Clients that enjoy the flavours of wine and seek out their origins can secure a spot on one of nine new APT wine river cruises that focus solely on the fermented grape juice.
The new itineraries are part of a ‘Wine Ambassadors’ program, which sees guests enjoy tastings along the Danube, Douro, Mosel, Rhine, Rhône and Seine Rivers. There’s also special dinners complemented with locally paired wines, lead excursions to wineries to meet local vintners and demonstrations of traditional wine-making techniques.
Available in 2016, the wine program also features Australian wine ambassadors such as Bruce Tyrrell (Tyrrell’s Wines), Thomas Keith Hardy (Thomas Hardy Wines), Cherry Stowman (Taylors Wines), Darren Davis and Amy White (Seppeltsfield, Aramis and Soul Growers), Nathan Waks (Kilikanoon Wines), Sarah and Sparky Marquis (Mollydooker Wines), John Tomich (Tomich Wines), Nick Haselgrove (Adelaide Winemakers) and Rob Moody (Somerled Wines).
Each ambassador will bring with them a combination of their own wines to showcase to guests alongside local wineries located along the cruise itinerary.
Commenting on the new program, APT Chief Marketing Officer, Debra Fox, said she was excited to not only support European wine makers, but also some of Australia’s most outstanding wine experts.
“ Together we are able to offer an unforgettable insight into the history and heritage of wine-making in the regions that our river cruises visit, providing the chance to taste the produce at source while being guided by some of the most outstanding vintners in Australia.”
Debra Fox, APT Chief Marketing Officer
“These cruises will provide an excellent opportunity for agents to secure client bookings, especially so for special interest group bookings.”
Every Wine Ambassador will travel with guests for the duration of their cruise.
Some of the highlights of the program include: a unique port tasting at Quinta do Seixo in Portugal; and in France, the chance to visit Château Smith Haut Lafitte in Cadillac, for a tour which includes a tasting of Sauternes’ world-famous dessert wines and in Saint-Émilion the opportunity to explore Cordeliers Cloister, including its remarkable network of cellars and tunnels that stretch for three kilometres under the town.
Guests will have a choice of nine all inclusive luxury APT Wine Cruises in 2016 as follows:
- 16-day Charms of Southern France from Arles to Lyon, hosted by Thomas Keith Hardy from Thomas Hardy Wines.
- 9-day Douro Delights from Porto to Madrid hosted by Darren Davis and Amy White from Seppeltsfield.
- 8-day Grand Bordeaux return journey from Bordeaux hosted by Cherry Stowman from Taylors Wines.
- 15-day Magnificent Europe from Budapest to Amsterdam hosted by Nathan Waks from Kilikanoon Wines.
- 8-day Romantic Seine return journey from Paris with Sarah and Sparky Marquis from Mollydooker Wines.
- 8-day Rhône Treasures from Lyon to Arles hosted by John Tomich from Tomich Wines.
- 8-day Rhône Treasures from Arles to Lyon hosted by Bruce Tyrrell from Tyrrell’s Wines.
- 8-day Rhône Treasures from Lyon to Arles hosted by Nick Haselgrove from Adelaide Winemakers.
- 15-day Magnificent Europe from Amsterdam to Budapest hosted by Rob Moody, Somerled Wines.
