Wonderful wine experiences on a river cruise

Experience the fantastic wines of the river cruise regions. Here’s our our top choices of the wine produced on our river cruise routes and which ones you’ll get to try...

by Cathy Winston

What’s better than cruising along one of the world’s great rivers, a glass of wine in hand, then getting to visit the local vineyards and sample some of the best vintages grown in the area? Our river cruises are the perfect way to taste a few in style and this river cruise wine guide will help you start planning which you’re going to try. Cheers!

Mainz City Walk with Old Town Wine Tasting, Germany

Famous for its Roman heritage and medieval architecture, Mainz is also the wine capital of Germany, with vineyards in existence here for more than 2,000 years. Discover the city’s history on a guided walking tour of the Old Town before trying a few wines from the surrounding Rheinhessen region, one of Germany’s most important wine-growing areas.

The wines you might try

The area’s 26,500 hectares of vineyards are best known for white wine, especially Riseling, Müller-Thurgau and Silvaner grapes. Traditionally the home of Liebfraumilch, you’ll find more dry Rieslings these days than classic sweeter whites. For those who prefer red, Dornfelder grapes create a velvety, fruity wine that’s typically oaked.

How can I experience this?

Romantic Rhine in Spring: Mainz to Dusseldorf
Romantic Rhine in Spring: Dusseldorf to Mainz
Sights and Scenery of the Rhine
Through the Rhine Gorge to Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Cologne and the Rhine Gorge
Historic Gems of the Rhine
Christmas and New Year on Spirit of the Rhine
Strasbourg, Basel and the Upper Rhine

Porto wine cellar visit, Portugal

Porto might be most famous for port but with vines grown in the nearby Douro Valley since Roman times, you’ll find just as much table wine here. Stroll along the Douro River where traditional rabelo boats once transported the casks from the vineyards, before stepping inside the city’s centuries-old Caves Calem cellar to see the giant barrels used to produce port.

The wines you might try

Sample multiple types of port from classic Ruby to tawny, white, rose, late bottled vintage and vintage. When it comes to table wines, the western end of the Douro valley produces lighter vintages, while those with more depth come from the drier east. Reds are particularly popular, especially Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) and fruity Touriga Franca, while rarer Touriga Nacional and Tinta Cão make more complex wines. Among the white wines, Malvasia is fruity and elegant, and Rabigato is sweeter and more floral.

How can I experience this?

Douro Explorer
Lisbon and the Heart of the Douro

Small Carpathians wine tour, Slovakia

A pretty mountainous area that’s one of the country’s biggest wine-making regions, the Small Carpathians stretches north of the Slovakian capital Bratislava. You’ll find a string of smaller family-owned wineries offering the chance to learn about local wine-making techniques and grapes, before tasting a few vintages.

The wines you might try

White grapes are most common, including Veltlinske Zelené (Grüner Veltliner), Riesling and Pinot Blanc, for white wines with high minerality, and a Slovakian variety known as Devin, a cross between Gewürztraminer and Roter Veltliner with tropical fruit notes. You’ll find Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot too, plus a Slovakian red grape known as Dunaj, another cross creating wines with dark plummy notes.

How can I experience this?

City Explorer: Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna (Vienna to Budapest)
City Explorer: Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna (Budapest to Vienna)

Traben-Trarbach Onboard Wine Tasting Experience

The twin town of Traben-Trarbach straddles the Moselle River and is known for its art nouveau buildings as well as being the capital of the wine region. The picturesque town is well worth exploring, especially its fairytale bridge gate, but you don’t even need to disembark to taste some of the area’s best.

The wines you might try

The majority of vineyards in this corner of Germany cling to the steep slopes above the Moselle, producing world-class Rieslings which balance fruit and minerality. You’ll also find Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), including sparkling versions, plus Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) for those who enjoy red.

How can I experience this?

Scenic Vistas of the Moselle

Villány Wine Village, Hungary

One of Hungary’s most popular wine regions, the whole Villány area is known for its bold reds. At its heart, Villány village is home to a string of wineries, with their white-washed rows of cellars. Enjoy a guided wine-tasting experience of five regional wines, paired with traditional accompaniments such as apple, cheese and scones.

The wines you might try

The Bordeaux varieties are most popular, including Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, while Cabernet Franc is also important – try it in the Villányi Franc brand wines. You’ll also spot another brand, RedY, using the region’s traditional Portugieser grape, often blended with the rich berry tastes of Kékfrankos. Whites are rarer, but Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling are all planted.

How can I experience this?

Historic Highlights from Budapest to Belgrade

Cochem Wine Tasting

The small picture-postcard town of Cochem sits on a curve of the Moselle River, overlooked by hillside wine terraces and the neo-Gothic Reichsburg Castle with its 11th-century keep. This pretty wine-growing region has a few historic gems to discover, including the market square’s timber-framed buildings and Baroque Town Hall but you’ll find plenty of opportunity to sample some vintages too.

The wines you might try

Another area where Riesling is queen – around 60% of the vines in the steeply sloped vineyards are dedicated to the grape and produce a golden yellow fruity wine with notes of apricot and peach. For something more unusual, taste the pink Riesling, made with red Pinot Noir grapes.

How can I experience this?

Scenic Vistas of the Moselle
The Moselle and Rhine Gorge
Main, Rhine and Moselle Explorer
Rhine and Moselle Explorer

Onboard Boppard Wine Tasting

This pretty Rhineland town has a long history, with the Romans thought to be the first to grow vines in Boppard, which is still overlooked by vineyards today. Enjoy the views of the twin spires of St Severus Church towering above the colourful old buildings before trying some locally produced wine on board.

The wines you might try

Like many wine-growing areas in Germany, Riesling dominates, although you’ll also find more reds here, such as Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) creating lighter, fruitier wines with hints of red berry. Also look out for Eiswein, a dessert wine made from grapes which have frozen on the vine before being pressed, resulting in concentrated sweetness.

How can I experience this?

Contrasts of the Rhine and Main
Reflections of the Rhine and Main
Christmas and New Year on Spirit of the Moselle

Baba Vida Fortress and Bulgarian Wine Tasting, Bulgaria

Mix history and culture with some of Bulgaria’s best wines during a visit to the Baba Vida Fortress, parts of which date from the 10^th century. Named for a legendary Bulgarian princess, the views onto the Danube from here are spectacular – as are the distinctive vintages you’ll try at a local Bulgarian winery, using some grape varieties specific to the Vidin region.

The wines you might try

Although you’ll find international varieties, wine-lovers can discover something very different here. Look out for local red grape Gamza in particular, known for lighter wines with aromas of raspberry, as well as Rkatsiteli, which produces a refreshing dry white, and Muscat Ottonel, often used for dessert wine.

How can I experience this?

From Budapest to the Black Sea

Dutch Cheese and Wine Experience, Netherlands

Swap Europe's rivers for the network of waterways and canals which criss-cross the Netherlands, visiting historic towns and cities along the way. And while it’s little surprise to be trying Dutch cheese, the cruise is a rare opportunity to taste Dutch wine too.

The wines you might try

Most Dutch wineries are found in the southern provinces, growing grapes that thrive in the cooler climate of northern Europe. Expect international varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir, but also hybrids which are more resistant to cold. White Solaris creates medium fruit wines while Regent produces vibrant reds with hints of cherry and blackcurrant.

How can I experience this?

Lake IJssel and Keukenhof Gardens aboard Spirit of the Moselle
Lake IJssel and Keukenhof Gardens aboard Spirit of the Rhine
Andre Rieu in Maastricht: Rotterdam to Maastricht
Andre Rieu in Maastricht: Maastricht to Rotterdam

Topola and Oplenac with Royal Winery, Serbia

The vineyards in the hills of Oplenac come with the royal seal of approval, originally planted by Serbia’s Royal Family to provide wine for state events. Start with royal history, stopping at the tombs of two Serbian kings and other members of the reigning Karadjordjević family, before tasting local bread, cheese and olives alongside vintages originally intended for a select few.

The wines you might try

The area is known for white wine, such as Trijumf, created using a recipe from one of the King’s cellar winemakers. While indigenous Serbian grapes were first planted, King Aleksandar added more international varieties in the 1920s, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, while reds range from Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon to Gamay.

How can I experience this?

Historic Highlights from Budapest to Belgrade
From Budapest to the Black Sea

Find out more about river cruises with Saga.