Wine Tastings

[Queenoup]

I am going on my first Azamara Cruise in July, but have been on a number of different cruise lines. On the majority of cruises I've been on, the wine tastings were pretty predictable. One outstanding exception was a Disney Panama Canal cruise in 2008. They has a master Sommelier on board and we had a series of focused wine tastings (wines of France, Napa Valley, etc ...) with some premium wines included. There were slides and very informative lectures to go with the tasting. It was one of the best parts of the cruise. There was a fee for the tastings, but it was worth it.

 

I was wondering what wine tastings on Azamara Quest are like. Do they include any wines from the premium packages?

[ellbon]

i never gone and as a loyal member i can go for free..done on other lines and i rather be outside reading.

not really heard much about them.

[tango9]

I don't remember wine tastings much on Azamara on my six times with them. As a Discoverer level loyalty club member, they did offer a wine tasting but it was fairly basic

[uktog]

I have been to a few wine tastings, they have been very nice, not many people at them. To be honest, I cannot remember the wines, we went to socialise

[Sanatee]

I have been to a few wine tastings, they have been very nice, not many people at them. To be honest, I cannot remember the wines, we went to socialise

 

Unlike the other outstanding features of Azamara, the one wine tasting on our 17 night Journey SE Asia cruise was pretty bad (or funny)...Beringer white zin one of 3 wines! :rolleyes: I think that tasting was for Discover level Le Club members. The only other "tasting" was the Chef Table dinner & wine pairing (there's a separate thread about that). But, the complimentary wines were decent.

 

In contrast, we've had many nice and varied wine tastings, both paid and complimentary, on our Celebrity cruises. I think that having the complimentary wines for dinner, and now at all times, means that Azamara really skimps on sommeliers and wine programs.

 

But everything else is so well done, we didn't mind the lack of wine events.

[Queenoup]

Thanks for your comments. Will tone down any expectations for wine tastings, and will enjoy the wines available at dinner.

[Dr H]

Greetings, fellow lovers of the grape! I stumbled across this listing of the house wines on the Azamara web site, and thought I would share my thoughts. (Leave now, if you aren't interested in my thoughts...). And Queenoup, I saved the best for last!

 

Boutique Wines

 

Kato Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand) Bulletin Place Shiraz (Australia) Gérard Bertrand Chardonnay Réserve Spéciale (France) Gérard Bertrand Cabernet Sauvignon Réserve Spéciale (France) Caposaldo Pinot Grigio (Italy) Melini Laborel Chianti Classico (Italy) Main Street Chardonnay (California) Castle Rock Pinot Noir (California) Stellenzicht Sauvignon Blanc (South Africa) Stellenzicht Pinotage (South Africa) Cousiño Macul Riesling Reserva (Chile) Cousiño Macul Cabernet Sauvignon Antiguas Reservas (Chile) Bogle Chardonnay (California) The Crusher Merlot (California) Serra da Estrela Albariño (Portugal) JMF Periquita (Portugal) Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc (California) Cline Zinfandel (California) Clos Clementine Rosé (France) * All selections are subject to change and availability.

 

 

 

My personal favorite has been the Cousiño Macul Cabernet Sauvignon Antiguas Reservas (Chile). In fact, I cancelled a glass of wine by the glass when I saw that it was available that evening in Prime C. The Cline Zin is iffy. There have been a few spectacular years for it, more recently it devolved into a generic California red, nothing spectacular. But there is a new vintage out that I have not tried. The Bogle Chard is very nice, as is the Joel Gott Savignon Blanc and the Kato from New Zealand. Again, personally, I don't quite know how the Stellenzicht Sauvignon Blanc (South Africa) was allowed on board. It's a poor wine, and a poor paint remover. For some reason, I've never had the Stellenzicht Pinotage (which is a South African "indigenous" cross between Pinot Noir and something else.) Not high on my list, but definitely a should try. The Mellini Chianti Classico was very nice, as is the Pinot Grigio, if you like Pinot Grigio. I can easily pass on the Albarino (which would be a great hot dog accompaniment at the pool), the Castle Rock Pinot from California (splurge, buy a glass of decent stuff!), and the Cousiño Macul Riesling Reserva (Chile), which I definitely did not care for. And lest I forget, for those who are just discovering roses, Clos Clementine Rosé (France) is excellent. In January, there were 3 other rose selections available, from Argentina, California, and Spain. None were as nice as the French, and you may have to specifically request a rose, the waiters tend not to offer them unless requested.

 

 

 

Let me reiterate, these are all my personal opinions, and you are perfectly free to disagree with them. All in all, this is really a great selection of wines, which are on the house, some are better, much better, than others. If you aren't a mavin, but are interested in learning, this is a great place to start. If you are a mavin, with a little care, you aren't going to thirsty. If you are a true wine snob, order by the bottle, and please remember to invite me to join you.

 

 

And last but not least, another tidbit I stumbled upon on the website:

 

 

The Wine Cellar

 

Something extra: Arrange your own private dinner or wine-tasting in the Wine Cellar! Ask our sommelier or concierge for details.

 

 

Looks like we can arrange a wine tasting, after all!