Atlantic Ocean cruise wine adventures: Wine tasting #1, a perfect sea day escape

Call me a wine romantic for whenever, I travel, I always find a way to focus on wine. Cruising the Atlantic Ocean filled with sea days is the perfect opportunity to do wine tastings. The first leg on our journey across the Atlantic included eight sea days before arriving in the Canary Islands. During these eight days I participated in dance fitness classes and two wine tasting sessions before arriving in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands. Yes, while in Tenerife we would also check out Canary Island wines.  From Tenerife we would continue onto Barcelona during which, we participated two more wine tasting events. I also participated in a flash mob dance! 

Sun Princess: Cruising the Atlantic Ocean, March 2025 © Spaswinefood

I was first introduced to wine tasting offered while cruising last spring. On our way back from Australia we took a repositioning cruise from Sydney to San Francisco. While in Sydney we (John and I) did wine tasting of Chateau Tanuda wines, and we even managed a wine trip to the Hunter Valley. Likewise, two of our stops in New Zealand we turned into wine adventures. Yes, I looked for ways turn part of our cruise into wine adventures. I know there are wine cruises but most cruises are not. Hence, I checked for any wine events besides the wine packages offered on most cruises these days. Fortunately on the Australia to San Francisco cruise, I also discovered Food and Wine Pair Tastings. Hence we attended wine tasting events during our South Pacific Travels in last April.

Pacific Cruising: Enjoying Wine and Food © Spaswinefood

Now it is time to share the first post from those Atlantic Ocean wine adventures.

Atlantic Ocean Repositioning Cruise: Wine Tasting #1 

Once introduced to wine events while cruising we looked for opportunities on our repositioning cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona. This post will feature the first wine event we attended during our Atlantic Ocean cruise where they featured food pairing with wines. The event was held in one of the ship's special dining room options at lunch time. They had a five course lunch menu that featured five wines. Let me introduce the wine and food pairings.

Wine #1:JCB #21 Cremant de Burgogne, Province, France NV

Cremant in the Glass © Spaswinefood

Enjoying Wine and Food, Sabatini's © Spaswinefood

Food Pairing:  Sicilian Aranchi

Wine and Food Time, Sabatini's © Spaswinefood

Sabatini's for Wine and Food © Spaswinefood

We enjoyed our wine and food pairing with fellow travelers from Oregon, USA and Sweden.

The Burgogne Cremant was followed by another wine from France, a French Rose from Provence.

Wine #2: Chateau Miracle Rose, Provence, France

Time for Rosé, Sabatini's © Spaswinefood

Chateau Miracle Rose, Provence, France

 In the Glass: Chateau Miracle Rose © Spaswinefood

The rose wine was paired with an Italian Antipasto (Porchetta Parma Ham, marinated artichokes, green and black olives). There was also a vegetarian option.

Vegetarian Option: Caprese Salad

Veggie Pairing © Spaswinefood

The two French wines were followed by a Pinot Noir from California.

Wine #3: Gary Farrell Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, California

This Pinot Noir wine was paired with a Cheese Soufflé.

Food: Fontina Cheese Soufflé 

Fontina Cheese Soufflé © Spaswinefood

After enjoying the Pinot Noir, the next wine was from Veneto, Italy. 

Wine #4: Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella

Amorone in the Glass, Followed by Cabernet Sauvignon © Spaswinefood

The Amarone was paired with a Penne Arrabbiata (Penne Pasta, garlic, chili and tomato)

Food Pairing: Pasta

Pasta © Spaswinefood

Our final wine pour was a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine #5: Shafer, Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (Stags Leap), California 2019

  Shafer, Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 © Spaswinefood

This Cabernet Sauvignon was paired with lamb chops.

Food: Lamb Chops

Lamb Chops © Spaswinefood

Vegetarian Option: Eggplant

Eggplant © Spaswinefood

We enjoyed this wine and food pairing lunch, as did most participants. The Vegetarian options, for me were well done. The ship's staff was well versed in catering to dietary needs. Getting to taste a wide variety on wines over lunch was awesome. It was appreciated to start a lunch with Cremant from Burgundy. It was a great alternative to Champagne. This was an excellent wine to kick-off the tasting.

Enjoying Wine and Food While Cruising the Pacific, 2024 © Spaswinefood

On a personal note, I loved being introduced to all these food and wine pairings during our March 2025 cruise. It certainly brought back memories from a year ago. While typically my wine country travels takes me to wine regions around the world it is fun to have wine adventures at sea. It certainly added excitement to those sea days, which are numerous on a repositioning cruise.

Cruising the Pacific: Wine and Food, 2024  © Spaswinefood

Wine tasting is a perfect sea day escape! I invite you to join me in my travels in the Atlantic  Ocean and elsewhere at  Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon, and at Spaswinefood on Bluesky and Facebook. I am so looking forward to sharing more on my vine-filled explorations. 

CHEERS!

Sharon

March 2025

Sea Days, Atlantic Ocean

Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona

© Spaswinefood

Sunrise, Atlantic Ocean © Spaswinefood

Earlier Wine Tasting while Cruising the Pacific Ocean, 2024 © Spaswinefood

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A Food and Wine Pairing Lunch, Atlantic Ocean, 2025

Tyrrell's Wines, one of Australia's iconic family-owned vineyards, is Hunter Valley wine magic at its best

New South Wales Tyrrell's Wines, one of Australia's iconic family-owned vineyards, has a history dating back to 1858. Tyrrell's Wines in the Hunter Valley was a must when we returned to Australia to explore its east coast wine regions. Our east coast adventures focused on New South Wales (NSW), home to 14 wine regions, which vary from warm to coastal, and cool alpine regions. Today's Hunter Valley is known for its distinct Semillon and Shiraz. Tyrrell's is Semillon and Shiraz wine magic at its best. 

Verontal Tasting of Tyrrell's Wines, 2019 © Spaswinefood

Tyrrell's Old Hut Vineyard, Hunter Valley © Spaswinefood

Indeed winemaking in the Hunter Valley, with a viticultural history dating back to the early 1800's, is considered to be the birthplace of Australian wines. First, I must confess that Tyrrell's Wines tops my list of favorite Hunter Valley wines. Fortunately, while in the Hunter Valley I attended a Tyrrell's Semillon and Shiraz wines event at their Pokolbin site. This site is home of the historic hut and the Old Hut Vineyard, both of which we visited, just before an outstanding wine tasting. This was followed by dinner hosted by Tyrrell's at the Muse Restaurant. Yes, it was an evening to remember. 

Tyrrell's Story
Once I discovered Tyrrell's was on the list of possible wine country excursions I did not waste any time selecting this option. Our evening visit began at the historic old hut where Chris Tyrrell shared some of his family's winemaking history, dating back five generations. I loved visiting Tyrrell's, not only because the setting was so inviting, but also there was a personal story for me to discover.

Tyrrell's Wines, Hunter Valley © Spaswinefood

That evening we gathered near the old hut built by English immigrant Edward Tyrrell who established Tyrrell's Wines. From such humble beginnings Tyrrell's became one of Australia's pre-eminent family owned wine companies.

Tyrrell's Wines Old Hut © Spaswinefood

This family winery is now led by Bruce Tyrrell (4th generation) and his children Chris, Jane and John (5th generation).

Sharing the Old Hut Story, Tyrrell's © Spaswinefood

Discovering Vineyard and Winemaking History
From the hut it was off to the vineyard. Here we viewed of some of the oldest and most historic vines in the Hunter Valley, dating back over 100 years.  

Old Hut Vineyard, Tyrrell's Wines © Spaswinefood

Old Hut Vineyard,Tyrrell's Wines © Spaswinefood

Tyrrell's vineyards have expanded beyond its initial 60 acres to 900 acres. It now includes vineyards at:
1. Hunter Valley Pokolbin,
2. Hunter Valley Sacred Sites, and
3. Central Victoria Heathcote Vineyards.

Vineyard Views, Tyrrell's Wines © Spaswinefood

After viewing the Old Hut Vineyard we headed back to the cellar door.

Tyrrell's Wines Cellar Door © Spaswinefood

Cellar Door, Tyrrell's Wines © Spaswinefood

Over the years Tyrrell's winemaking alumni list includes many well known winemakers. Today's team includes Andrew Spinaze, Mark Richardson, and Chris Tyrrell.

Tyrrell's Wines Historic Cellar Door © Spaswinefood

Verontal Tasting of Tyrrell's Wines
Tyrrell's wine portfolio includes a wide range of wine types, styles and varietals. We did a four-part “Verontal” tasting, which included the following:

1. A vertical of Winemaker's Selection Vat 1 Semillon from 2019, 2009, and 1998; 
2. A horizontal of 2014 Stevens Semillon,  HVD Semillon, & Belford Semillon; 
3. A vertical of Vat 9 Shiraz from 2017, 2014,  & 2009; and 
4. A horizontal of 2017 Stevens Shiraz, Old Hut Shiraz, and Mother’s Shiraz.

Verontal Tasting of Tyrrell's Wines © Spaswinefood

For sure it was a very special evening with Tyrrell's Semillon wines. We began our tasting of Tyrrell's Semillon with a vertical of Winemaker's Selection Vat 1 Semillon from 2019, 2009, and 1998.

Winemaker's Selection Vat 1 Semillon 2019, 2009, 1998 © Spaswinefood

Next, there was a horizontal of Single Vineyard 2014 Semillon wines from Stevens Vineyard, HVD Vineyard, and Belford Vineyard.

2014 Stevens Semillon,  HVD Semillon, & Belford Semillon © Spaswinefood

 I was certainly very special for me to taste such a range of Semillon wines.

The second vertical was Vat 9 Shiraz from 2017, 2014, and 2009 vintages.

Vat 9 Hunter Shiraz 2017 © Spaswinefood

Back label for Vat 9 Hunter Shiraz 2017 © Spaswinefood

Tyrrell's Vat 9 Hunter Shiraz 2014

Vat 9 Hunter Shiraz 2014 © Spaswinefood

Back label for Vat 9 Hunter Shiraz 2014 © Spaswinefood

Tyrrell's Wines, Vat 9 Hunter Shiraz 2009

Vat 9 Hunter Shiraz 2009 © Spaswinefood

Back label for Vat 9 Hunter Valley Shiraz 2009 © Spaswinefood

We concluded the tasting with a horizontal of Single Vineyard 2017 Mother’s Shiraz, Old Hut Shiraz, and Stevens Shiraz.

Tyrrell's Wines, Single Vineyard Mother’s Hunter Shiraz 2017

Single Vineyard Mother’s Hunter Shiraz 2017 © Spaswinefood

Tyrrell's Wines, Single Vineyard Old Hut Hunter Shiraz 2017

Single Vineyard Old Hut Hunter Shiraz 2017 © Spaswinefood

Tyrrell's Wines, Single Vineyard Stevens Hunter Shiraz 2017

Single Vineyard Stevens Hunter Shiraz 2017 © Spaswinefood

I loved the expression of terroir displayed by each the vineyards for these 2017 Shiraz wines.

What a fascinating lineup of Tyrrell's Semillon and Shiraz wines we tasted that evening!

Tyrrell's Wines Verontal Tasting © Spaswinefood

Beyond experiencing some of Tyrrell's best wines, for me it was also an outstanding overview of Hunter Valley Semillon and Shiraz wines.

Dinner with Tyrrell's Wines

Dinner was held at the Muse restaurant, one of the most awarded restaurants in the Hunter Valley. We experienced an exquisite menu curated by chef/proprietor Troy Rhoades-Brown. Each dish was matched perfectly with Tyrrell’s finest Museum wines. May I say we were spoiled.

Wine Media Dinner, Muse Restaurant © Spaswinefood

During dinner I not only enjoyed this amazing gastronomic experience but also the company.

Muse Restaurant © Spaswinefood

Dinner Menu, Muse Restaurant © Spaswinefood

Here is a peek at a few of the dishes on the menu.

Snacks, Muse Restaurant © Spaswinefood

First Course, Muse Restaurant © Spaswinefood

Second Course, Muse Restaurant © Spaswinefood

When I left that evening I could not resist taking a look at the open kitchen.

Muse Restaurant, Hunter Valley © Spaswinefood

I had so looked forward to learning about Tyrrell's Wines and I was not disappointed. They lived up to their Motto "Nothing is great unless it is good". Special recognition should go to Chris Tyrrell, the Tyrrell's staff, and the Muse Restaurant staff for an evening to remember. I invite you to join me in my travels in Australia and elsewhere at Spaswinefood on Bluesky and Facebook 

Sharon
Remembering September 2019

Australia

© Spaswinefood

Tyrrell's Coat of Arms © Spaswinefood

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During that earlier 2019 wine conference in addition to the sessions, excursion to Tyrell's, there were also pre-conference and post-conference tours to wine regions in New South Wales, and Queensland. We did our own Pre-conference excursion to the Granite Belt Region, Queensland. Among the post conference options (Orange, Riverina, and Mudgee) I elected to do the Mudgee excursion. 

Mudgee, New South Wales © Spaswinefood

For sure, I was excited to return to Australian wine country for the third time last March 2024.  Wine enthusiasts know that there is a lot of Australian wine country to explore. Those who travel to Australian wine country will not be disappointed. I look forward to continuing my Spaswinefood adventure down under. I invite you to join me in future vine-filled explorations in Australia and elsewhere at  Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon, and at Spaswinefood on Bluesky and Facebook. 

CHEERS!

Sharon
Remembering April 2024

Sydney, Australia

© Spaswinefood

Orange, New South Wales, Australia, 2019 © Spaswinefood

Buck, Hunter Valley 2023 © Spaswinefood

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