Wine enthusiasts in search of a vacation that allows them to experience their favorite blends in the regions they were made, while also expanding their palates with new vintages should look no further than the wide variety of wine-themed cruises offered by AmaWaterways.
With more than 60 wine-focused itineraries cruising though Europe’s most iconic wine regions, these AmaWaterways journeys add a unique epicurean spin to already enticing itineraries exploring areas such as Austria’s UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley, Germany’s Rheingau and Moselle regions, Portugal’s Douro Valley, and France’s Bordeaux and Burgundy regions. Offered at no additional charge, AmaWaterways Wine Cruises include all the same excursions in grand capital cities and charming small towns in addition to wine-related activities, plus hiking and biking excursions.
Wine-related excursions on select itineraries include visiting Bordeaux’s immersive La Cité du Vin wine museum; tasting the apricot wine, brandy, jams and other products in the Wachau Valley village of Dürnstein, Austria; descending underground to the Roman-era passages beneath Belgrade’s Senjak Hill to Cellar Panajotović where guests will taste local wines; and celebrating at a wine festival with the wine queen and mayor of Zell, a town in the Moselle wine region. In addition, all Wine Cruises include a dedicated wine expert from a renowned North American winery who leads onboard tastings, accompanies guests on excursions to historic vineyards and private cellars, and carefully curates an exclusive food and wine pairing dinner. 
Whether travelers are self-proclaimed wine connoisseurs or simply enjoy a sip every now and then, they’re sure to appreciate sampling these Old World wines and learning the differences between them and the wines from the New World. Highlights of AmaWaterways Wine Cruise lineup include the Oct. 31 departure of the Rhine & Moselle Splendors itinerary, which sails on a 7-day journey from Luxembourg to Basel with the option of adding a 3-day pre-cruise stay in Paris or a post-cruise stay with two nights in Zurich and two in Lucerne. Other sailings include the weeklong Nov. 3 departure of the Romantic Danube itinerary from Vilshofen, Germany to Budapest; and the 7-night Nov. 7 Medieval Treasures itinerary sailing from Basel to Nuremberg. The fall departures of these wine-focused cruises means guests will visit the towns and villages while they are more relaxed and less crowded. It also means that local wine producers will have more time to spend with guests as the wine harvest is usually completed by that time.
AmaWaterways is also offering up to $1,500 per stateroom savings on select 2019 departures. For more information, visit amawaterways.com/destination/wine-cruises.
