Passport & Pour: Five Wine and Spirit Experiences I’ll Never Forget
Some travelers collect postcards. I collect pours. From swirling bold reds in centuries-old vineyards to clinking glasses of small-batch spirits in tucked-away distilleries, my favorite travel memories are measured in sips, not miles.
There’s something magical about discovering a place through what’s in the glass — the history, the craftsmanship, the stories shared across the bar. These are my top five wine and spirit experiences from my travels, each one unforgettable, each one a toast to the adventure of traveling well.
Five Unforgettable Wine and Spirit Experiences
I have had the pleasure of taking many cruises, both river and ocean, in fascinating places around the world. Along the way, I have done several excursions with wine or spirit tastings and tours. Below is the top five list of my favorite wine and other spirit experiences.
Glühwein at the Christmas Markets
I sampled a Glühwein (a hot spiced wine) in a specialty mug at each Christmas Market I visited on my Christmastime in Alsace and Germany river cruise on Avalon in December 2021. I also enjoyed a hot chocolate in Basel, Switzerland and a hot cider in Frankfurt, Germany. As expected, hot chocolate made with Swiss chocolate does not disappoint! Each Christmas Market or town has its own version of the mug. When you purchase a hot beverage, such as Glühwein, hot chocolate, or hot cider, you are charged a small fee as a deposit, typically 1 Euro. Once you have finished your drink, you can either return the mug and get your deposit back, or you can keep the mug.
It was so much fun to make it into a bit of a scavenger hunt (although, admittedly, it is NOT hard to find these mugs!) AND get a small, adorable souvenir at each market! Besides, enjoying a hot adult beverage on a cool winter’s day certainly hits the spot.
- Enjoy a variety of hot, comforting beverages at Christmas markets, including Glühwein, hot chocolate, and hot cider
- Collectable mugs at Christmas markets make fantastic souvenirs
- Christmas market drinks come in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties, so there is something for everyone to enjoy
Harvesting and Wine Tasting at Pizzorno Winery
The first excursion I did on my Carnival in Rio ocean cruise on Azamara in February 2023 was a wonderful visit to the Pizzorno Winery in Montevideo, Uruguay. When our group arrived at the winery we were greeted by the friendly owners and offered a glass of wine. After enjoying the wine, we grabbed a bucket and some shears and headed into the vineyard. We spent some time harvesting grapes…and sampling a few along the way as well. After our buckets were full, we headed back to the winery to empty our buckets into larger bins. We then proceeded to stomp the grapes.
After working hard in the sun, we then got a tour of the wonderfully cool cellars. Our excursion ended in the dining room, where we enjoyed a delicious three-course lunch. Each course was expertly paired with one of the local wines.
While this excursion ended with a typical tour of the wine cellars and a tasting of the local wines, it started off in a unique way. It was so much fun to actually get out and participate in the harvesting! I loved having a more interactive experience on this excursion.
- Get adventurous on winery excursions that give you the opportunity to get out into the actual vineyards
- Wine tasting excursions are a great way to try local wine varieties, such as Tannat in Uruguay
- Tasting excursions that also include a food pairing allow you to savor the wine and enjoy a delicious meal
Rice Wine Tasting in Vietnam
I had a fun and adventurous morning in Vinh Long, Vietnam on my Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River cruise on Avalon in February 2020. We spent the morning at a local workshop which makes several different rice-based products, including rice paper, rice wine, and rice candies. The wine part of the excursion was where it got a bit exciting. After learning how rice wine is distilled, we got to sample two different types of rice wine: plain rice wine and cobra wine. And yes, cobra wine is exactly like it sounds…rice wine sits and ferments for up to one year with actual snakes in it. The plain rice wine is pretty harsh and has quite a kick to it. The cobra wine is much smoother and surprisingly good.
I love a good adventure, and this excursion definitely provided that! How many times will I get the opportunity to drink wine made with actual snakes? Probably very few, so I thoroughly enjoyed participating in this once-in-a-lifetime excursion.
- Tasting excursions offer great opportunities to step out of your comfort zone and try something new
- Take a risk and enjoy unique adventures on some out-of-the-ordinary tasting excursions
- Even if you don’t think you will like something, give it a try and see for yourself…I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious cobra wine is
Cachaça Tasting in South America
I got to enjoy two different cachaça tastings on my Carnival in Rio ocean cruise on Azamara in February 2023. The first was in Ilhabela, Brazil. After a fun morning exploring the lovely town of Ilhabela and visiting a couple of different waterfalls, we ended at a cachaça distillery at the Toca Waterfalls. Here we learned how the traditional Brazilian spirit is distilled from fermented sugarcane juice. Since no tour to a distillery would be complete without a tasting, we ended with the opportunity to sample the many different flavors of cachaça they make here. Aside from the plain cachaça, there were other flavors such as cinnamon, lemongrass, and coffee. The lemongrass was my favorite!
The day after my visit to Ilhabela, I had a wonderful 4×4 tour in Parati, Brazil. After rumbling through the jungles and playing in the Pedra Branca waterfalls, we visited the Pedra Branca Cachaça Distillery. This gorgeous location is perched on a hillside with breathtaking views of the area. We got another crash-course on cachaça production here, then headed to the tasting room. This location also offered a wide variety of flavors, and I had fun sampling many of them. My favorite here was flavored with a local Brazilian fruit.
I was not familiar with cachaça before these two excursions. I love learning new things when I am traveling, and these two stops were a great opportunity for me to learn (and taste!) something new. Both of these locations also came with some stunning views and scenery, which is always a plus in my book!
- There is more than just wine to taste on excursions…seek different experiences that include local spirits to broaden your horizon
- If possible, try a tasting at more than one location to see how they compare and contrast
- Sample new and unique items at a tasting…you never know what you will fall in love with
Rudesheimer Coffee
One of my favorite excursions on my Romantic Rhine river cruise on Avalon in June 2017 was the morning we spent in Rudesheim, Germany. After a fabulous tour of Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, we walked to the Rudesheimer Schloss. Here we were in for a wonderful treat – Rudesheimer coffee! This local specialty starts with sugar in the bottom of the cup. Some of the local brandy is added and is set on fire to caramelize the sugar. Next, coffee is poured on top to extinguish the flame. Whipped cream and shaved chocolate top it all off. Der Kaffee ist köstlich (the coffee is delicious)!
I fell in love with the charm of this tiny town on the Rhine. It was a bit of a dreary morning, so this warm and delicious coffee definitely hit the spot. The ritual of making it is very interesting. The coffee itself is absolutely delicious. This excursion proved to be “not your average (cup of) Joe!”
- Tastings that include demonstrations and entertainment are a fun way to truly experience the local culture
- Embrace the local culture during tastings…the beverages often tell stories of the region’s history
Common Questions
Do I need to book wine or spirits excursions in advance?
This will vary by cruise line and location, but tasting excursions do tend to sell out. Tasting excursions in a popular wine region, or excursions with small/limited space, often sell out early. If you have your heart set on a particular tasting excursion, booking early is highly recommended.
Are tastings included in the price of a wine or spirits excursion?
Yes, usually some tastings are included in the price. The number of wines or spirits sampled will vary from excursion to excursion, but you can typically expect to taste anywhere from two to five (or more!) different wines or spirits on a tasting excursion.
I don’t know much about wine or spirits. Are wine or spirits excursions suitable for novices?
Absolutely! A wine or spirits excursion is a great way to learn more about a specific wine or spirit. The guides will give you a great introduction of the products and the processes behind creating them. I have gone into most of my wine or spirits excursions knowing little to nothing about the subject, and I have enjoyed them all.
Can I buy wine or spirits on an excursion and take it back with me on the ship?
This will vary by cruise line, so be sure to check the specific cruise line policy prior to your excursion. Some cruise lines will hold any alcoholic purchases until the last night of the cruise. Others will allow you to take any alcoholic purchases back to your cabin with you, but may charge a corkage fee.
Even More Travel Ideas
Top 5 Tips to Make Travel a Pleasure
