Beautiful Rüdesheim

The Wine is so Fine on the Rhine River

A few things can bring strangers together: sports, beer, and wine are some of my favorites. As a luxury travel advisor based in New York City, my journeys give me extraordinary opportunities to enjoy all four and pair them together. 

The Rhine River is renowned for its wineries and vineyards along its 760-mile path. If you don’t like wine, there’s still plenty to see and do along the journey through Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The castles, cathedrals, and forests are inspiring. 

The AmaWaterways Experience

I was on an AmaWaterways cruise of the Rhine River and loved it. River cruises are much more intimate than ocean or Caribbean cruises. The service you receive on AmaWaterways is catered to you and very personalized.  

Instead of telling you about the luxury experience on board the ship, I want to focus on the wine experience on the Rhine because that’s why I chose this cruise. AmaWaterways has an expert wine team with an unparalleled selection of experiences to choose from. 

They also have experts on board the ships to help you appreciate the wine you’re tasting and the subtle changes depending on the specific region of your journey. The service focuses on immersing yourself in the local wine culture and enhancing your palate while being guided by a European wine expert with in-depth knowledge of the local vineyards and wineries. 

My Favorite Destinations

Strasbourg, France, and Rüdesheim, Germany, were the two wine highlights for me. Strasbourg is a fantastic city. The wine there was extraordinary but there was so much more to enjoy; I can’t wait to go back. The architecture, the cathedrals, the canal tour, and learning about the city's history were some of my favorites in Strasbourg. 

But let’s return to the wonderful wine on the Rhine River cruise. I like to wander and explore cities when I visit so that you can be confident in my expert advice. About a half mile from the main tourist area, I found L'Alsace à Boire. Their wine selection was unbelievable. I was more intimidated by the lengthy wine list than being the only customer who spoke English! 

Fortunately, one of the servers spoke English and explained the different varieties of wine. I eventually selected the 2017 Pinot Grigio Grand Cru Kirchberg de Barr Herring. The server paired it with cheese for an authentic French experience. 

The next stop, Un Cantalou, was a different type of wine experience because each of the six wines represented a distinct growing region in the Alsace region. My favorite was the orange wine which was also the first time I had it.

Rüdesheim was another excellent destination for wine. The most enjoyable part was hiking and walking through the vineyards before tasting the wines. I was there on a cloudy and foggy day but the views were spectacular. I highly recommend climbing the stairs to Niederwald Monument. The 19th-century monument commemorates the unification of Germany, but the view overlooking the city makes the climb worth it.  

One of the cruise excursions in Rüdesheim included a wine tasting at Weingut Adolf Störze. For me, this was much more about the experience than the wine itself. 

Bassenheimer Hof is where you do the wine tasting. It was built in the 16th century and the wine cellars date to 1480. The owner’s son, Benedikt, explained more than 500 years of winemaking in his family and answered every question with a smile. Since this is a Rhine River cruise, the winery’s specialty is Riesling. 

Finding a wine shop open before noon on a Monday morning in the middle of November took a lot of work. The owner of Weinhaus Drosseleck was cleaning the windows and possibly preparing to open. 

Her English was as good as my German and I don’t speak German. But, through hand signals and body language, she let me in, taste a few and I bought a 2021 Schloss Johannisberg Gelblack Riesling Trocken. 

Experience an Extraordinary Journey

Every part of my journey with AmaWaterways on the Rhine River was extraordinary. It’s a luxury experience without feeling stifled or pretentious. It’s the highest degree of personal service in a casual way. Whether you’re a world traveler or if this is inspiring you to take your first trip, you’ll enjoy the wine and everything else the Rhine River offers. 

Let’s Start Planning

Let me know when you’re ready to book your Rhine River adventure or any other luxury journey. From my New York City office, I can personalize any trip, even if there’s a predetermined itinerary, to guarantee you do and see what you want when you want. Email [email protected] or call 917-225-1360 and I'll make every destination unique for you.