Amawaterways has announced new details regarding its upcoming Vineyards of the Rhine and Mosel cruise this fall, along with an additional incentive for agents: a bonus commission of $200 for each booking.
The Vineyards of the Rhine and Mosel cruise departs Nov. 12 on the Amalegro. The itinerary includes visits to world-famous wineries, off-site dinners hosted by renowned winemakers, onboard lectures and more. Hosted by Amawaterways president Rudi Schreiner, the seven-night cruise will travel from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to Trier, Germany, followed by a three-night stay in Paris.
Accompanying the cruise will be winemaker Jim Clendenen, owner of the 25-year-old Au Bon Climat winery in Santa Maria, Calif., and Archie McLaren, founder and chairman of the Central Coast Wine Classic. A portion of the cruise proceeds will be donated to charities supported by the Central Coast Wine Classic, one of the country’s preeminent wine auctions.
Both Clendenen and McLaren share an impressive background in wine. Clendenen was chosen as the Los Angeles Times’ Winemaker of the Year in 1992; Food & Wine named him Winemaker of the Year in 2001. Germany’s leading wine magazine, Wein Gourmet, named him Winemaker of the World in 2004 and, in 2007, he was inducted into the James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America. McLaren is the founding Bailli of the Central Coast Chapter of the Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs, and is a member of the Wine & Food Society of San Francisco, the San Francisco Chapter of the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin and the Marin County Chapter of the International Wine & Food Society. He is also the former president of the Central Coast Wine Society and one of just two Americans to be inducted into the Austrian Wine Brotherhood.
Highlights of the cruise include a dinner and wine tasting with a representative from the Georg Breuer winery at the four-star Ruedesheimer Schloss in Rudesheim, Germany, which specializes in making Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, table, dessert and sparkling wines. Rudesheim, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a scenic Rhine Gorge town of great charm famous for its quaint wine taverns and surrounding vineyards, including the family-owned Breuer estate.
In Koblenz, Germany, guests will discover a 2,000-year-old wine town where the Rhine meets the Mosel. As the ship continues through the Mosel river valley, the world’s steepest vineyards, picturesque villages and charming wine towns line the banks and, during the cruise from Koblenz to the riverside wine town of Winnigen, guests will enjoy an exceptional luncheon, with menu items paired with wines from the Heymann-Lowenstein winery.
Beautifully preserved timber-framed homes, medieval squares and the fairytale Reichsburg Castle above the Mosel welcome visitors to Cochem. A welcoming wine festival awaits in the Mosel town of Zell, famous for its “Zeller Schwarze Katz” (Black Cat) wine. An evening wine tasting in a local underground wine cellar showcases the area’s famous varietals. In Bernkastel, guests will enjoy a walking tour followed by a wine tasting at the Wine Museum, hosted by Michael Stahlmann from the famous Dr. Loosen winery. Strategically located in the heart of the Mosel wine-producing region, Bernkastel boasts more than 500 years of documented wine history and is known as “the international town of vine and wine.”
Throughout the cruise, onboard dining will be accompanied by complimentary local wines (plus beer and soft drinks). Additional ship amenities include French balconies, complimentary high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi access; complimentary first-run Hollywood films; specialty coffees and bottled water; a fleet of bicycles onboard; and more.
After the seven-night cruise, guests will head to Luxembourg for a city tour of the Grand Duchy, followed by a high-speed train transfer to Paris. The three-night stay in the City of Light includes a guided city tour, plus an exclusive excursion to the Champagne region.
The Details
Amawaterways
www.amawaterways.com
