What wine should I drink on a Rhine river cruise?

A Rhine cruise passes through Mittelrhein (Rhine Gorge), Rheingau, Rheinhessen & Pfalz and Alsace, so expect wines from grapes like Riesling, Müller-Thurgau / Rivaner, Weißburgunder / Pinot Blanc, Grauburgunder / Pinot Gris and Kerner. Each stop guide lists the must-try bottle and food pairings.

Which towns are the best wine stops on the Rhine?

Koblenz, Rudesheim, Mainz, Mannheim, Speyer, Strasbourg and Breisach are the wine-focused stops along the Rhine.

How many stops are on a Rhine river cruise?

This guide covers 10 stops along the Rhine, 7 of them in a wine region.

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River cruise wine guide

Wine Guide to the Rhine River Cruise

Curated by Michele Edington, Certified Sommelier

The Rhine winds through Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland, and for wine lovers it's one of Europe's great cruising routes. Along the way you'll pass 7 wine stops across regions like Mittelrhein (Rhine Gorge), Rheingau, Rheinhessen & Pfalz and Alsace, where the glasses fill with grapes such as Riesling, Müller-Thurgau / Rivaner, Weißburgunder / Pinot Blanc, Grauburgunder / Pinot Gris and Kerner. Here's what to drink at each stop.

The full guide

Everything to drink on the Rhine, in your pocket

For travelers sailing Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon, Scenic, Tauck, or Uniworld-style Rhine cruises.

✓What to drink — and the must-try bottle
✓Local food & cheese pairings
✓Nearby vineyards & winery picks
✓What to bring home
✓Cruise timing & shore-excursion tips
✓Download the whole guide — no ship Wi-Fi needed

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Wine regions along the way

Mittelrhein (Rhine Gorge)Rheingau Rheinhessen & Pfalz Alsace

Stops along the Rhine

1
AmsterdamRead the guide →
SolarisJohanniterSouvignier GrisPinotin
2
CologneRead the guide →
Riesling (nearby Mittelrhein, Mosel, and Rheingau lists)Spätburgunder / Pinot Noir (nearby Ahr reds)
3
KoblenzMittelrhein (Rhine Gorge)Read the guide →
RieslingSpätburgunder / Pinot NoirWeißburgunder / Pinot Blanc
4
RudesheimRheingauRead the guide →
RieslingSpätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
5
MainzRheingauRead the guide →
RieslingSilvanerWeissburgunderGrauburgunder
6
MannheimRheinhessen & PfalzRead the guide →
RieslingGrauburgunderWeißburgunderSpätburgunder
7
SpeyerRheinhessen & PfalzRead the guide →
RieslingWeissburgunderGrauburgunderChardonnay
8
StrasbourgAlsaceRead the guide →
RieslingGewurztraminerPinot GrisPinot Blanc
9
BreisachAlsaceRead the guide →
GrauburgunderWeissburgunderSpätburgunderRiesling
10
BaselRead the guide →
Pinot Noir (Blauburgunder)Riesling-Sylvaner (Müller-Thurgau)Sauvignon BlancKerner

Plan your route

Wines along Netherlands's rivers →Wines along Germany's rivers →Wines along France's rivers →Wines along Switzerland's rivers →

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Common questions

What wine should I drink on a Rhine river cruise?: A Rhine cruise passes through Mittelrhein (Rhine Gorge), Rheingau, Rheinhessen & Pfalz and Alsace, so expect wines from grapes like Riesling, Müller-Thurgau / Rivaner, Weißburgunder / Pinot Blanc, Grauburgunder / Pinot Gris and Kerner. Each stop guide lists the must-try bottle and food pairings.
Which towns are the best wine stops on the Rhine?: Koblenz, Rudesheim, Mainz, Mannheim, Speyer, Strasbourg and Breisach are the wine-focused stops along the Rhine.
How many stops are on a Rhine river cruise?: This guide covers 10 stops along the Rhine, 7 of them in a wine region.