Trip Overview
Willkommen!
In the romantic Rhine Valley, we're in the heart of castle country in an endless parade of pageantry. This tour will capture your desire for fairy tale grandeur with fine wine and sumptuous German cuisine. Designed to highlight the wines of the Mosel Valley, our wine tours provide ample opportunity to discover the bountiful flavors of the regional vineyards.
We take an informed yet casual approach to our multiple wine tastings designed to occur throughout our trip. To best discern the German palette of wine offerings, we will engage a wine expert to provide a private lecture upon our arrival which is sure to enhance your experience.
In the lovely Rhine Valley of Ruedesheim we'll admire half-timbered buildings and cobblestone Drosselgasse, lined with wine taverns and ringing with live music. Cruise the Rhine River to Boppard in the Valley of the Loreley to see the best preserved Roman fort north of the Alps. As well, Bingen is a striking sight where the Nahe and Rhine Rivers meet.
The best wine tour must include a visit to medieval Bacharach, named for Bacchus, the ancient Roman god of wine. Stroll the cobbled streets of the town square and enjoy the wine rooms offering a sampling of cheeses and breads.
You'll be dazzled by Rhine in Flames, an ever-changing kaleidoscope of lights erupting above the river and shimmering cascades of color dispersing into the valley. Fire, water and light dance together as a procession of 50 illuminated ships sail the river past castles, palaces and ruins aglow with twinkling lights as fireworks soar above. Simply breathtaking!
Marvel at the Great Barrel of Heidelberg Castle and be awed by the vision of Reichsburg Castle, the most photographed sight along the Mosel River. Traben-Trarbach brims with magnificent buildings and garden imbued promenades lining the river, with the faded grandeur of 14th century Grevenburg Castle an absolute show stopper. In Luxembourg, sip in appreciation the wine of Bernard Massard's cellar and delight in the famed Castle Vianden, one of the most beautiful feudal castles of Gothic and Romanesque style.
Whether in a rustic village tavern or ancient castle courtyard, you will be thrilled by the beauty of the Mosel Valley and its delectable wine cellars as you joyfully imbibe in the region's glorious grapes.
Brief Itinerary
Day One: Rhine Wine Wisdom
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Ruedesheim is a lovely Rhine Valley town with half-timbered buildings and cobblestone Drosselgasse, lined with wine taverns - the perfect spot for a wine tasting. To acclimatize ourselves to German wine country, we'll host a lecture by a local wine expert who will share skills in evaluating wines and provide an overview of the viticulture we will encounter throughout our Mosel wine tours.
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Cruise the Rhine, passing picturesque castles and vineyards, debarking to revel in the gorgeous valley villages. In Boppard, a walkabout on the beautiful promenade and a visit to the best preserved Roman fort north of the Alps are true pleasures. The medieval walled village of Bacharach welcomes us with wine and cheese tasting. Prepare to be captivated by the Rhine in Flames, a stunning kaleidoscope of fire, water and light with a procession of 50 illuminated ships sailing the river.
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Day Three: Heidelberg Harvest
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Castle ruins and the great wine barrel in the vaulted cellar are astonishing sights in Heidelberg. We'll also view the German Museum of Pharmacy housed in a castle wing featuring furnishings, drugs and vessels of centuries past. Enjoy free time for shopping and strolling through the old student quarter and the Altstadt (old town).
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Day Four: Medieval Masterpieces
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Koblenz, a 2,000 year-old city of narrow lanes and romantic squares will be visited and we'll pass medieval churches and historic houses all of which are close to the banks of the Rhine or Mosel. Reichsburg castle provides a dramatic vision and is the most photographed sight along the Mosel River, Schloss Landesberg offers some of the best wines produced along the banks of the Mosel. Look forward to a wine tasting at this prestigious site.
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Prepare to celebrate at the Mosel Wine Festival in Traben-Trarbach and surrounding area with a pleasurable afternoon of wine tasting. Traben-Trarbach is filled with magnificent buildings and garden imbued promenades line both banks of the river, with the faded grandeur of 14th century Grevenburg Castle on one side with the Mont Royal ruins, a 17th century fortress opposite.
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Wein und Heimatfest in Lof features a Wine Queen, dancing and live music with lunch together at a fabulous tavern. On to Burg Eltz, the stately castle set upon a rock spur above the village of Moselkern. which boasts original structure from the 12th to the 17th centuries and houses medieval furnishings including a treasury of armor.
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Day Seven: Treats of Trier
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Bernkastel-Kues features a market square considered to be a perfect example of German town architecture. We move on to Konz, where the Saar and Mosel rivers meet, to join the Donatus-Weinkirmes festivities. Walkabout Germany's oldest city Trier to explore the famous Porta Nigra, the surviving fortified gate from the original Roman settlement. We'll indulge in a wine tasting at one of Trier's oldest cellars and view the birthplace of social revolutionary Karl Marx.
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Day Eight: Luscious Luxembourg
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The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is home to the famous wine route of the Moselle Valley. View Castle Vianden, one of the largest feudal castles of Gothic and Romanesque style which had fallen to ruin until major renovation in 1977 brought glory back to the castle. Bernard Massard wine cellar in Grevenmacher is home to award winning wines which we'll taste in addition to a cellar tour. Cheers! Delight in a fabulous farewell dinner sure to leave you with great memories of your journey.
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Coach transfer to Luxembourg airport for return flight.
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