2026 Bordeaux Wine Cruise

Your Exclusive Onboard Experience with Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains

• Welcome Aboard Reception
• Three Wine Tasting Seminars
• Two Incredible Multi-Course Wine Dinners

Your Cruise Package

• Deluxe accommodations in finely appointed river view staterooms aboard the AmaDolce
• Expertly guided shore excursions in every port
• Complimentary Wi-Fi access
• La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs dining experience, featuring all meals on board with multiple dining venues
• Unlimited wines, beer and soft drinks with every lunch and dinner on board
• Cocktail Reception, Welcome Dinner and Captain’s Gala Dinner (these are in addition to your Exclusive events with the Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains)
• “Sip & Sail” daily cocktail hour with complimentary beer, wines and spirits

DAY 1 | EMBARKATION – BORDEAUX, FRANCE

Embark the ship for your Taste of Bordeaux Cruise.

DAY 2 | LIBOURNE

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.

DAY 3 | LIBOURNE

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 tapas.

DAY 4 | BLAYE-BOURG

Once 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, while in the ancient village of Bourg, take a walking tour and visit the Carriage Museum, which houses a wonderful collection of horse-drawn vehicles 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.

DAY 5 | CUSSAC-FORT-MEDOC

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 Léoville Barton 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, or 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.

DAY 6 | CADILLAC

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.

DAY 7 | BORDEAUX

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 will wish to 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.

DAY 8 | DISEMBARKATION – BORDEAUX, FRANCE

Disembark the ship and prepare for your onward journey.

John Olney, Head Winemaker & COO – Ridge Vineyards

John began traveling to Europe at an early age where he was introduced to the culture of wine in France and Italy. He frequently visited the south of France where he spent time with his uncle, Richard Olney, the celebrated food and wine writer. While attending a language exchange program in Provence, he chose to pursue wine as a career and, in 1994, enrolled in enological studies at the Lycée Viticole in Burgundy to learn the craft of winemaking.

Before coming to Ridge, John worked at Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant as well as with several European winemakers including Gérard Chave in the Rhône, Lucien Peyraud at Domaine Tempier and Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. In 1996, John began work at Ridge’s Monte Bello Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. In 1999, he was put in charge of the Lytton Springs Winery where he oversaw the construction of the innovative 17,000 square foot straw bale winery. In 2021, John was promoted to Head Winemaker & COO.

Sophie Patterson Sharabi, Family Owner & Director of Hospitality – Mount Eden Vineyards

Sophie grew up amongst the vines of Mount Eden. Moving to San Francisco, she attended The University of San Francisco, where she studied nursing. In 2007 when Mount Eden began a partnership with Press Club, a joint tasting room, she managed the Mount Eden staff while also pursuing her passion for helping others as a registered nurse.

Inspired by her parents’ entrepreneurial spirit, she founded a fertility nursing service, which has grown into a thriving business. However, when Sophie became a mother herself, she felt a draw to put her hosting and event planning skills to work back at Mount Eden. Sophie now lives in Los Gatos, with her husband Daniel and their daughter Eden—named after her former mountaintop home.

As Director of Hospitality, Sophie handles everything from winery tours to private events. She is delighted to educate wine enthusiasts about the fascinating history of Mount Eden and is excited to be the next generation of Mount Eden’s future.

The AmaDolce offers six different room types, ranging in size, location on the boat, and price. View the options via the link below and select the room or suite that best suits you. Book before December 31st, 2024 and receive special pricing on all room types!

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