Uncover the Beauty and Wine of the Rhine’s Castle-Laden Shores

In September 2025, we embarked on an amazing research trip to the Rhine River region, setting the stage for an exciting new tour. And what a journey it was! The sights, sounds, and flavors of the Rhine completely exceeded our expectations. From the charming villages and lively beer halls to the tranquil wine cellars, there was never a dull moment. We were captivated by the sheer number of castles lining the riverbanks as we cruised through the stunning Rhine Gorge—each one more picturesque than the last.
Along the way, we indulged in local wines, beers, and mouthwatering regional dishes, often finding ourselves snapping so many photos that we nearly maxed out our phone storage! While we still have one more research trip planned before finalizing the tour details, we’re already excited to announce that our "Castles, Cuisine, and Wine along the Rhine" tour will likely kick off in the spring of 2029.
Stay tuned for more updates as we finalize the itinerary and prepare to share the beauty and culture of the Rhine with you!

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Castles and wine
​along the Rhine
May 2029
Registration Opens February 2028

Possible Highlights of the Tour:

• Rhine River cruise through the Rhine Gorge, the most wild and beautiful section of the Rhine River
• Visits to two castles and dozens of castles to be seen along the way.
• Bike trip along the Mosel River
• Kölsch beer tour in Cologne
• Wine tour and tasting day trip in the Rheingau Wine growing region along the Rhine
• Gondola ride over vineyards to the hilltop Denkmal Memorial overlooking the Rhine River
• Wine, beer, and meals during group activities

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A wee
​photo review 

of our research trip in 2025

Cologne (Köln)We kicked off our research trip in Cologne, Germany—a city known as much for its towering cathedral as for its crisp, easy-drinking Kölsch. Wanting to experience the city’s beer culture the right way, we joined a Kölsch walking tour that led us through four traditional bierhalls: Malzmühle, Brauhaus Sünner im Walfisch, Bierhaus in d’r Salzgass, and Peters Brauhaus. Each stop poured a local breweries' own take on Cologne’s signature brew—light, fresh, and served in small stangen glasses that keep it perfectly cold. We enjoyed them all, though Malzmühle may have edged out the others as our favorite.
One highlight was the Bierhaus in d’r Salzgass, whose vaulted ceilings and warm wooden interior gave it an almost “church-like” charm—fitting, since it was originally designed to welcome the monks and pilgrims visiting the nearby cathedral. The combination of history, hospitality, and beer made Cologne a perfect start to our journey.

Cochem: From Cologne, we followed the Rhine River by train to Koblenz, then switched lines to trace the scenic Mosel River into the small, storybook town of Cochem. Nestled beneath the steep slopes of vineyards and crowned by a fairytale castle, Cochem is lively during the day and peacefully quiet at night—a balance we loved immediately.
We sampled local wines, especially Riesling and Spätburgunder (Germany’s Pinot Noir). While we usually avoid the sweeter styles, we found the trocken (dry) Rieslings to be beautifully balanced—fresh, crisp, and with just a hint of that candy sweetness Riesling is known for. Between the scenery, the wine, and the relaxed pace, Cochem quickly became a place we’d love to return to—next time with a group in tow.

Bacharach: We spent two nights in the storybook town of Bacharach, tucked along the banks of the Rhine. Our cozy, family-run hotel made the perfect base for exploring the area. The town itself is watched over by a hilltop castle and the haunting ruins of a Gothic cathedral just a short hike above the village. We followed the trail up to the cathedral, then continued on to the castle, where a cold beer came with a sweeping view of the Rhine winding below. In the evening, we discovered Kurpfälzische Münze, a charming little restaurant with the atmosphere of a cellar tavern and coffee house combined. We sampled a local wine flight, lingered over glasses of Riesling, and read our books—content to soak in the relaxed rhythm of Rhine-side life.
Rüdesheim am Rhein: One day, we took the train up the Rhine and crossed by ferry to the delightful town of Rüdesheim am Rhein. Famous for its narrow Drosselgasse alleyway lined with wine taverns and shops, the town is brimming with old-world charm. Surrounding vineyards climb the hillsides, and a gondola glides above them, rewarding riders with panoramic views of the river and the villages below. We couldn’t resist trying a few local specialties: the Rüdesheimer Kaffee, a flaming coffee drink laced with brandy, and Federweisser, a lightly fizzy, still-fermenting fall wine. Both were delicious—and memorable in their own right!

Heidelberg: The final stop on our journey was Heidelberg—a city we’d long wanted to visit. Nestled at the edge of the Black Forest and crowned by one of Germany’s most impressive castle complexes, it’s easy to see why Heidelberg has inspired poets and painters for centuries. The city’s architecture stands apart from the half-timbered towns along the Rhine, favoring elegant Baroque stone facades from the 17th and 18th centuries. We wandered through the castle grounds (absolutely stunning), kayaked along the Neckar River, and sampled local beer and hearty fare throughout the old town. It quickly became one of our favorite discoveries—and a place we can’t wait to share with a group someday.

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INCLUSIONS

Rates

• Lodging in nice, centrally located hotels
• Ground transportation via train (first class) and private coach, as described in the itinerary
• All drinks, group meals and tours, as described in the itinerary
• All tours, attractions and admissions, as described in the itinerary
• Local Tour Guide and/or Drinkable Destinations Escort during all structured tour days
• All taxes and tips on included hotels, meals, guide services and transportation

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TBD 
Rates will be finalized by February 2027. 

For comprehensive information about the tour including reservation information, please download the Information Packet in pdf format below. (available 2/2028)

What makes our tours different than other tour outfits?

1. Local Tour Guides - We don't live in Munich or Germany but we have lived in Europe and have traveled extensively. Even so, we feel that our tour guests are best served by using local tour guides that we have established relationships with for our tours. The experience is so much more rich when stories are heard from people who live in the areas we are visiting.​

2. Small Group Sizes - We believe that small group sizes make for better experiences. Small groups allow our guests to form closer relationships with us, our local guides and each other It also gives us more intimate access to places, restaurants and attractions. 
Minimum: 8
​Maximum: 12

3. It's not only about beer and breweries - ​We love beer and learning it's history and cultural implications. But we're not a one trick pony only visiting breweries all day, every day. (if you've seen one room of stainless steel tanks...)
​ We love all sorts of history, culture, food and attractions so we blend our thirst for great local beer with local history, culture and attractions. And at the end of a day of touring, we'll find a great spot to sit back and enjoy our Drinkable Destination!

What have people said about our tours?

We took a trip to Germany/Octoberfest with Justin and Robyn and let me tell you it was nothing short of amazing. We had access to places and people and beer we would have never had on our own. They made sure every single aspect of the trip was handled so all we had to do was show up and enjoy ourselves. The ability to meet and talk to the malters, hop farmers and brewers was nothing short of magical. We stayed in top notch hotels and there was never a shortage of great food and beverages. We feel blessed as we have become great friends with the folks we traveled with. We would not hesitate to book another trip with Justin and Robyn!
​Cindi & Chris, Milwaukee WI

​Just returned from the Oktoberfest & Bavaria tour with Drinkable Destinations and everything was incredible. The tour itself was a perfect mix of history, culture, sightseeing and beer-based experiences. Loved the addition of local guides for the city walking tours. Justin & Robyn are true professionals who were prepared for everything and handled hiccups so well. For example, as we were boarding the train to head back to Munich, my husband realized he left his passport at the hotel. Robyn stayed behind with him while he got his passport, and they took the next train to meet up with Justin and the rest of the group. I always felt like we were in good hands and well taken care of. There were so many special touches included in the tour, and they even gifted us a custom gingerbread heart to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. I'll definitely travel with Drinkable Destinations again. Hoping to make it to Tipsy Tulips 2027! Thank you for all the amazing memories, Justin & Robyn!
Google review from Vicki

CONTACT US TO BOOK TODAY! 
[email protected]
920.740.8791

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