SINGAPORE 7 March 2022: The 2022 season of the Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) Meet the Winemaker series is back by popular demand, with an exciting line-up scheduled for its sixth year.
The company once again teamed up with renowned wineries to create this seasonal programme designed for wine enthusiasts and foodies at all skill levels. The cruise provides exclusive opportunities to engage with winemakers and other experts through a variety of enriching seminars and activities, which include intimate wine tastings and wine-paired dinners, interactive culinary demonstrations and meet-and-greets on board.
The experience will be available on select cruises aboard Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Bliss. And, for the first time ever in its history, the Meet the Winemaker series will be making its way to Europe as Norwegian Escape sails around the Greek Isles and Italy on 17 July and 12 October. The host of the event in July will be notable winemaker Antonio Hidalgo of the globally recognized and family-owned Spanish Sherry house Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana. The October edition will be hosted by Sandro Bottega. Under his careful guidance, Bottega S.p.A. has diversified to produce grappa, Prosecco, a wide range of sparkling wines, the great reds of Valpolicella and Tuscany, Italy as well as Limoncino and creamy-based sweet liqueurs. In 2018, Sandro received the prestigious Riedel Winemaker of the Year award in Toronto.
Guests have the chance to meet world-renowned winemakers and distillers including Gérard Bertrand, “The Drinks Business” Green Awards 2020 recipient; Rob Mondavi, Jr., fourth-generation Napa Valley winemaker; Diane Flamand, winemaker at Bordeaux Collection Wines, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and Michael Mondavi of the Michael Mondavi Family Estate.
This year, on select cruises, participants will also have the opportunity to savour unique culinary experiences sponsored by the Certified Angus Beef® brand. With wine paired to each course, they will learn from a master sommelier, while enjoying some of the best beef available. Trusted by the best 5-star chefs, including Certified Angus Beef culinary arts director Chef Tony Biggs and Certified Angus Beef’s 2021 Chef of the Year, Carla DiLorenzo, the Certified Angus Beef® brand is the best available and proudly served onboard the NCL fleet.
NCL president and CEO Harry Sommer said: “Our Guest First policy compels us to put guests at the heart of every development, and the Meet the Winemaker series showcases this commitment to bringing high quality, one-of-a-kind offerings to our guests. We hope that our guests will enjoy the new edition of the popular series and are left with an unforgettable experience from today’s most innovative beverage and culinary leaders. We are very proud of this season’s line-up and excited to bring the event to Europe for the first time ever.”
Each of the cruises features vintage wines chosen by the expert and brought on board for the exclusive events. Wine packages range from USD22 to USD100 per person plus tax and gratuity and may be reserved once onboard.
The complete line-up of the 2022 Meet the Winemaker series includes:
• 6 March 2022 – 7-day roundtrip Caribbean: Great Stirrup Cay & Dominican Republic cruise from Miami on Norwegian Encore featuring Rob Mondavi Jr., son of Isabel and Michael Mondavi and a fourth-generation Napa Valley winemaker;
• 2 April 2022 – 7-day roundtrip Caribbean: Great Stirrup Cay & Dominican Republic cruise from Miami on Norwegian Escape featuring Chateau Lafite Rothschild (Lafite) Wine Dinner hosted by Diane Flamand, winemaker, Bordeaux Collection Wines, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite);
• 2 July 2022 – 7-day roundtrip Alaska: Dawes Glacier, Juneau & Ketchikan cruise from Seattle on Norwegian Bliss featuring Salvatore Ferragamo. Since 1993, together with his father Ferruccio, have been responsible for conserving The Il Borro estate in Tuscany, Italy producing world-class wines;
• 17 July 2022 – 7-day roundtrip Greek Isles & Italy: Italy, Greece & Croatia cruise from Rome (Civitavecchia) on Norwegian Escape featuring Antonio Hildago, of the globally recognized, family-owned Spanish Sherry house – Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana;
• 24 July 2022 – 7-day roundtrip Alaska: Glacier Bay, Skagway & Juneau cruise from Seattle on Norwegian Encore featuring Opus One Wine Dinner hosted by Greg Miller, Opus One Sales & Marketing Manager;
• 13 August 2022 – 7-day roundtrip Alaska: Dawes Glacier, Juneaeu & Ketchikan cruise from Seattle on Norwegian Bliss featuring Michael Mondavi of the Michael Mondavi Family Estate;
• 12 October 2022 – 9-day roundtrip Greek Isles & Italy: Santorini, Athens & Florence cruise from Rome (Civitavecchia) on Norwegian Escape, featuring Sandro Bottega of Bottega SpA;
• 22 October 2022 – 7-day roundtrip Bermuda cruise on Norwegian Joy departing New York, featuring Gérard Bertrand, “The Drinks Business” Green Awards 2020 recipient;
• 11 December 2022 – 7-day roundtrip Caribbean: Great Stirrup Cay & Dominican Republic cruise from Miami on Norwegian Encore, featuring Randy Ullom from the Kendall-Jackson family.
For more information or to book a cruise, contact a travel professional, call NCL Hong Kong +852 2165 6000 / Southeast Asia +65 3165 1680 or visit: www.ncl.com
About Norwegian Cruise Line
As the innovator in global cruise travel, Norwegian Cruise Line has been breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising for 55 years. Most notably, the cruise line revolutionized the industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal vacation on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes. Today, its fleet of 17 contemporary ships sail to over 300 of the world’s most desirable destinations, including Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize.
(Your Stories: NCL)
