Rhine Valley Wine Tours
The Rhine is Riesling and castles: the Rheingau, where the grape makes some of Germany’s grandest whites around Rüdesheim and Johannisberg, and the Middle Rhine gorge, a UNESCO landscape of steep vineyards under forty castles, best seen from the deck of a river boat. Compare the top-rated Rhine wine tours below, then read our notes.
Rhine Valley wine tours and river cruises
Formats: day trips from Frankfurt to the Rhine Valley with a river cruise and a winery tasting; Rheingau winery visits around Rüdesheim; Riesling tastings in the wine villages; combined castle-cruise-and-wine days.
What you taste: Rheingau and Middle Rhine Riesling, from bone-dry (trocken) to the sweeter Kabinett and Spätlese, plus the red Spätburgunder of Assmannshausen and a glass of German Sekt.
Price: roughly 90 to 150 dollars for a day trip from Frankfurt with a cruise, a tasting and transport; less for a village tasting.
The Rheingau: Germany’s grand Riesling
Where the Rhine turns west near Rüdesheim, the south-facing slopes of the Rheingau make Riesling of real weight and pedigree – Schloss Johannisberg is said to be where “Spätlese”, late-harvest picking, was discovered in 1775. The wines run from crisp and dry to honeyed and sweet, and the village of Rüdesheim, with its narrow Drosselgasse, is the tourist heart. The red village of Assmannshausen nearby makes Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir).
The Middle Rhine and the castles
Downstream, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage gorge where terraced vineyards climb under some forty castles, past the Lorelei rock. The classic way to see it is by river boat, and most Rhine day trips from Frankfurt combine a cruise through the gorge with a tasting at a family winery – wine, scenery and history in one outing.
How to visit
From Frankfurt the Rhine is under an hour, which is why the day trips run from there; you can also base in Rüdesheim. For the other great German Riesling river, see our Mosel wine tours. Harvest is September-October, and the vineyards turn gold in autumn.
How we choose
We list only experiences with a strong rating over a meaningful number of reviews and free cancellation where available, and we favour small-group and family-run hosts. FindEatLocal earns a commission when you book through GetYourGuide or Viator links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay. More about how we choose.
FAQ about Rhine Valley Wine Tours
Frequently asked questions
What wine is the Rhine known for?
Riesling above all - the Rheingau around Rüdesheim makes some of Germany’s grandest - plus Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) at Assmannshausen.
Should I do a Rhine river cruise with the wine?
Yes; the classic day trip pairs a boat through the castle-lined UNESCO gorge with a winery tasting, the best way to see the valley.
Rhine or Mosel for wine?
The Rhine (Rheingau) for grander, fuller Riesling and the castle cruises; the Mosel for lighter, lower-alcohol, more delicate Riesling on dramatic slate slopes. Both are superb.