A Taste Of Local Wine And History: The American Empress Debuts Wine-Themed Tour

The best accompaniment to inspiring views of the Pacific Northwest and tales of the Lewis and Clark expedition? Local wines to 'inspire' the palate, of course.

Earlier this month, the American Queen Steamboat Company debuted its Vineyards, Vintages, and Varietals tour, which is exclusive to the American Empress.

Local winemakers from Washington and Oregon held exclusive, complimentary tastings for guests aboard the American Empress to discuss flavor profiles, top-selling wines from their vineyards, vineyard history, and their winemaking process. Representatives from Archery Summit Winery, Desert Wind Winery, and Waterbrook Winery held such tastings for the inaugural wine-themed tour.

Dinners in The Astoria Dining Room were often accompanied by hand-selected wines from local wineries and a quick presentation by a vineyard representative on each wine and recommended pairings with the night's dinner menu. Columbia Winery, Double Canyon Vineyard, and Duck Pond Cellars participated in these pairing events.

In line with sourcing fresh, local ingredients for its culinary offerings, local wines were incorporated in several dishes served on the American Empress.

The themed voyage also included wine and beer-themed excursions. The ale trail excursion in Astoria, Oregon brought American Empress guests to three local breweries: Buoy Beer, The Wet Dog, and Fort George Brewery and Public House. In Portland there was a Willamette Valley wine tour and an urban wine tour, each providing guests the opportunity to taste local wines and learn about winemaking in the area.

The Vineyards, Vintages, and Varietals tour will run on select dates in 2017. More information on the themed voyage can be found here.