Captivating Rhine Cruise, April 27 - May 4, 2023, with Peter & Betsy Spann of Spann Vineyards

Betsy and Peter Spann

Sailing up Europe’s mighty Rhine, visiting Holland, Germany, France and Switzerland.

Betsy and Peter Spann started their love affair with grapes and wine early in life. Betsy’s love of wine began as a young lady with a move to Bordeaux in 1975. She experienced an education and insight into the fine wines and cheeses of southwestern France. Returning to California Betsy attended college, later opening a store in El Dorado County featuring local wines. She sold the store to become an independent wine broker representing small high quality producers.

Moving to Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley she was involved with Lake Sonoma Winery, working in the vineyards and in wine production. After meeting husband Peter in Dallas they fell in love, bought a vineyard and began their own wine production using fruit sourced from small-lot vineyards in the Mayacamus Mountains. The end result is richly flavored Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Sangiovese wines. Betsy also crafts wines from select cool-climate vineyards throughout Sonoma County; producing limited quantities of blended wines, influenced by the winemaking styles of Bordeaux, the Rhone Valley and Tuscany.

Join Peter & Betsy Spann sailing up the Rhine, through the heart of western Europe. Ports of call include: Amsterdam, Cologne, Rudesheim, Strasbourg and Basel. Special events and tours are included for members of the Spann Vineyards Group.

There are optional pre and post cruise tour programs:

• 2-night pre-cruise tour of Amsterdam and surrounds
• 4-night post-cruise Switzerland tour visiting the Swiss Alps, Lucerne, and Zurich