Wine Tours by Luxury Barge with European Waterways

A wine appreciation tour will take you directly to the vineyards for private tastings with our sommeliers. These dedicated luxury charter cruises will take you off of the beaten track and to some of the most intriguing and historic vineyards in the world. See France and Italy in a whole new way with an immersive wine cruise.

There is a reason that our French wine tours are some of the most popular. These tours will give you the chance to sample the finest Burgundies such as Nuits St-Georges, Santenay, and Vosne Romanée. You’ll visit locations including the Loire Valley, Burgundy, Bordeaux, and cruise along the Canal du Midi. A wine tour in Italy will show you the best of the country including a trip to Venice, Volta, Zelo and Mantua to name a few destinations.

Our Wine Appreciation Cruise Destinations

The Finesse ultra-deluxe 8-passenger hotel barge will show you the beauty of Southern Burgundy
Take a first-class wine tour in Burgundy on L’Art de Vivre, an 8-passenger hotel barge
Treat yourself to a first-class 10-passenger wine appreciation tour on Athos, exploring the historic Canal du Midi and southwest France
Take a gentle journey through Bordeaux on our first-class 8-passenger hotel barge, Rosa
Enjoy the ultimate wine appreciation tour through Northern Italy on La Bella Vita, a first-class 20-passenger river cruiser

At European Waterways, we pride ourselves on our hotel barges. All offer luxurious accommodations for between 8 and 20 passengers on a wine tour of France and Italy. Cruising between March or April and October, depending on your destination, you’ll get to explore the rich history of the area, sample the best wines in the region, and enjoy a relaxing cruise in excellent company.

Our hotel barges offer deluxe, ultra-deluxe, and first-class accommodations during your stay. La Belle Epoque is designed with both elegance and passenger comfort in mind, with wood-panelled rooms for a luxurious feel. L’Impressionniste is another of our deluxe passenger hotel barges featuring light and airy interiors blending traditional and modern French influences.

The ultra-deluxe Enchanté is a double-decker hotel barge with a spacious sun deck and a gorgeous spa pool for a relaxing evening. The first-class La Bella Vita is the only hotel barge cruising through Italy’s Venetian Lagoon, River Po, and Canal Bianco. Featuring modern Italian interiors and stunning open spaces on deck, you’ll have the most luxurious wine appreciation tour imaginable.

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Wine Appreciation Cruise Highlights

A wine cruise through France will allow you to explore a range of destinations including Burgundy, Canal du Midi, Bordeaux, and the Loire Valley. Each of these French wine tour destinations offers a unique experience, with private wine tastings at some of the most incredible vineyards in the world.

One of the most popular destinations for a wine appreciation tour is Burgundy, with tours taking place throughout the region as well as specifically within North, South, and West Burgundy. Your cruise may take you to some of the following places:

The La Belle Epoque Northern Burgundy wine tour will take you to the town of Chablis, which dates back to Roman times before you enjoy a private wine tasting at the prestigious Domaine Laroche and visit the 1000-year-old Obediencerie.
Your wine appreciation cruise of Southern Burgundy on the Finesse coasts through the UNESCO-listed Côte de Beaune vineyards to the town of Beaune, which is the capital of Burgundy’s wine country. Here you’ll visit Maison Champy, the oldest winemakers in Burgundy.

L’Impressionniste’s wine cruise through Southern Burgundy gives you an introductory talk on the vineyards of Burgundy with an on-board wine tasting before you visit Clos de Vougeot, the headquarters of the Chevaliers du Tastevin, and drive by legendary Grand Cru vineyards.
Combine a rich cultural history with a wine appreciation cruise on L’Art de Vivre in Burgundy. See gently rolling hills and vineyards interspersed with cherry orchards, cruise by the prehistoric coral reefs that now form the cliffs at Mailly le Chateau and Le Saussois, and visit the elegant Château de Bazoches.

The Renaissance wine appreciation tour in Upper Loire & Western Burgundy will take you to Domaine Chatelain, which was founded nearly 400 years ago, where the wonderfully flinty Pouilly-Fumé wines are made.

Interested in cruising the Canal du Midi? Anjodi, Athos, and Enchanté offer you luxury accommodation as well as some of the finest vineyards and winemakers to visit, including the acclaimed Pomerol wine co-operative, Domaine Pierre Fil, and Château Lalis.

A wine appreciation cruise of Bordeaux takes you to St. Martin and Buzet wine co-operatives, with cellar tours and tastings. You’ll also visit Château de Malle, offering beautiful Italian-style gardens and stunning scenery.

Explore Italy on the first-class 20-passenger La Bella Vita on a wine tour. With a prosecco welcome and plenty of history to explore, you’ll visit the exceptional Wine Estate of Orto and explore the Renaissance gardens of the 17th-century Villa Widmann Borletti.

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Why Book a Wine Appreciation Cruise?

A wine appreciation tour gives you the chance to not only explore the region but also learn about the wines that each area is known for. You’ll spend time exploring the great wine regions of France and enjoy a wine appreciation cruise of Italy to discover somewhere new. With so much history and culture to enjoy, you’ll be spoilt for choice on your wine tour. Choose your cruise today for an unforgettable experience.

CONTACT US ABOUT OUR WINE APPRECIATION CRUISES