Six of the best: River cruise vineyard visits in Europe

CHÂTEAU PORTIER, BEAUJOLAIS, FRANCE

Learn about the many different types of Beaujolais – and its sometimes turbulent history – on a tour of the countryside and vineyards surrounding Château Portier, about 18 kilometres from the picturesque cruise port of Mâcon. The estate in the village of Romanèche-Thorins is part of the Moulin à Vent (windmill) appellation, and produces particularly sought-after Beajolais wines – these are not to be confused with the popular Beaujolais Nouveau. The 15th-century windmill still overlooks the vineyards and has been in the Chastel-Sauzet family for some 150 years, along with the 19th-century chateau that they took over about 10 years ago. scenic.com.au

SCHLOSS JOHANNISBERG, RUDESHEIM, GERMANY

First documented in 817, this estate is world-renowned for its Riesling. Schloss Johannisberg was founded as a Benedictine monastery and for some 1200 years it has been the centre of viticulture in the Rheingau region. The grand palace, or schloss, was built in 1716, bombed in 1942 and rebuilt in 1965; the first Riesling vines were planted in 1720. A visit to the cellar's underground library reveals the oldest bottle of Schloss Jonanisberger Riesling, which dates back to 1748. Tours of the vineyard include a tasting session (but not of the 1748) – in July 2017 Australian winemaker Scott McWilliam will accompany the tour on an APT Wine Series cruise. aptouring.com.au

MAISON M. CHAPOUTIER, TAIN L'HERMITAGE, FRANCE

Michel Chapoutier runs this 200-year-old winery in the scenic Rhône Valley, guided by the family motto "fac et spera", or "do and hope". Wines produced here include Hermitage, Côte Rôtie, Chateauneuf du Pape, Saint-Joseph, Crozes Hermitage and Luberon, from grapes grown in the Chapoutier vineyards and other select single-growth vineyards. They are all farmed organically or biodynamically. The attractive tasting room at Maison M. Chapoutier has displays of the different soils and rocks of the Hermitage vineyard and in August, Australian wine expert Bruce Tyrrell will host a Wine Series cruise that includes a tour of the vineyard. aptouring.com.au

CHÂTEAU LAGRANGE, ST JULIEN, BORDEAUX, FRANCE

Some of the most famous red wines in the world are produced in the Médoc, a region that stretches along the left bank of the Gironde Estuary from the city of Bordeaux to the Atlantic ocean. It encompasses four main wine-producing communes, St Estephe, Pauillac, Margaux and St Julien.

Chateau Lagrange in St Julien has 110 hectares of vines, which make it the biggest estate in the Médoc – it also boasts an extremely impressive 17th-century chateau, where you do the tastings. As well as making highly rated red wines, Château Lagrange produces limited quantities of a white wine called Les Arums de Lagrange. scenic.com.au