Napa Valley’s notable winemakers, vineyard owners, and wine educators are elevating their hospitality game by packing their bags (and bottles) to take experiences beyond the vineyard and on board the open seas with exclusive wine cruises. These luxury voyages offer them a unique way to engage with their members, providing an intimate setting where guests can enjoy curated tastings, gourmet pairings, and direct interactions with their brand—all while sailing through breathtaking destinations.

Here’s the recipe: Pair a love of cruising with a love of wine, add a dash of stunning scenery in a storied destination, plus an internationally recognized wine host, and the result is a very special excursion.

While immersed in local flavors and traditions, guests expand their palates and deepen their understanding of global winemaking techniques, contrasting Old World and New World wines. Conviviality runs high as like-minded guests drink in scenery and history, learning about ancient wine traditions in famed places like Saint-Émilion or lesser-known places like Austria’s Wachau Valley. Private tastings, paired dinners, and informative lectures occur on every wine sailing. To gain a stronger sense of place, there are walks among the vines, visits to cellars, and local wine festivals.

In anticipation of their first wine cruise, Vintner/Co-Owner Christi Coors Ficeli said, “At Goosecross Cellars, we enjoy a following of extremely loyal club members, some of whom have been with us 10 and even 20 years. Many of them—especially those living out of town— expressed that they would really enjoy having more time with us. We had seen other producers host wine cruises successfully, so we decided to test the waters (so to speak) with our own wine program. Much to our surprise and delight, we sold out quickly, far surpassing the minimum number of participants required. Even the tour director was amazed at how quickly we secured so many club members for our inaugural voyage. We could have kept selling, but we decided to cap it at a number that felt intimate, fun, and memorable. We treat our club members with love and respect and work hard to ensure they love us back; their enthusiasm for this offering tells us that they do!”

Chef’s Table, courtesy of AmaWaterways

Wine Cruises: River Sailings

Operating 80 intimate wine cruises annually, family-owned specialist river cruise company AmaWaterways has been an industry leader for 20-plus years. Passengers drift past fabled Old World vineyards via Europe’s rivers: the Rhine, Danube, Main, Moselle, Rhône, Saône, Seine, Dordogne, Garonne, and Douro.

Co-founder and Co-owner Kristin Karst said, “As food and wine become a major part of the travel experience, guests are seeking immersive cultural experiences during their cruises. Since the debut of our Celebration of Wine River Cruises in 2010, we’ve seen increasing demand for these epicurean experiences, giving our guests the opportunity to sip local wines while sailing through breathtaking wine regions of the world alongside acclaimed North American and European wine hosts. Delving into regional wine specialties has become an important part of how travelers experience a destination, and a heightened wine focus enables our guests to develop a deeper and more nuanced appreciation for a country’s history, culture, and people.”

The local lineup: Jill and Steve Matthiasson of Matthiasson Wines in Napa escort Melodies of the Danube in June, and there are seven sailings hosted by vintners from Sonoma alone in July.

August is also a busy season with Kandice and Mark Jessup, proprietor and winemaker of J Gregory Cellars in Napa, co-hosting their customer/members on the Essence of Burgundy & Provence. Stephen and Sylvia Taplin, owners of Napa’s Taplin Cellars, are also on board, taking guests on the Enchanting Rhine. On a grander scale, wine lovers are in for a treat when Master of Wine Peter Marks leads a sailing of Enticing Douro in November.

During 2026, AmaWaterways wine programming includes a France-focused itinerary with adventures through Burgundy, Rhone, Provence and Bordeaux. Judd Finklestien, proprietor of Judd’s Hill Winery proclaimed, “In Spring of 2026, we’ll be cruising through Provence, France, enjoying the beauty, cuisine, and, of course, the wine,” referring to the Colors of Provence cruise, a seven-day journey from Lyon to Arles.
Other Napa-based hosts include Khristopher Lund, director of hospitality at Elyse Winery, Proprietor/CEO David Duncan of Silver Oak Cellars, and Hillary Cole, director of sales and marketing at Bell Wine Cellars, who will be joining the Captivating Rhine tour.

First dibs for reservations typically go to wine club members; however, all the booking details can be directed to the winery and found on the AmaWaterway website. // www.amawaterways.com

Bart & Barb O’Brien, Alaska wine cruise

Wine Cruises: Ocean Sailings

From Tokyo to Tahiti and from Sydney to Seattle, long-haul ocean wine cruises on luxury vessels are operated by Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Windstar Cruises, and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, among other top cruise lines.

Bart and Barb O’Brien, proprietors of O’Brien Estate, will escort 100 guests (supported by 90 crew) on an all-suite trip with butler service. “We love cruising with our wine club members to foreign lands, experiencing new cultures, cuisine, and wines while making lifetime memories and friendships.” O’Brien Estate is the winery host on a Silversea cruise to the Galápagos Islands this September. For Barb, a biology major, exploring the land that inspired Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and “getting up close to marine iguanas, giant tortoises, penguins, and Blue-footed boobies will be a dream come true!”

In October, Rombauer enthusiasts will enjoy a cruise on Windstar Cruises along the Canadian Atlantic and New England shore accompanied by Cheryl Riedel, director of customer engagement at Rombauer Vineyards, and famed Chef Larry Forgione.

In April 2026, a 16-day journey from Singapore to Tokyo on Oceania Cruises’ Riviera is escorted by Bennett Lane Winery Owners Lisa and Randy Lynch and General Manager Stefanie Longton. // www.foodandwinetrails.com/cruises-tours

Judd Finklestein & chef show off big bottles on a Seine River cruise // Photo by Holly Finklestein

Wine Cruises: Sea Sailings

A wine cruise with the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection departs in late June for Portugal, Spain, and France, escorted by Darioush Winery Founders Darioush and Shahpar Khaledi. Proprietors Todd and Sarah Anderson of Conn Valley Vineyards in St. Helena escort an all-suites butler service Silversea voyage to Spain, Morocco, and Portugal. Key members of The Prisoner Wine Company will be joining Director of Winemaking Todd Ricard on an inaugural program in the Mediterranean aboard Oceania Cruises Nautica. In July 2026, a Mediterranean wine cruise is escorted by Cliff Lede Vineyards’ General Manager Jason Lede with all suites and butler service aboard Silversea’s new ship, Silver Ray. // foodandwinetrails.com/cruises-tours

With growing competition in the wine industry, these cruises create a memorable, immersive brand experience that deepens customer loyalty and attracts high-end clientele. By expanding beyond their estates, Napa wineries are blending luxury travel with fine wine, making every sip an adventure.