The luxury train is one of the most romantic and most complete travel experiences in existence. Unlike the aircraft which compresses time, the luxury train expands it: it offers the traveller the spectacle of the passing landscape, the atmosphere of historic grand stations, the conviviality of a meal shared in an exceptional dining car, and of course a wine and spirits selection worthy of the experience. For producers, négociants and Champagne houses, luxury trains represent a unique prescription channel, at the crossroads of travel, gastronomy and old-world luxury.
The luxury train and the great wine share a common philosophy: the refusal of speed in favour of quality. Where the business jet minimises travel time, the luxury train optimises it by transforming it into a complete experience in its own right. The traveller has time, they are in a carefully curated environment, and they can fully appreciate a quality meal accompanied by a fine wine selection while admiring the landscape.
This total availability for pleasure makes luxury train passengers an ideal audience for premium wines and spirits. The configuration of the dining car, with its tables set in the manner of the finest restaurants, its crystal glasses and its personalised service, creates a tasting context comparable to that of a great land-based table. The food-and-wine pairings offered in this setting benefit from maximum receptivity and lasting memory impact.
The itineraries of luxury trains also represent a considerable marketing advantage for the wines of the regions traversed. A journey on board the Orient-Express crossing Burgundy, the Rhône Valley or Provence is a natural occasion to showcase the wines of these terroirs, creating memorable discovery experiences for travellers often unfamiliar with French wine geography.
The history of the luxury train begins on 4 October 1883, with the first journey of the Orient-Express from Paris to Constantinople. The Belgian company CIWL (Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits) created on this occasion a revolutionary concept: dining and sleeping cars of unprecedented comfort, with gastronomy and a wine selection worthy of the finest hotels of the era.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the train was the only means of transport allowing comfortable travel across Europe, and the great railway companies competed in elegance and refinement. The dining cars of the Simplon-Orient-Express, the Train Bleu and the Golden Arrow became gastronomic destinations in their own right, frequented by the aristocracy, the haute bourgeoisie and celebrities from around the world.
The advent of commercial aviation in the 1950s and 1960s marked the progressive decline of the great European night trains. But it also launched a movement of preservation and valorisation of the luxury railway heritage, led by enthusiasts such as James Sherwood, who bought the historic Orient-Express carriages in 1977 and restored them to their original splendour to create the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in 1982.
Today, the luxury train sector is experiencing a spectacular revival, driven by an affluent clientele in search of authentic experiences and alternatives to air travel. New operators such as Rovos Rail in South Africa, Rocky Mountaineer in Canada and the Maharajas' Express in India have created exceptional railway experiences that rival the finest land-based palaces.
The wine and spirits selection on a luxury train is generally managed by a food and beverage director or a dedicated head sommelier, who develops a coherent wine list consistent with the itineraries covered and the expectations of a demanding international clientele. This selection is renewed regularly and often involves partnerships with estates and houses encountered along the routes traversed.
The logistical constraints of railway provisioning are specific: bottles and service equipment must withstand the vibrations of the train, on-board stocks are limited by available space, and orders must be anticipated for each departure. These constraints favour stable partnerships with trusted suppliers capable of delivering at the principal departure stations.
The themed dinners organised on board represent particularly interesting opportunities for producers. A "Burgundy" dinner on board the Orient-Express crossing the Côte d'Or, with a sommelier presenting a specific estate's wines, is a brand experience format that is simultaneously exclusive, memorable and highly prescriptive.
The global luxury railway tourism market is estimated at more than $1 billion and is growing at 10 to 15% per year, driven by growing demand for alternative and authentic travel experiences.
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, managed by Belmond, displays occupancy rates close to 100% on its most sought-after itineraries, with waiting lists for certain dates that testify to the enthusiasm for this type of experience.
New luxury trains launched in France, notably the Orient-Express La Dolce Vita expected for 2024-2025, illustrate the market's appetite for exceptional railway experiences with starred-level gastronomy.
The trend for wine region itineraries is developing, with trains offering vineyard excursions and on-board or land-based tastings, creating a natural synergy between railway travel and terroir discovery.
Asian markets, notably Japan with its luxury shinkansen and India with its palace trains, represent high-potential niches for embarked premium wines and spirits.
Listing on emblematic luxury trains — Permanent presence on the wine lists of the Orient-Express, Rovos Rail or Rocky Mountaineer, before an international premium clientele.
Exclusive producer dinners on board — A unique experience format, combining the crossing of wine regions with the presentation of the estate's wines by the winemaker or their representative.
Partnerships on wine region itineraries — Vineyard excursions during stops, land-based tastings and the extension of the experience on board, for a total immersion in a terroir's culture.
Staged regional pairings — Wine lists built around the terroirs traversed, highlighting the appellations and estates of the regions covered.
Luxury train limited editions — Bottles dressed in the colours of an iconic train, a highly collectible format with strong added value for train and wine enthusiasts.
Cross-communication with operators — Presence in on-board magazines, newsletters and social media of luxury railway companies, with significant international reach.
Wine and railway tourism — Development of packages combining luxury train travel and wine tourism, with estate visits and private tastings.
Emerging markets — Asian, Indian and African luxury trains open new opportunities for premium wines and spirits in high-potential prescription contexts.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Europe — The world's most iconic luxury train, managed by Belmond, with period dining cars and a first-rate wine and champagne selection.
Orient-Express La Dolce Vita, Italy — A new Italian luxury train, with a gastronomy and premium Italian wine selection reflecting the finest wine regions of the Peninsula.
Rovos Rail, South Africa — The "world's most luxurious train" according to its passengers, with suite carriages and an exceptional premium South African wine selection.
Rocky Mountaineer, Canada — The reference panoramic train in North America, crossing the Rockies with a gastronomy and increasingly high-quality Canadian wine selection.
Maharajas' Express, India — Asia's most luxurious train, with palatial suites and a gastronomy that combines Indian cuisine with premium international wines.
Belmond Royal Scotsman, Scotland — An emblematic luxury train crossing the Scottish Highlands, with a selection of single malt whiskies and first-rate wines.
Glacier Express, Switzerland — One of the world's most spectacular railway journeys, with a panoramic carriage and a gastronomic offering that showcases premium Swiss wines.
The Ghan, Australia — The mythical train crossing the Australian continent from Darwin to Adelaide, with excursions to South Australian vineyards and a selection of premium Australian wines.
Belmond Andean Explorer, Peru — South America's first luxury train, offering an exceptional Andean experience with a selection of Peruvian and Argentine wines.
Shiki-shima, Japan — JR East's palace train, with a reference kaiseki gastronomy and a selection of premium Japanese sake and wines.
Blue Train, South Africa — The iconic train linking Pretoria to Cape Town, with a gastronomy and wine cellar that showcases the finest South African producers.
Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, Russia — The world's longest luxury train journey, from Moscow to Vladivostok, with a premium wine and spirits selection adapted to a demanding international clientele.
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