One of my favorite ways to travel is by enjoying a luxury cruising experience. I also really enjoy vacations with wine tasting and gourmet food experiences. Can you have both? Yes! This will happen on the Norwegian Cruise Line “Meet the Winemaker” cruise series.
Imagine relishing wine tasting and gourmet cooking classes in an intimate setting. Pairing the passion for wines and the art of winemaking with a luxury cruise cabin elevates a vacation to a whole new and exciting level! The Norwegian Cruise Line offers just this experience. They call this their “Meet the Winemaker” series. An exceptional cruise experience dedicated to learning about quality wines and feature various winemakers as well as chef’s that are often James Beard recipients.
The Norwegian cruise ships that offer this series:
A fantastic opportunity to not only enjoy amazing destinations such an Alaska, Panama, the Caribbean, and others but to combine a spectacular journey with world-class vintages and gourmet cuisine. This is accomplished in an exclusive VIP setting where you will be offered seminars, meet and greets, intimate wine tastings, wine-paired dinners, interactive demonstrations, and educational sessions with renowned award-winning Chefs and wine experts.
I would love to share with you my recent experience with the “Meet the Winemakers” event I attended on the Norwegian Joy and why this should be a travel goal for all wine lovers.
I experienced my first Winemaker cruise on the Norwegian Joy sailing from Vancouver, Canada. Norwegian cruises are known for creating an exciting atmosphere for their guests. Having sailed on the Norwegian Bliss last year, I was excited to see the newly renovated Norwegian Joy. I felt confident from my previous cruise with Norwegian, that I was in for a great time, and looked forward to partaking in my first “Meet the Winemaker”!
As we sailed out, I looked around the ship to compare it to my last Norwegian cruise – The Norwegian Bliss. I’d read that the Joy had just completed a $50 million remodel, so my expectations were high. Similar to the Bliss in décor and layout, I was especially impressed by the suites and the level of luxury they provided. I have written an article about the luxury of the “Haven Suites and the upgrades” that you will want to check out. These suites provide for that cruise dream moment!
My cabin on this cruise was a Concierge Suite, and it is very luxurious. Because this ship had been recently updated and renovated, no matter what level of cabin you are booked in, you can expect the latest and best.
Intimate Wine Tastings
As lovely as the ship and all the renovations were, I was anxious to try this series event. The tasting on the Norwegian Joy was hosted in The Cellars, which is a Michael Mondavi family wine bar. The wine expert was Bob Bertheau, who was also the special guest for the cruise. I was immediately impressed at how intimate the setting was even on this large ship. They created a very comfortable and very personal event. His passion for his art was obvious, and all those participating were on the edge of our seats with anticipation of tasting the wines that he described.
We each savored the wines and then took notes and discussed our observations. The setting was comfortable, and you find yourself enjoying and learning from other people too. Questions, conversations, and laughter were abundant. I discovered unique and surprising things about the wine offered that I would not have uncovered on my own.
Meet and Greet with the Wine Experts:
Before I offer tips about the meet and greet, I just want to share how significant Bob Bertheau is in the wine world.
He used to make his own wine out in Sonoma County, California and did so for 16 years. He moved to the northwest and became the winemaker of white wines at Chateau Ste. Michelle, in 2003. His endless knowledge and talent gained him the prestigious position of head winemaker just a year later, and now he oversees the portfolios for wines from Single Vineyard, Columbia Valley, and Ethos Reserve.
His experience in of itself is impressive, but to learn about his gift as a winemaker was fascinating.
It was a pleasure and honor that I had the opportunity to meet and speak with Bob. I expressed to him how much I learned from his wine tasting class, and he seemed genuinely humbled by how much I learned from him. I might have previously shared that I think winemakers are the rock stars of the wine world. All of us who love wine, appreciate the art and the incredible talent and lifetime dedication that it takes to create a special bottle of wine.
The wines that I enjoyed on this “Meet the Winemaker” cruise:
🌟 2016 Eroica Riesling Columbia Valley
Eroica Riesling offers sweet lime and mandarin orange aromas with subtle mineral notes. The mouth-watering acidity is beautifully balanced by flavorful Washington Riesling fruit. To achieve our off-dry Eroica style we strive for bright fruit with crisp acidity and enhanced minerality.
🌟 2016 Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay Columbia Valley
A pleasurable, food-friendly Chardonnay. It is crafted in a fresh, soft style with bright apple and sweet citrus fruit character with subtle spice and oak nuances. They blend Chardonnay grapes from vineyards throughout Washington’s Columbia Valley to make this a complex and interesting wine.
🌟 2015 H3 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Crest
This bold Cabernet opens with flavors of black cherries and blackberries with a touch of currants and vanilla, complemented by earth and mineral notes. Deep berry flavors lead to a soft tannin cocoa finish.
🌟 2014 Columbia Crest Merlot Grand Estates
This Merlot has a rich aromatic profile with notes of chocolate and dark cherries. The complex fruit flavors are followed by a smooth, velvety finish. Pair this wine with blue cheese, duck, beef, veal, and dark chocolate.
Other “Meet the Winemaker” series that are offered (see below list) also include gourmet cooking classes as part of the series as well.
- 🌟 Michael Mondavi
- 🌟 Salvatore Ferragamo
- 🌟 Rob Mondavi, Jr.
- 🌟 Aarón Sánchez
- 🌟 Juan Muñoz OCA
- 🌟 Andrea Robinson
- 🌟 Jacques Lardière
- 🌟 Gerard Bertrand
- 🌟 Joseph “JJ” Johnson
For dates and more information on cruises that this series is offered:
Norwegian Cruise Line “Meet the Wine Makers” series dates and information.
Final Thoughts:
If you are a wine enthusiast and love cruising, this is a series that you will want to experience now!
After the classes, tastings, and meet and greets, I felt enriched by new knowledge of the wines that we relished and new friendships that were formed. The Norwegian Cruise Line is offering a new level to its cruises by incorporating these wine and cooking experiences. So, reserve one of their luxury cabins and enhance it with one of these special events to create an Always5Star “Cheers to Life” moment! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Please note: This was a sponsored opportunity to explore and enjoy the Norwegian Joy on its inaugural debut. However, my opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated for writing this article or endorsing the Norwegian Cruise Line.
About Pamela Rossi
I am passionate about travel and taking each moment and making it a five star experience. My goal is to create those experiences for YOU!
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