Onboard guest hosts include leading wine experts and vineyard owners

Calabasas, CA, January 2025 – One of the most sought after highlights by guests of a European river cruise are the opportunities to taste and learn about many of the world-renown wines produced in France, Germany, Portugal, Austria and elsewhere in Europe. AmaWaterways recognized this desire among its guests and was one of the first river cruise lines to develop wine-focused, expert-hosted itineraries. AmaWaterways has announced an impressive lineup of over 80 expert-hosted wine-themed cruises for both 2025 and 2026, with sailings available from March through December.

Each Celebration of Wine River Cruise features enhanced epicurean experiences and is hosted by a line-up of notable wine experts including vineyard owners, winemakers, certified sommeliers and wine educators. The hosts bring decades of knowledge as well as hand-selected wines to serve during special meals, tastings, and/or seminars, all included in the price of the cruise. Some wines come from the expert's own winery while other selections may be sourced from wineries located along the river cruise itinerary.

Debuting in 2024, Flavors of Burgundy has quickly become one of AmaWaterways' most popular seven-night wine sailings. Guests enjoy a tasty journey along the Saône River visiting a collection of France's most prestigious vineyards in wine-leading regions: Beaujolais in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Chalonnaise in Saône-et-Loire, Pinot Noir from Côtes de Nuits, and Chardonnay in Burgundy. Highlights include the July 24, 2025 sailing with Sonoma-Cutrer's Director of Winemaking Cara Morrison, an expert in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; the July 31 cruise with Paul Toussaint, co-owner of the highly-regarded California boutique vineyard Toussant Cellars; and the November 6 sailing with Jody and John Wrigley, founders of J Wrigley Vineyard with award-winning Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.

More than 3,700 acres of terraced vineyards rise along Austria's illustrious Wachau Valley, well known for Grüner Veltliner and Riesling grapes. Of particular note is the July 14, 2025 seven-night Romantic Danube when wine expert and COO of California-based House Family Farms will serve as host and educator to AmaWaterways' guests. This sailing takes guests on a journey through Old World Europe where empires were built and some of the world's greatest classical music was born. A special wine tasting in Weissenkirchen, known for producing wines with a pronounced freshness, spiciness, finesse and complexity, kicks off the entry to the Wachau Valley. Next on the list of wine-focused excursions is Krems, with a special wine tasting at Schloss Gobelsburg, one of the oldest wineries in Austria. Formerly a Cistercian monastery, guests tour the castle's cellars, learning more about the traditional methods drawn from historical wine-making practices. And then there is Vienna, where an evening is spent enjoying wine and live music at a traditional Austrian Heuriger (wine tavern).

A wine connoisseurs paradise, the Mittelrhein (Middle Rhine) is one of Germany's greatest wine-producing regions with steep terraced vineyards on both sides of the river. A seven-night Enchanting Rhine, sailing between Basel and Amsterdam on November 1, 2025, boasts winemaker, viticulturist and author Richard Olsen-Harbich, who's history pioneering and developing Long Island's (NY) premier wines and all three of Long Island's American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), spans more than 40 years. He currently serves as the wine maker at Bedell Cellars, an award-winning vineyard renowned for its Merlots. Highlights of this Basel to Amsterdam cruise include a tour of Freiburg's Münster, a Gothic cathedral said to have “the most beautiful spire on earth,” with a wine-tasting of locally produced wines; a special Alsatian wine tasting, a region known for its ideal wine making conditions and highly praised for their fragrant aromas; and a sampling of Riesling wines in the vineyards of Rüdesheim. All these wine experiences are interspersed with an abundance of great meals, active excursions and fascinating history.

For more information or to reserve an AmaWaterways river cruise and land package, contact your preferred Travel Advisor, call 1.800.626.0126 or visit AmaWaterways.com. 

About AmaWaterways

Family-owned and operated for 23 years, AmaWaterways offers unparalleled river cruise experiences with 31 custom-designed ships sailing Europe's major rivers; Southeast Asia's Mekong River; Africa's Chobe River; Egypt's Nile River and Colombia's Magdalena River (2025). Co-founded by pioneering river cruise executives Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy, the company is renowned for its warm and welcoming crew; innovative and sustainable ship design; wellness activities (including a wide choice of included small group shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options); and award-winning, locally sourced cuisine paired with complimentary fine wine. Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, most AmaWaterways ships welcome an average of just 150 guests and feature onboard amenities such as a stunning Main Lounge, specialty Chef's Table restaurant, hair and massage salons, Sun Deck walking track and heated outdoor swimming pools with swim-up bars. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry in innovation, highlighted by the launch of the revolutionary AmaMagna. The company also offers a variety of themed sailings and brand relationships, with sailings geared towards active travelers and families, as well as group and charter options.

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