Discover Your Adventure: For the Wine Connoisseur

Travel Advisor: Kristi Krinhop
Personal Interest: Food and Wine
Destination: A river cruise on the Dordogne and Garonne rivers in France

”I’m fascinated by the history of winemaking,” says AAA Minneapolis Travel Advisor Kristi Krinhop. “And I love to experiment in the kitchen with food I’ve sampled on my travels.” Krinhop’s busy life calls for a vacation that rejuvenates, so when she’s dreaming about her first post-pandemic adventure, she envisions leisurely bike rides between wineries, sampling local delicacies, and perhaps a cooking class with a local chef, where she can learn how to pair great food with just the right vintage.

A river cruise beginning in France’s wine capital, Bordeaux fits this description. Floating lazily along the Dordogne and Garonne rivers in southwest France, it’s a journey that includes visits to iconic chateaux, legendary vineyards, and the best of French culture, lifestyle, wine and food. Days are filled with walking tours, wine tastings, local museums, and outdoor markets, where locals peddle their farm-to-table ingredients.

“Many European guided motorcoach tours operate at a fairly swift pace.” say Krinhop. “And that’s ok. Every country offers so much history, culture, and natural beauty, the tour has to keep moving along to fit everything in.“ But a river cruise is different, she says. “There is still a lot to see, but it’s neatly packaged with just the right amount of time on the river between cities and small towns. This offers me the opportunity to take in the important sites, often just steps from our ship, with time left over to wander about making little discoveries of my own.”

An expert in pairing life interests with dream vacations, Kristi’s real passion is finding rejuvenating getaway for others. She can be reached at kkrinhop@aaaminneapolis.com or Book an Appointment with Kristi online!