River cruises are rapidly gaining prominence as an option to travel through Europe, giving travelers an opportunity to journey on some of Europe's great waterways. But of course, we'd be remiss to talk about river cruises without mentioning wine. Some of the best river cruises go straight through some of the world's most famous wine regions, offering wine tastings and vineyard explorations as part of their itineraries. A cruise from Lyon to Arles on the Rhône River is the perfect river cruise for wine lovers.
The Rhône is one of Europe's great rivers, rising in Switzerland before finding its way through the French Alps and emptying its water masses into the Mediterranean Sea. Along the way are some of the continent's most famous wine regions, with thousands of vineyards and local wineries just waiting to be sampled. Fortunately, a cruise on the Rhone will accomplish just that.
A Historical Grape
Estimates place the first grapes cultivated in the French Rhône as far back as 600 BC, when Greek traders brought the plants from Persia to cultivate in a more friendly environment. The Romans happily followed their predecessor's passion, making the region one of the major import centers for wine in the empire.
With the fall of the Roman Empire came a disinterest in the precious grapes, until the pope moved to Avignon in the 13th century and regional wine found its second spring. It hasn't stopped since, producing some of the world's most famous - and delicious - wines. Today, over 6,000 wine growing properties exist along the Rhône.
Famous Wines
Côtes du Rhône makes up for no less than 50% of the production in the entire Rhône valley. Most Côtes du Rhônes are red, made from Grenache or Syrah grapes and carry a semidry to sweet taste that make them perfect as companions to dinner. But as any Rhône-cruising traveler will find out: the variations vary wildly. No Côte du Rhône is exactly the same, the name only coming from a desire to classify the countless individual variations for easier promotion and sale.
That's not the case for Chateauneuf-du-Pape, easily the most famous of the Rhône wines. This full-bodied red wine originates from a village near Avignon, and its dry nature goes perfectly with some of the region's delicious food. The region's Mediterranean climate and village's pebbly soil make for a unique, yet delicious flavor.
Hermitage wine, on the other hand, comes from a slightly different climate. Grown in the northern Rhône region near the Alps, it looks back on a rich history that includes being the official wine of King Louis XIII and his successor Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King. Both red and white (Hermitage blanc) varieties exist, and both are especially tasteful when aged between 15 and 30 years.
The Itinerary
Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Hermitage and the various Côtes du Rhône varieties are only a few of the many wines worth sampling while on a Rhône river cruise. And fortunately, the region has become so famous for its wine that itineraries of the various cruise lines are designed around the thousands of vineyards and wineries.
A cruise will typically start on the Saône, a smaller river that flows into the Rhône just as the wine joys begin. From there, it's past Lyon, Vienne, Tournon and Avignon, with wine stops along the way, before a final destination at Arles - just a short jump away from the beaches of the Mediterranean sea.
In short, a cruise on the Rhône will give you an experience in wine culture and history that few other river cruises can. Contact us for more information about the region's wine and cruise offerings!
