Rivers of the West Wine & Culinary Cruises

American Safari Cruises introduces exclusive wine and culinary yacht cruise adventures for a select few aboard the 36-guest Safari Explorer.

Sample award-winning wine and cruise through history, witnessing the natural beauty and tastes of the Pacific Northwest. Charter to celebrate a
milestone wedding anniversary, birthday or just to enjoy your passion for highly-rated fine wines amidst one of the USA's most scenic backgrounds.
Relax in the comfort of a luxury yacht without the worries of driving.

Located on approximately the same latitude as some of the great French wine regions, the area of the Pacific Northwest's Columbia River valley has become well known and popular with wine enthusiasts from around the world. In the south central part of Washington State, the Columbia River Gorge region benefits from the area's moist marine breezes and cool, temperate nights. Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris are classic wines for this area. To the east, the Walla Walla region benefits from a long growing season. This area's wineries are known for their Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Further inland, the exceptional and compact Red Mountain region and adjacent Yakima Valley region receive dry, hot summers and crisp winters, producing a range of varietals that include Chardonnay, Riesling and Merlot.

Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrive Portland, Clear Creek Distillery, boarding the Safari Explorer
Transfer to the Safari Explorer via your week's first several "fruit-of-the-vine" visits at a unique tasting room, Clear Creek Distillery, which is located not far from the Safari Explorer's embarkation dock. Clear Creek’s signature product is Pear-in-the-bottle brandy. Continue via your coach transfer to the Safari Explorer where the crew will greet you with champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Meet your onboard guest vintner during cocktail hour and be sure to visit the Wine Library after dinner for an introductory wine tasting. Relax on deck and enjoy the sunset as we begin our cruise. To round out the day, slip into the top-deck hot tub before turning in.

Day 2 Columbia Gorge and Bonneville Dam
Join your Expedition Leader on deck this morning as we enter the striking Columbia River Gorge. This spectacular canyon cuts the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountain Range and is a designated National Scenic Area. We’ll leave the yacht for a private tour of the impressive Bonneville Dam, the first dam on the Columbia River as you head east. View the massive turbines that produce enormous amounts of hydropower, and step outside to view the fish ladder. Later, we'll make a port call at Hood River, the windsurfing capital of the world, to tour the Full Sail Brewing Co.'s local brewery and browse the boutique shops. After dinner a guest speaker will join us for an informative presentation on the local history, and we’ll stay dockside in Hood River for the night.

Day 3 Maryhill Museum and Maryhill Winery / Columbia Gorge Appellation
Today’s cruise itinerary enters a stretch of wilderness which is home to northern harriers, cliff swallows, osprey, mule deer and coyotes. After transiting The Dalles Lock and Dam, we’ll anchor and visit Maryhill Museum followed by a visit to the Maryhill Winery. The museum's collections are housed in a castle-like chateau situated on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. The museum offers an eclectic collection of Native arts, European paintings and the Queen of Romania's personal effects. Our winery visit will include a tasting from a special tasting list. Back onboard, we’ll make our way through the John Day Lock and Dam. Learn more about the different appellations along the Columbia River after dinner and take the opportunity to relax in the hot tub, sauna or with a complimentary massage.

Day 4 The Washington Wine Country - Red Mountain and Yakima Valley Appellation
The next two days will focus primarily on winery tours and tastings. Enjoy breakfast onboard the Safari Explorer before traveling to Hedges Family Estate Winery. The family estate’s Chateau is known for their Cabernet Sauvignon. Enjoy an exclusive tasting in the estate’s private family library. Later, explore the adjacent vineyard and European-styled courtyard garden. At the conclusion of the tour, travel a short distance to Terra Blanca Winery and Estate Vineyard. Join the winemaker for an exclusive tour before enjoying a romantic luncheon in the caves of this bold Tuscany-style winery. Upon exiting the winery’s caves, stroll the cobbled walkways to explore the meticulously landscaped grounds and reflecting lake. Later this afternoon, rejoin the Safari Explorer for sunset cruising along the Columbia River. To end the day of sampling this region's remarkable wines, relax with a glass of fine wine in-hand during a quiet dinner or afterwards in the yacht’s cozy salon.

Day 5 The Washington Wine Country - Walla Walla Appellation
Travel by executive coach to the Walla Walla appellation. Tour L’Ecole Nº 41, an unusual winery located in an historic 1915 Frenchtown schoolhouse. Join your wine "scholar" on a private tour and tasting of prized reserve wines such as an Estate Syrah from the wineries acclaimed partner, Seven Hills Vineyard. As you sip vibrant, aromatic wines surrounded by nostalgic remnants of school classes of long ago, you'll encounter "high marks" with their wine reviews consistently scoring in the 90's. A short distance away is Northstar, a unique destination winery known for their ultra-premium Merlot wines. Learn about their handcrafted limited production award-winning reserve wines during a private tasting and wine production tour. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to blend your own complex Merlot creation under the tutelage of the world-class winemakers. After a specially prepared lunch, savor some of the Walla Walla Appellation's finest Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot as you stroll the landscaped gardens of Basel Cellars Estate Winery. Housed in a subterranean structure, the wine-making facilities are modeled after the famous Chateau Mouton Rothschild in the Pauillac Appellation of Bordeaux, France. Upon returning to the yacht, relax on deck as we cruise along the rolling Columbia River. Enjoy the hot tub, read a book, or join the Captain on the bridge to watch the sunset as we cruise into the Snake River portion of our adventure.

Day 6 The Palouse Canyon
Enjoy breakfast onboard the Safari Explorer, as we cruise the cliff-lined Snake River. We’ll pass through three of the four Snake River dams: Lower Monumental, Little Goose, and Lower Granite. We’ll be on deck with our Expedition Leader as we “lock through,” watching the mechanics of these massive structures. We’ll also anchor in the Palouse River and set off by kayak and skiff for a look at a magnificent canyon formed by Ice-Age floods.

Day 7 Hells Canyon by Jet Boat
Enjoy a morning hike after breakfast before getting underway. After docking at the Port of Clarkston, we’ll join our Jet Boat Captain for an invigorating excursion into Hells Canyon. Protected as a National Recreation Area since 1975, Hell’s Canyon preserves a world of fascinating natural and cultural elements. Lunch will be included in our excursion, and this afternoon we’ll reboard the Safari Explorer where a festive Farewell Dinner and Wine Event awaits.

Day 8 A Fond Farewell
Your crew serves another excellent breakfast this morning before bidding you "adieu." At 9:00 am you'll be transferred to the Lewiston, Idaho, airport for connections home.

What's Included:

• Wine tastings, gourmet meals and premium spirits onboard the Safari Explorer
• Guided transportation and tours at all wineries, cave lunch ashore and visits to a minimum of 5 wineries, a brewery and brandy distillery
• Meet/greet services and transfer
• Exclusive shore excursions
• All meals aboard yacht.
• Premium wine, beer and liquor
• Kayaking, and small-boat exploration
• Onboard professional naturalist or escort
• All taxes, port charges and fees.

What's Not Included:

• Airfare to and from your home city
• Super-premium wine, beer and liquor
• Discretionary greatuities to vessel's crew, typically 5-10% of fare, and to local tour guides or drivers, suggested at $2-$5 per guest
• Travel insurance

Call Toll Free: (888) 815-5428 or Inquire Today!

All rates are per person, double occupancy. Port charges, Government taxes and fees are additional. Limited availability and based on minimum fares for select departure dates. Other dates may be higher. These rates are for new, individual bookings only. Not responsible for last minute changes of price or itinerary by cruise line, or any errors or omissions in the content of this site. Some restrictions and cancellation penalties may apply.