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!
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.
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
Enjoying Wine and Food, Sabatini's © Spaswinefood
Food Pairing: Sicilian Aranchi
Wine and Food Time, Sabatini's © 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
Chateau Miracle Rose, Provence, France
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
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
The Amarone was paired with a Penne Arrabbiata (Penne Pasta, garlic, chili and tomato)
Pasta © Spaswinefood
Wine #5: Shafer, Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (Stags Leap), California 2019
This Cabernet Sauvignon was paired with lamb chops.
Food: Lamb Chops
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
Earlier Wine Tasting while Cruising the Pacific Ocean, 2024 © Spaswinefood
Follow me on Bluesky and Facebook
No comments:
Post a Comment