It has to be said, a river cruise is a pretty unique way to explore. From the moment you depart, there’s so much to see as your scenery is always changing and it’s up to you how you take it in too – whether that be up on deck or from your own stateroom balcony. Most of the time, you’ll dock right in the centre of your city or town, which gives you more time to explore…or taste…or shop…in fact, there’s a river for pretty much any interest, so with that in mind, I thought I’d take a look at the best rivers to choose, whatever it is you’d rather be doing on holiday.

The first in this mini-series of blogs looks at two different interests that go hand in hand – food and wine.

For the budding sommelier

Some of us love wine with a meal, while some simply love it with a real passion, and if getting to know some of Europe’s finest vintages a little better, not to mention finding out more about how they are made, really interests you then there are some great river cruises out there.

Even to the casual quaffer, France is king of wines and indeed, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to grape-centric river cruises. A Seine river cruise northwards from Paris will take you through the Normandy region, while a Rhone cruise gives you the chance to sample all that’s grape about the beautiful Burgundy region. Also, you can sample some of the finest vintages that the world-famous region of Bordeaux has to offer with a voyage along the interlinking Garonne, Gironde and Dordogne rivers.

Germany is certainly no slouch on the wine front and cruises along its most famous river the Rhine can often take you to Rüdesheim, which is home to a number of respected wineries and Breisach, another town famous for its wine production. The Moselle is another of Germany’s rivers which is popular with cruisers and Bernkastel an equally popular port. it’s a wine-growing centre too, which is great news if you’re looking to sample some fantastic Rieslings, which the area is best known for.

For lovers of port wine in particular, a Douro cruise is a must and when you consider that the river’s embarkation Port, Porto is where the famous tipple originates from and where it got its name, it will come as no surprise that port cellar tours and tasting opportunities are popular fixtures on most Douro itineraries.

Many river cruise lines offer special wine-themed cruises through each of these regions, with plenty of opportunity for tastings and vineyard visits, with expert sommeliers often on-board, sharing their wisdom by way of informative lectures during the evening.

For the foodie

The Far East is renowned for its exotic flavours and a Mekong River cruise is a great way to sample all that is good about Eastern cuisine. Ho Chi Minh City is a common starting point for many Mekong cruises and a great place to start when it comes to Eastern cuisine too. It’s got one of the most revered restaurant scenes in the whole of Southeast Asia and the perfect place to try everything from grilled skewered beef to succulent shrimp. The city’s also great for authentic street food which is ideal if you’re looking to eat on the go and make the most of your sightseeing time.

Mekong cruises are also a great chance to sample local market culture and try traditional dishes as on your journey, you’ll call at numerous towns and markets which trade in all manner of authentic tastes. Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh is another city in which you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to cuisine and a special Urban Forage tour is fast becoming one of the most favoured ways to get a taste for everything.

Italian food is enduringly popular across Europe and beyond and though it’s not one of the best-known rivers when it comes to cruises, Italy’s Po offers a great chance to sample many of the country’s signature favourites, especially when you consider that they depart from one of its most popular tourist destinations, Venice. Taking time out in a side street café before exploring the Venice Lagoon or grabbing a slice of authentic Margherita on the go is the perfect introduction.

Nouvelle and haute cuisine are of course the product of France, a country which wrote the book on elegantly prepared and presented dishes, served and created with flair. A Seine river cruise which starts in Paris will give you ample opportunity to sample on of the city’s many restaurants but a journey down the Rhone could prove equally as pleasing, with the chance to visit Lyon – a city renowned for its fine cuisine which enjoys a long and distinguished history. Regional ingredients with an expert twist is what Lyonnaise cuisine is all about, with dishes like Andouillette (tripe sausage) and Lyonnaise potatoes popular favourites.

Next time, I look at the best rivers for history and nature lovers.