Good Food, Fine Wine and Tall Ships – Combining a European Waterways Cruise With Visit to the iconic Annual Bordeaux Wine Festival, June 22 - 25

With more than 80 different wines from around Bordeaux, nightly fireworks, delectable gastronomic offerings, lively music, and an impressive display of Tall Ships, France’s annual Bordeaux Wine Festival is one of the most memorable events of the year in the famed wine-growing region. Staged at Place des Quinconces on the banks of the Garonne River over four days (June 22 – 25, 2023), it is just over an hour’s drive to the route on the Canal de Garonne where European Waterways’ luxury hotel barge Rosa offers a six-night, all-inclusive cruise. Guests can combine a visit to the festival with a cruise aboard Rosa for a truly immersive gastronomic and cultural experience in Southwest France.

“The Bordeaux Wine Festival offers an opportunity for visitors to sample many of the world-class wines of the region and meet the fascinating people who create them,” said Derek Banks, European Waterways’ managing director. “There are plenty of excellent hotels nearby from which to attend the festival and explore the area. For guests who also wish to charter the barge with us, we offer free transfer to and from the festival from the hotel barge.”

20% Off Charter

Originally a Dutch “Klipper” barge, European Waterways’ 8-passenger Rosa is today a state-of-the-art luxury hotel barge, with air-conditioned ensuite cabins, attractive wood paneling, and a sun deck for alfresco dining. Along with European Waterways’ Anjodi, it was featured in the successful Rick Stein’s French Odyssey series.

Rosa offers several convenient six-night departures throughout June and early July that make them an ideal companion to the festival. Travellers planning to spend several weeks in the region can take advantage of the great value available with the charter of Rosa’s July 2 departure, which can be booked at 20% off the regular price. With the special, the whole-boat price is just €25,000, a saving of €6,400 off the regular €32,000 price.

Itinerary highlights include a private tour of the Château de la Motte in the company of the resident Countess; a tour and private Armagnac tasting at renowned Domaine de Lapeyrade; a visit to the town of Moissac and its UNESCO classified abbey; and a tour and private tasting at an organic winery in the Brulhois wine region. Highlights also include a cruise across the 1,900-foot Plan Canal D’Agen Aqueduct, one of the longest in France; as well as a tour on the Garonne River aboard a traditional flat-bottom boat.

“On every European Waterways cruise, meals are paired with two of the finest regional vintages, with a host who relates the story behind each selection,” noted Banks. “If you love wines, or just want to pick up a few tips, a cruise in Gascony and Bordeaux is a memorable experience at any time of the season.”

About European Waterways

Hotel barging is a boutique, unique experience that offers an immersive and all-inclusive “gentle voyage of discovery” focusing upon the culture, history, fine wine, and gourmet cuisine of the cruise regions. Founded more than 40 years ago by Derek Banks and John Wood-Dow, European Waterways was among the first to operate on the Canal du Midi. Their efforts helped to ignite a new niche travel industry that proved instrumental in the revitalization of Europe’s intricate network of scenic canals and inland waterways as tourism destinations.

With a 6-to-20 person capacity and 1:2 crew ratio, European Waterways is able to provide an impeccable level of on-board service and can transport their guests on the narrower, more intimate inland waterways that are inaccessible to larger vessels. This fascinating network of smaller canals allows for flexibility, spontaneity and ample opportunity to hop off and explore the beautiful surroundings via bicycle or on foot. In addition to these are daily, chauffeured excursions “off the beaten path” to a wide variety of enthralling locations, from exquisite wine tastings to private tours of stately homes. With over 40 years’ experience and a fleet that spans nine countries, European Waterways is the largest luxury hotel barging company in Europe. For more information, call 1-877-879-8808 in the U.S., 1-877-574-3404 in Canada, or visit www.europeanwaterways.com.

*Source: PEPR Agency, Nicole Tapster, Caroline Parsons, caroline@pepr.com.au