal.

Savor the rich, exquisite tastes of the wine regions throughout Europe on exclusive AMA Waterways river tours, and we will feature the remaining European wine country rivers in our next blog.  Contact Travel, Tours & Cruises for more information.