Cruise line pairs winemakers with wine lovers in new sailings

MICHAEL Mondavi, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Food Network star Aaron Sanchez are among the speakers tapped to sail on new cruise itineraries designed for wine lovers.
Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled details on new itineraries – dubbed "Meet the Wine Maker Cruises" – in 2017 and 2018 that will turn its ships into floating wineries.
Guests aboard the Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Dawn will be able to meet winemakers and experts from some of the most renowned wineries in the world and participate in seminars, tastings, workshops, and food pairings.
The program expands on a partnership with the Michael Mondavi Family Estate struck in 2015, when Norwegian introduced its first branded wine bar The Cellars, A Michael Mondavi Family Wine Bar, which serves a curated wine list and holds tastings and interactive seminars for guests aboard the Norwegian Escape.
A second wine bar opened on the Norwegian Dawn in 2016.
This fall, guests aboard the Norwegian Dawn will be able to pick the brains of Michael Mondavi of the Napa Valley winery.
Food Network star Aaron Sanchez will also sail with the Norwegian Escape in December as the ambassador for Terrazas de los Andes wine.
In February, French winemaker Gerard Bertrand will speak about his wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon region, while fashion designer Salvatore Ferragamo will speak to guests about the Tuscan wines his family's ll Borro Estate has been releasing since 1999.
Norwegian isn't the only cruise line to offer sailings for the food and wine lover.
Crystal Cruise Line offers "Wine and Food Festival Cruise" programs for its 2017-2018 sailings to the Mediterranean, South Africa, South America, New Zealand and the South Pacific. — AFP Relaxnews