Pre-Cruise Loire Valley Trip: May 22-25, 2017
Taste of Bordeaux Wine Cruise: May 25-June 1, 2017
Taste, tour and discover Bordeaux and the Loire Valley with Dry Creek Vineyard owners, Kim Stare Wallace and Don Wallace.
Bordeaux is the capital of Aquitaine in Southwestern France and one of the world’s undisputed wine capitals. While on this 7-night cruise, you’ll discover stately châteaux, abundant vineyards and stunning scenery as you sail along the Garonne River and its surrounding estuaries, calling upon port cities like Cadillac, Bourg and Libourne. Enjoy tastings of some of the region’s most distinguished wines and visit notable sights on this incredible journey.
Prior to the cruise, join Kim and Don on a remarkable three-day Loire Valley trip. Experience the French countryside that inspired Kim’s father, David Stare, to head to California 45 years ago to start his own family winery, Dry Creek Vineyard. Discover the landscapes, unspoiled nature, beautiful gardens and breathtaking castles of the Loire Valley, all while sampling the incredible wines that made the region famous.
Here is a closer look at this delicious adventure. We hope you will join us!
PRE-CRUISE LOIRE VALLEY TRIP INCLUDES:
- Private car transfer from airport to hotel
- Welcome wine reception
- One night at the Hotel Regina in Paris
- Two nights at the Hotel Château de la Bourdaisière in the Loire Valley
- Tours and tastings at three wineries in the Loire Valley
- Visit to Chambord Castle
- Tour of a Cognac house in Cognac
- Breakfast included each morning
- Lunch and dinner included both days in the Loire Valley
- All tours, entry fees, guides and motor coach transportation included
- Luggage transfer to AmaDolce
- Tour ends at AmaDolce to begin your cruise
TASTE OF BORDEAUX WINE CRUISE:
During our seven night voyage, you’ll enjoy the following:
- Three dinners featuring Dry Creek Vineyard wines
- A vertical perspective of Bordeaux blends featuring blends from Bordeaux and Dry Creek Vineyard “The Mariner”
- Two special wine themed shore excursions featuring tastings, tours and lunch
DAY 1 – BORDEAUX, FRANCE – EMBARKATION
Welcome to Bordeaux, where you’ll board your luxurious river cruise. Meet your fellow passengers this evening during a delectable Welcome Dinner.
DAY 2 – CADILLAC
Cadillac is a region renowned for its sensational white wines. You have your choice of two tours today. The first option is a visit to the Sauternes wine region, where you’ll taste the highly sought-after sweet wines made here. As an alternative, you can choose to see the historic Roquetaillade Castle, a fortress which was initially built in the 10th century by Charlemagne as his army advanced toward the Pyrenees.
DAY 3 – PAUILLAC
Today, you will enjoy a tour of the lovely village town on the Left Bank of the Gironde estuary known as Pauillac. Situated in the famed Médoc AOC (appellation d’origine contrôlée, a government controlled destination of origin which signifies where grapes are grown), Pauillac’s gravelly soils are renowned for producing some of the world’s finest Bordeaux wines – especially those made from the Merlot grape variety. You’ll be able to dabble in local blends this afternoon at an authentic Médoc wine tasting. Return to the ship for a wonderful dinner, and then spend the evening as you please – we will be docked in Pauillac overnight.
DAY 4 – PAUILLAC – BLAYE – BOURG
Take in the riverside scenery this morning as we make our way from Pauillac to Blaye. North of Bordeaux, this small town is best known for its red wine and historic significance. Today, you’ll be able to enjoy an excursion to the city’s 17th century citadel – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – which was built by famous military engineer Major Vaubon. From the top of this famous fortress, you can admire fantastic views of the impressive Gironde estuary. Return to the ship for a delicious lunch and prepare for an afternoon in Bourg. Ideally situated at the confluence of the Dordogne and Garonne, this historic village still lives inside medieval walls. Built during Roman times and later fortified by the English, it is filled with rich architectural tradition. Here, you’ll be able to see the home of legendary French corsair, Jean Bart. The ship will remain overnight in Bourg.
DAY 5 – BOURG – LIBOURNE
This afternoon, you’ll arrive in the winemaking capital, Libourne. Two of Bordeaux’s most elite wine regions are very close by – St. Émilion and Pomerol. First, you will have the unique opportunity to savor exquisite blends during a tasting at a cave in St. Émilion, a historic village known for its picturesque architecture and historic vineyards that were first introduced to the land by the Romans. Afterwards, enjoy a panoramic tour of the celebrated landscapes in Pomerol. The ship moors overnight in Libourne.
DAY 6 – LIBOURNE – CUBZAC – BORDEAUX
Start your adventure today with a tour of the magnificent Château D’Montaigne, a stunning 14th century castle which was the family residence of the philosopher, Michel de Montaigne. As an alternative you can visit a well-preserved local bastide town which was fortified during medieval times. There is also an optional tour for guests to explore the flavors of Bergerac, a wine-growing region in the southern part of the Dordogne department that is home to 13 AOCs. Return to the ship for lunch as we cruise to Cubzac. This old town near the Dordogne once served as a watchtower during the Middle Ages and contains many historic treasures. While here, you’ll taste wines from the Côtes de Bourg region. We sail to Bordeaux this evening where we will dock and indulge in a spectacular Farewell Dinner with your Captain. Later on, take in the brightly-lit sights on an illuminations cruise of this magical city.
DAY 7 – BORDEAUX
Today you’ll see the elegant port city of Bordeaux on foot. The breathtaking capital of the wine world is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, with over 360 historic monuments within its borders, it is also classified as a “City of Art and History.” You’ll have an opportunity to experience much of the rich culture and architecture here, including a tasting at the wine museum. An optional tour will also be available for those who wish to see Cognac, a place best-known for its unique, double-distilled spirit and six prominent AOCs. Tonight, the ship will stay in Bordeaux.
DAY 8 – BORDEAUX – DISEMBARKATION
Your cruise comes to an end as you prepare for your homeward flight.
Contact Expedia Cruise Ship Centers at 877-651-7447 or WineClub@CruiseShipCenters.com to reserve your space today!