Itinerary

Bon voyage! Embarkation day is finally here and we are thrilled to have you on board for this exquisite journey through the heart of French wine country! As you step onto the luxurious cruise ship, prepare to immerse yourself in a world of flavors, culture, and breathtaking landscapes.

The enchanting city of Bordeaux, renowned for its culinary delights and rich history, sets the perfect stage for our wine adventure. On this exclusive river cruise you will journey through the French countryside, with your favorite winemakers and closest friends, sharing exceptional wine for an unforgettable experience. Simply put, we pair unforgettable experiences with exceptional wines in extraordinary places.

***On-Board Event: Happy Hour with the Winemakers

Dinner included on board.

Welcome to Libourne, a gateway to one of Bordeaux’s most elite wine regions. Join an excursion to Saint Émilion, known for its celebrated vineyards, and while here, explore the monolithic church carved out of one piece of limestone rock, and then go under the church to discover its catacombs and caves. Afterwards, enjoy a Grand Cru Classé wine tasting at either Château de Ferrand or Château de Pressac. Alternately, you can enjoy an excursion to Saint-Émilion solely to discover more of the small historic town. If you prefer a more active adventure, pedal through the vineyard-rich countryside to Saint-Émilion.

Included Excursions:
Saint-Émilion excursion with Grand Cru Classé wine tasting or Saint-Émilion town tour or an active Saint-Émilion bike tour.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included on board.

Stroll through the colorful, open-air market, tasting some of the region’s specialties. As a unique alternative, travel back in time to visit an ancient watermill and learn the tradition of breadmaking. Or, you can get your heart pumping by venturing deeper into town by hiking through one of Libourne’s renowned vineyards, accompanied by a tasting of local wine and small bites.

Included Excursions:
Bastide town and market visit or Ancient Watermill Visit and Breadmaking Workshop or Château Boutinet hike with wine and tapas tasting.

***On-Board Event: 7 Course Wine Pairing Dinner with Booker and L’Aventure wines

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included on board.

In Blaye, you can join a tour of its 17th-century citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For a more active excursion, take a bike ride around Blaye along a former railway. Later in the day, you can choose to bike from Blaye through the idyllic French countryside to Bourg. Or, in the ancient village of Bourg, take a walking tour and visit the Carriage Museum, which houses a wonderful collection of horse-drawn vehicles, and the World War II Petrol Cistern. Towards the evening, experience the hospitality of this charming medieval village with an exclusive wine festival. Meet the local wine growers and taste the fruits of their labors as well as enjoy live French music and dancing.

Included Excursions:
Citadel visit or Blaye Chemin de Fer bike tour or Bourg walking tour with Carriage Museum and WWII Petrol Cistern. Evening wine festival.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included on board.

Cussac-Fort-Medoc is a peaceful commune in southwestern France and your gateway to the famed Médoc region, renowned for producing some of the world’s finest Bordeaux wines. You will see some of the most beautiful and famous wine estates, including Château Latour, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Pichon Longueville. You’ll then visit either Château Gruaud Larose or Château Léoville Poyferré for a tasting of Grand Cru wines. More active guests can hike through the vineyards of Château Margaux and taste local specialties. Alternatively, you may enjoy a drive along the coast to Soulac-sur-Mer where you’ll see unique sights, such as the Statue of Liberty and the Cordouan lighthouse known to be the oldest in France.

Included Excursions:
Medoc Grand Cru Classé wine tasting and scenic vineyard tour or Margaux Vineyard hike and local specialties tasting or Soulac-sur-Mer seaside excursion.

***On-Board Event: Wine Tasting hosted by Stephan Asseo & Eric Jensen. Side-by-side tasting of Bordeaux-style wines from California next to French Bordeaux classics.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included on board.

Visit the impressive Castle of Roquetaillade, an amazingly preserved masterpiece of medieval military architecture owned by the same noble family for 700 years and travel to the Sauternes wine region to either Chateau de Rayne Vigneau or Chateau Guiraud to taste the highly prized golden-hued sweet wines produced here. For those wishing to explore more of the history on the decadent castles, you can enjoy a visit to the Roquetaillade castle and Cadillac castle. Or pedal through the charming town of Cadillac for a guided bike tour.

Included Excursions:
Roquetaillade Castle with Sauternes wine tasting or Roquetaillade and Cadillac visit or Cadillac bike tour.

***On-Board Event: Live Podcast Recording and Q&A with winemakers Eric Jensen and Stephan Asseo. Rare/Library wine tasting from L’Aventure and Booker

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included on board.

The breathtaking capital of the wine world, Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and classified as a “City of Art and History.” You’ll have an opportunity to experience much of the rich culture and architecture on a city tour followed by a visit to the famed indoor Les Halles de Bacalan market for a tasting of local specialties to please the palate. Bike enthusiasts can join a tour along the city’s amazing network of bicycle paths. Depending on your interests, you have a choice from three excursions in the afternoon. Enjoy a visit to the immersive and interactive Bordeaux Wine Museum, housed in an awe-inspiring building. Alternately, be treated to a spectacular sound and light show, Les Bassins des Lumières.

Included Excursions:
Morning - UNESCO city tour and market tasting or Bordeaux bike tour. Afternoon - Bordeaux Cité du Vin (wine museum) visit or Bassins de Lumières.

***On-Board Event: Farewell post-dinner cocktail hour with Stephan Asseo & Eric Jensen.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included on board.

DISEMBARKATION. Bid farewell to Bordeaux and prepare for your flight home or continue your adventure for a 3 night extension into the Loire Valley and concluding your journey in Paris, the “City of Lights”.

Breakfast included on board.

Learn More About Pre & Post Cruise Extensions