What wine should I drink on a Rhone & Saone river cruise?

A Rhone & Saone cruise passes through Côte Chalonnaise, Maconnais, Beaujolais, Northern Rhone and Southern Rhone, so expect wines from grapes like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Aligoté, Gamay and Syrah. Each stop guide lists the must-try bottle and food pairings.

Which towns are the best wine stops on the Rhone & Saone?

Chalon-sur-Saône, Mâcon, Lyon, Tournon-sur-Rhone, Tain-l'Hermitage, Viviers, Avignon and Arles are the wine-focused stops along the Rhone & Saone.

How many stops are on a Rhone & Saone river cruise?

This guide covers 8 stops along the Rhone & Saone, 8 of them in a wine region.

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River cruise wine guide

Wine Guide to the Rhone & Saone River Cruise

Curated by Michele Edington, Certified Sommelier

The Rhone & Saone winds through France, and for wine lovers it's one of Europe's great cruising routes. Along the way you'll pass 8 wine stops across regions like Côte Chalonnaise, Maconnais, Beaujolais and Northern Rhone, where the glasses fill with grapes such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Aligoté, Gamay and Syrah. Here's what to drink at each stop.

The full guide

Everything to drink on the Rhone & Saone, in your pocket

For travelers sailing Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon, Scenic, Tauck, or Uniworld-style Rhone & Saone 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

Côte Chalonnaise Maconnais Beaujolais Northern Rhone Southern Rhone Rhone Delta / Provence edge (Arles, Camargue)

Stops along the Rhone & Saone

1
Chalon-sur-SaôneCôte ChalonnaiseRead the guide →
Pinot NoirChardonnayAligoté
2
MâconMaconnaisRead the guide →
ChardonnayGamayPinot NoirAligoté
3
LyonBeaujolaisRead the guide →
GamayChardonnay
4
Tournon-sur-RhoneNorthern RhoneRead the guide →
SyrahMarsanneRoussanneViognier
5
Tain-l'HermitageNorthern RhoneRead the guide →
SyrahMarsanneRoussanne
6
ViviersSouthern RhoneRead the guide →
SyrahGrenacheCinsaultMarselan
7
AvignonSouthern RhoneRead the guide →
GrenacheSyrahMourvèdreCinsault
8
ArlesRhone Delta / Provence edge (Arles, Camargue)Read the guide →
GrenacheCinsaultSyrahMourvèdre

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Common questions

What wine should I drink on a Rhone & Saone river cruise?: A Rhone & Saone cruise passes through Côte Chalonnaise, Maconnais, Beaujolais, Northern Rhone and Southern Rhone, so expect wines from grapes like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Aligoté, Gamay and Syrah. Each stop guide lists the must-try bottle and food pairings.
Which towns are the best wine stops on the Rhone & Saone?: Chalon-sur-Saône, Mâcon, Lyon, Tournon-sur-Rhone, Tain-l'Hermitage, Viviers, Avignon and Arles are the wine-focused stops along the Rhone & Saone.
How many stops are on a Rhone & Saone river cruise?: This guide covers 8 stops along the Rhone & Saone, 8 of them in a wine region.