For those who appreciate fine wines, Cunard emerges as an exceptional choice.
- Bottles you cannot find elsewhere. The letters to the editor in Wine Spectator magazine point out that the magazine reviews wines from small properties and tiny distributions in the U.S. that are then often snapped up by collectors. The wine list on Cunard is huge. They often have wines you cannot find elsewhere like Domaine De La Romanee Conti Montrachet and Chateau Petrus.
- Try the finest wines by the glass. Cunard ships have Coravin wine preservation systems. They can offer first growth Bordeaux wines by the glass. They have offered a tasting flight of the five first growth Bordeaux wines for around $450. You might not want to pay the price for a bottle at home, but on a Cunard voyage you can at least have a taste.
- Restaurant service, retail pricing. There are a couple of examples where sought after wines like Domaine Leflaive Macon Verze, selling for about $75 in U.S. stores, are selling close to that price onboard. Recently on a Caribbean cruise it was about $75, yet a NYC restaurant wine list priced it at about $210. Chateau Musar, a famous wine from Lebanon, is priced about $60 in U.S. stores and $75 onboard Cunard. There are some fine wine bargains if you know where to look.
- The value-seeking wine fan has plenty of choices. Another topic readers write to Wine Spectator about is the need for features on reasonably priced wines. The wine list on Cunard ships offers plenty of wines priced below $45. Muscadet, a popular white wine from the Loire Valley in France, runs in the low $30’s onboard Cunard. On a Cunard world cruise, it might be possible to drink numerous wines under $45 a bottle before repeating them.
- Cunard anticipates passenger preferences. For guests from Germany who prefer German wine because it is familiar, Cunard knows they need to stock plenty of Riesling because it is Germany’s most famous grape varietal.
- With champagne, Prosecco is popular. The Spanish are doing wonders with Cava. Connoisseurs know true champagne only comes from the Champagne region of France. The Queen Mary 2 has a Laurent Perrier Champagne Bar and this is the featured champagne onboard. A bottle runs about $80, served at your table. Can you get an $80 champagne in a restaurant back home? Probably not.
- For wine and food pairings, Cunard provides a ‘lunch and learn’ on most voyages. The Verandah Steakhouse is the venue for a five-course multi-wine event lasting about 2.5 hours. Ask about the event and book a slot right away. It is priced at about $80/person and both the wine and food are great, not to mention the other guests you may meet.
- There is also a higher-end wine tasting that the wine steward can tell you about, cost is about $120. Does not include a meal, but canapes, and is a sit-down event. Instead of accommodating dozens, like the lunch and learn, it is usually limited to about 10 people. The price is well worth trying about eight wines, for example, all pinot noirs. Half can be from the highest priced pinot noir region in the world, Burgundy. It’s an opportunity to try wines you would need to spend a lot to acquire otherwise.
- Does port last forever? It’s been said that the only thing you can do to ruin a bottle of port is to hit it against the side of a ship (note, champagne is used for christenings). Port is a fortified wine, meaning it has some brandy added. It’s a red wine enjoyed over dessert or as a course in itself. The port bar on Queen Mary 2 has bottles dating back to 1840.
- The bin end list. Wine lists often change with the seasons. Wines come off the list. From time to time, the ship puts together a list of these wines, selling them at a discount. Ask your wine steward if the bin end list is available. You can discover some good finds and order in advance to have at your meals on the voyage.
- No sales tax. When you buy wine in a restaurant back home, sales tax is part of the cost. In some cities it can be upwards of 9%. At sea, there is no sales tax, although an automatic gratuity is added.
- Bring your own cellar treasures. As a fine wine fan, you may have bottles you have been saving for a special occasion. The fine print in the passage contract mentions passengers are allowed to bring one or two bottles for special occasions. These can only be consumed in your cabin or the dining room. The ship charges a modest $25 corkage fee. In NYC corkage can be $50/bottle or higher. Now is your chance to pair your fine wine with a fine meal.
Leave a Reply