Discover the Best Wine River Cruises in Europe: A Luxury Adventure for Wine Lovers

If you enjoy both luxury travel and fine wine, then a river cruise is the perfect vacation for you. These cruises combine the best of both worlds, offering travelers the chance to relax in style while also enjoying some of the world’s finest wines. On a European river cruise, you will have the opportunity to taste local varietals that are not exported or difficult to find once you return home.

Wine River Cruises are hosted by enthusiastic wine professionals who lead guests through tastings and interactive discussions, guide select shore excursions to vineyards and cellars, and curate special food and wine pairing dinners on board. Inspired by their passion and expertise, you’ll delight in discovering the perfect combination: travel, wine, and elegant cuisine.

Here are five of the best luxury river cruises in Europe for wine lovers:

1. Danube River Wine Cruise on AmaMagna

AmaWaterways’ Danube River Cruise is a seven-night cruise that takes travelers through Hungary, Austria, and Germany. Along the way, passengers will enjoy stops in renowned wine regions like the Wachau Valley and Burgenland. Visit some of Europe’s most beautiful cities, including Budapest, Vienna, and Salzburg. And, of course, guests will enjoy plenty of opportunities to taste some of the region’s finest wines, like Grüner Veltliner.

2. Tauck’s Rhine River Cruise

Tauck’s Rhine River Cruise is an eight-day cruise that starts in Basel, Switzerland, and ends in Amsterdam. Key wine regions like Alsace-Lorraine and Rheingau line the river. Explore some of Europe’s most charming towns and villages, including Strasbourg, Heidelberg, and Rüdesheim. As with any European river cruise, there will be ample opportunities to sample some of the region’s best wines.

3. Enticing Douro Wine Cruise

Experience Spain and Portugal on the Douro River on a seven-night cruise through Port country – the world’s oldest demarcated wine region. Sail roundtrip from Porto, the beautiful “City of Bridges,” and marvel at Salamanca, the UNESCO-designated “Golden City.”

4. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection’s Bordeaux & Vineyards Cruise

Uniworld offers an eight-day cruise that takes place entirely in France. The cruise starts and ends in Bordeaux, with stops along the way in key wine regions like Saint-Émilion and Médoc. Travelers will also explore some of France’s most beautiful towns and villages, including Cadillac, Pauillac, and Saint-Jean-de-Collet. And, of course, they’ll sip and savor some of France’s finest wines.

5. AmaWaterways’ Colors of Provence

Embark in Lyon, France’s culinary capital and savor the beauty of legendary vineyards and imbibe in local vintages like Beaujolais, Beaujolais, and Côtes du Rhône. Go truffle hunting and learn to pair wine with chocolate. Take a walking tour of the Papal Palace in Avignon and even taste the famed Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Whether you’re a fan of reds or whites (or both), there’s a luxury river cruise that’s perfect for you. For a luxurious vacation that will also please your palate, be sure to consider a European wine cruise.

Let’s get started planning your luxury cruise vacation! Reserve your complimentary consultation call with me to begin!

Header photo by Kai Pilger