Wining and dining on Regent’s Seven Seas Voyager

Upon boarding Regent Seven Seas Voyager in Southampton, England for the second leg of our journey, the main focus shifted to the thrilling cruise forward with the quite a few historic and quaint port cities that awaited, two in-depth wine tasting seminars and a most uncommon five-course wine pairing dinner.

Working with a really compressed timeframe for planning our cruise aboard the Regent Voyager (because of the dissolution of Crystal Cruises earlier this yr), it took an actual staff effort in planning and coordinating the various particulars crucial to make sure that our (now) group of 53 wine-loving visitors from throughout the nation would benefit from the revised itinerary.

An enormous thanks to Jeanne Sibley and Diane Murphy Dunn of Frosch Positive Wine Voyages together with Regent’s culinary director Bernhard Klotz and company beverage supervisor Ricky Ballinger for all their efforts in making our time at sea so memorable.

As soon as on board, we additionally acquired a heat and gracious welcome from the superb Regent workers. I’m particularly grateful to these I labored with intently on the planning and execution of every culinary and wine occasion. Hats off to everybody!

After having fun with a leisurely lunch on the higher deck adopted by a late afternoon departure, we convened within the Veranda restaurant for our “meet and greet” Champagne welcoming reception accompanied by a wonderful array of delectable canapés from Chef Suraj.

The reception and our total cruise expertise have been beneath the watchful eyes of head sommelier Emiliano, beverage supervisor Bogdan, restaurant supervisor Alin, F&B director Renato, cruise director John and the “man in cost” – basic supervisor Davor.

We arrived in St. Malo, France the next morning and hung out touring the city and visiting Mont St. Michel Abby. Dinner that night time was on our personal at any one of many Voyager’s glorious eating places. Chartreuse for French fare, Prime 7 for steak, chops and different savory dishes, Sette Mari for Italian or Compass Rose, the gorgeous open eating room providing a variety of continental delicacies.

Our subsequent day spent at sea gave me the chance of internet hosting our group to the primary wine tasting seminar that includes “Previous World Reds.” Even throughout a compressed planning schedule, I used to be capable of supply by direct communication with producers in France, Italy, Spain and England, the wines for this tasting in addition to our subsequent one (“La Méthode Traditionnelle Exterior of Champagne”) and our five-course wine pairing dinner, “When Italy Meets France.”

Right here is the place the unparalleled cooperation and infinite help from Bernhard, Ricky and their staffs each on board and of their port places of work was actually appreciated. Not solely have been the wines sourced in a decent timeframe, they needed to be acquired and positioned on board throughout Might earlier than the summer time warmth set in. Some have been transferred via Regent’s facility in Barcelona whereas others have been acquired on particular days at varied Voyager ports of name. A sophisticated course of that, fortunately, labored completely

On the Previous World Reds tasting in Chartreuse, we have been joined by our second head sommelier Kadek who had simply come aboard to work with Emiliano for our group’s occasions. This tasting in contrast and contrasted wines from six particular person rising areas and three nations.

Featured wines from Spain have been 2019 Mas Doix Les Crestes Priorat and 2017 Ángeles de AMAREN Rioja.

From Italy we loved two Antinori particular, however very completely different, wines from Chianti Classico – 2018 Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Tignanello Winery and 2018 Badia Passignano Gran Selezione which is consultant of the brand new (2014) Chianti Classico class above Riserva.

France’s choices got here from the Southern Rhone with three choices from Château de Beaucastel in adjoining areas and all from the 2019 classic: Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Château de Beaucastel Coudoulet Côtes du Rhone (simply throughout the highway from the Châteauneuf-du-Pape property) and Perrin Gigondas.

All seven wines have been demonstrative of their origin and introduced a broad vary of fragrant, taste and textural parts. There have been many favorites among the many group and nobody wine was singled out because the “greatest.” A real expression of the standard of Previous World Reds and our particular person preferences.

The subsequent day, our buddy Chris Esposito organized a small private guided tour in Holyhead, Wales. As we hiked a steep cliff overlooking the ocean and South Stack lighthouse, our information defined the wealthy historical past of the world. From there, we traversed the countryside and stopped within the small fishing village with the world’s longest title (58 characters) – Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch – on our approach to get pleasure from an genuine Welsh rarebit lunch at Pant Du Winery and Orchard in Penygroes, accompanied by cider and wines from the property. An imposing scenic drive via the slate hillsides of Snowdonia in Northwestern Wales took us again to the ship.

Dublin was our subsequent cease and we determined to discover this legendary city with our pals the Pudumjees. We strolled previous Trinity School and stopped at a couple of native retailers to get the flavour of the world. Then on to St. Patrick’s Cathedral for an emotional and academic self-guided tour. We selected lunch at The Brazen Head, Dublin’s oldest pub established in 1198.

Right here we dove into native traditions on the historic bar having fun with pints of Guinness, bangers with mashed potatoes and the “obligatory” fish and chips. Lunch concluded with a tasting of Irish whiskeys chosen by our spirited (no pun meant) bartender.

Our subsequent cease was Belfast, Northern Eire and an in-depth tour of this metropolis with a posh historical past and a singular persona. We discovered our information’s enlightening feedback concerning the strife and battle usually related to Belfast very sobering.

After returning to the ship we once more met in Chartreuse for our wine pairing dinner. When initially planning this dinner on Crystal, I made a decision to theme it on Italy with a give attention to Piedmont and Montalcino. Nonetheless, when altering our cruise to Regent, I realized the superb eating restaurant greatest fitted to the dinner was the “very” French Chartreuse.

However, my thoughts was set on Italian wines. With Bernhard’s help, we have been capable of craft a menu highlighting the very best of Chartreuse paired to my choices from Italy. The chef loved the problem and I used to be appreciative of his efforts to make “When Italy Meets France” a memorable success.

Because the group gathered, we have been handled to the ship’s choice of Champagne Charles Heidsieck Monopole with handed hors d’oeuvres, that includes a trio of salmon blinis, steak tartar et caviar and terrines de foie gras au Sauternes. Our first course was a masterpiece of Dover sole with lemon, capers and beurre meunière paired to the brilliant but deeply advanced 2019 Pio Cesare Gavi.

Col d’Orcia led the second course with a duo from their extremely acclaimed property within the hills of Montalcino. The 2019 Banditella Rosso di Montalcino, with its partaking acidity and youthful appeal contrasted to the depth, richness and complexity of their flagship 2017 Brunello di Montalcino. Right here, as with the principle course that adopted, I used to be trying to distinction two precept wines from the identical selection (Sangiovese on this case), however with very completely different fragrant, textural and taste profiles.

We selected a fantastically ready filet de veau with braised endive, grape chutney and walnut-veal jus to pair with the wines of Col d’Orcia Every wine paired to completely different parts of the dish and each confirmed fantastically.

Our foremost course highlighted the wines of Pio Cesare from Barolo and Barbaresco paired to tournedos de boeuf, truffle royale, brioche, seared foie gras and sauce Pèrigourdine. This was a posh dish that introduced out the completely different characters of a daring and wealthy 2018 Pio Cesare Barolo and the considerably extra female fashion of the 2018 Barbaresco.

Each wines emanate from Pio Cesare’s property vineyards of their respective rising areas and are 100% Nebbiolo. Their stylistic variations evolve from their various soil varieties and weather conditions. One other fascinating pairing that demonstrated a capability to function two associated, however completely different, wines with a dish that introduced out the very best character of every.

Dessert took us again to Col d’Orcia with their 2016 Pascena Moscadello di Montalcino. A late-harvest (not botrytised) White Muscat that traces its historical past in Montalcino again to the seventeenth century when it was thought of “divine” and known as the “candy nectar of the Gods.” The pairing right here was a crispy apple tart with vanilla ice cream. Although considerably easy at first look, it elegantly introduced out the contrasting character of the Pascena’s luscious expression in addition to its complementary and refreshing acidity.

Pairing the basic wines of Italy with the standard delicacies of France at first appeared difficult, however with the cooperation of Chef Suraj, the whole lot labored. The dinner grew to become a centerpiece of dialog by our visitors and culinary workers throughout the steadiness of the cruise.

The subsequent morning discovered us in Waterford, Eire the place we immersed ourselves in its Viking historical past (very similar to Iceland) and its place as one of many key ports of the traditional English wine commerce. Through the Hundred Years Struggle (mid-14th to mid-Fifteenth century) between England and France, Waterford performed a key function as English wine imports shifted from France to Portugal.

A part of our tour of the “Viking Triangle” consisted of an underground tunnel that prolonged via a lot of town the place historic wine vaults have been maintained to accommodate barrels for ageing and mixing earlier than delivery to England and past. The structure, historical past and character of town was new to many people and definitely a bonus.

Guernsey was our subsequent cease and the day was full of new adventures as we wandered the streets, gardens and visited “The Little Chapel” within the picturesque countryside with our pals the Sherwoods. After our late afternoon return to the ship, I hosted the ultimate tasting, “La Mèthode Traditionnelle Exterior of Champagne,” within the Veranda restaurant. Right here we tasted two wines every from Franciacorta (Northern Italy), Corpinnat (the distinctive high quality oriented “breakaway” group in Spain’s Cava area) and Dorset (Southern England).

Methodology Traditionnelle wines are produced within the basic Methodology Champenoise fashion the place the second fermentation (producing the bubbles) happens within the bottle. By worldwide settlement, the time period Champenoise can’t be used for wines produced on this method outdoors of Champagne. So, Methodology Traditionnelle has been adopted for these wines produced elsewhere, though in lots of circumstances different native phrases are additionally used (e.g. Metodo Classico in Italy and Cremant in different areas of France).

From Marchese Antinori’s Tenuta Montenisa property in Franciacorta we sampled their Rosé (Pinot Noir) and Cuvée Royale (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc). Recaredo of Corpinnat showcased indigenous kinds of Spain’s Catalan area with their 2017 Terres Brut Nature (Xerel-lo, Macabeu and Parellada) and 2018 Serrel del Vell Brut Nature (Xerel-lo and Macabeu).

Bride Valley Vineyards (based by the late iconic visionary Steven Spurrier) in Dorset rounded out the tasting as we loved their 2018 Blanc de Blancs (Chardonnay) and 2017 Brut Reserve (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier). Six completely different wines from three distinct rising areas with every expressing a person pedigree and stylistic profile. This tasting proved that wines made elsewhere in La Méthode Traditionnelle can maintain their heads excessive and stand on their very own alongside the very best examples of Champagne.

Our final cease earlier than a closing day at sea that may convey us to Amsterdam was La Havre, France the place some within the group ventured on to Paris and we elected to go to Normandie for an academic and engaging go to to Château du Vreuil in Les Jourdaina within the Calvados area. Whereas taking within the breathtaking property we have been additionally handled to samples of their treasured Calvados. From there we traveled to Deauville and a return to the ship.

Our final night time aboard the Voyager was spent docked in Amsterdam the place we loved glowing wine on a cruise of town’s in depth canals. We disembarked the subsequent morning for a two-day go to with pals on this outstanding metropolis highlighted by a strolling tour via the historic neighborhood of Jordaan and countryside excursions of windmills and canals.

With our time in Iceland and aboard the Voyager, previous and new pals got here collectively for a shared journey that left a lifetime of reminiscences. Who might ask for extra?