Cruise Critics Wine Tasting-Silhouette

[mrte62]

Friday, March 21, 2014

Noon

On the March 16th sail of the Celebrity Silhouette the Cruise Critics planned a wine tasting, patterned after an event held annually on the Celebrity Summit repositioning cruise in the spring. For a group that did not discuss what they were bringing in detail, there was a variety, and a great discussion of local wineries, individual tastes, and even a successful private stock, wine maker’s experience to share.

Cara and Jeff of Florida, Jim and Missy of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Keith & Susan of Houston, TX, Ed and Dee Kurtz from Austin TX, and Ray and Monica from South River, NJ, brought two bottles of wine that were of significance to them—either from an event, or that they just like, or from their homes.

Cruise Critics were honored to know that Cara and Jeff were celebrating their fifth anniversary—that very day. They brought a wine that they had shared for their wedding, Our Dog Blue, from Chateau Morisette, and which according to the winery website “was the result of a love affair between the Morrisette family and the rural Virginia countryside. In 1978, William, Nancy and David Morrisette planted the first vines and the vision of Chateau Morrisette became a small reality. Mrs. Nancy Morrisette stated in 1988 that the winery began as a hobby that soon got out of hand.” More information about the winery in the Blue Ridge Mountains can be found at www.thedogs.com. Great story and it looks like a destination to us.

Cara and Jeff’s other wine, Moscato di Asti, Bersano, Product of Italy, was held to taste last with the dessert wines, and little did some of us know that a real treat was in store for the end of the tasting! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscato_d'Asti

Jim and Missy of Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA, screen name “Snow Bunny,” offered their wines next. Missy brought Santa Margherita Pino Grigiot, which was clean, crisp and refreshing. It is a wine that Missy can pick up in Ft. Lauderdale, and she first tried on a previous cruise. More information about the Italian roots and background of her choice of pinot can be found at: http://www.santamargherita.us/

Jim, as it turns out, makes his own wine. He began in 1992 with a wine making kit that was a gift, and now has six carboys going at all times. He brought a Catena Malbec, 2011, which Ray from NJ had to admit that he liked, even though he prefers white wine. Jim said that he can make wine now for about $2 per bottle.

Susan and Keith offered their wines next. Susan chose a chardonay from MerSoleil of St. Lucia Highlands, http://www.wagnerfamilyofwine.com/ she tried at a wine tasting dinner. Keith brought a Duckhorn Red Paraduxx wine made in California by Duckhorn Wineries http://www.paraduxx.com/Visit —they are most famous for their merlot cab zinfandel blend—a trend that all of us had noticed—even those of us who are usually in the store for beer.

Ed and Dee Kurtz are members of The Wine Society, http://www.thewinesociety.com/home-page and have tasted some great wines along the way. The taste we had of the Driftwood Vineyards Alamo Red, http://www.driftwoodvineyards.com/index.html which if memory serves is a blend of merlot and cabernet sauvignon was a treat. Their other selection for us was a Fall Creek Vinyards, Texas Hill Country, 2010 Tempranillo: http://shop.fcv.com/prod-357022/Fall-Creek-Tempranillo-Salt-Lick-Vineyards.html Great information about pairing on their website, and to get this wine it will have to be a destination because it was only available by visiting the vineyard—thanks from all of us! For those of us who do not live in the region, it was interesting to hear about the surge in the vineyard business in Texas.

Ray and I (Monica) went last because both of our wines were dessert wines from New Jersey. From the Laurita Winery, which has a nice wagon ride through their vineyard and a chalet-style shop and restaurant to see onsite, http://www.lauritawinery.com/, we brought a Chocolate Therapy. I was worried that it may be taken because it looks like Bailey’s Irish Cream, but we were able to share it. The other choice was Almond Berry Wine from the Cream Ridge Winery in New Jersey, http://www.creamridgewinery.com/ . We were surprised to find as many wineries in central New Jersey—and more can be found on the New Jersey Wine Trail Weekends website one fall weekend when we were looking for something to do with visitors, http://www.newjerseywinetrails.com/wine-trail-maps.html

Thanks to all of you—it was too much fun. Note to self—arrange for food and standard wine snacks first!

Edited March 30, 2014 by mrte62

[TMLAalum]

Hi to Jim and Missy (our friends from the 2012 Silhouette sailing).

 

Where did you hold this wine tasting event? It sounds like a wonderful time and would be something I wouldn't mind organizing, although we leave in just 2 weeks for our Dynasties & Dragons cruise out of Hong Kong. But as they say, it's never too late!

 

Please feel free to email me: beejaybeeohio at netscape dot net. Just title it Celebrity CC Wine Tasting.

 

Thanks so much!