The XIX Habano Festival welcomes outstanding Habanosommeliers from all around the world

Learning more about Habano culture at the XIX Habano Festival. A year ago, during 18th Festival del Habano was released Cohiba Majestuosos 1966 (58×150 mm) – a special production from Cohiba 50 Aniversario. For the XIX edition , the Habano Festival presents a complete program dedicated to the enjoyment of the Habanos. The Habano Festival’s … Read more

Remastered Queen Mary 2 opens World’s Finest Wine Cellar at Sea and Wine Academy

The journey becomes the destination.

cunard cruises aerial

Cunard’s newly remastered flagship Queen Mary 2 introduced a unique collection of 450 fine wines, including the highly sought after California Screaming Eagle at $4,500 per bottle, which is to be served by the glass for the very first time.

Additionally a unique collection of vintage port wines, the only assortment of its kind in the world, has been specially assembled to join the enhanced wine cellar. The 46 different vintage ports, each produced in a key year of Cunard’s 176-year history, will form part of a specially commissioned permanent display in the new Carinthia Lounge. This is being created as part of the ship’s major 25 day refit this June that befits the status of the world’s only ocean liner.

Queen Mary 2 - the cellar cunard queen mary 2 sommelier cunard grill suite

Guests on board the luxurious Queen Mary 2 cruise ship can now experience The Cunard Wine Academy, an all sensory experience of food and wine pairings, tastings and producer master classes for the appreciation of even the most advanced wine graduate1.

To enhance guests’ enjoyment of the elegant wines without compromising the quality, the introduction of the new Coravin wine pouring system used on board, uses a needle to extract the desired quantity of wine required from a bottle.

“With thoughtful planning and a keen attention to detail, our new fine wines as well as our unique port collection, inspired by Cunard’s history, are evocative of our craftsmanship,” said Richard Meadows, President, Cunard North America. “With the addition of The Cunard Wine Academy, we proudly offer guests yet another exclusive and enriching experience in an unforgettable journey.”

“Our sommeliers together with our suppliers have searched the world for exciting new additions to Cunard’s famous wine list,” said Anthony Habert, Cunard’s Head of Fine Wines. “We’re proud that we can offer a wine to compliment every palate and occasion.”

Cunard’s selection of beverages also includes a large array of whiskey and cognac .

 

 

Queen Mary 2' new Carinthia Lounge - delicious treats Queen Mary 2 -- Queen Mary 2 -- dining spaces cunard transatlantic crossing

D-Vine Gravity sommelier machine

A sommelier at home? 

D-Vine Gravity sommelier machine - 2014 model

We too love wine in bottles, but why not exploring a new alternative… Meet D-Vine Gravity – a tasting expert, elegant with a strong personality. The wine chilling machine serving wine by the glass without opener or fridge is a new way of tasting wines developed by French company 10-Vins. D-Vine Gravity offers a glass of wine at home, at the perfect temperature and decantation. The wine lover’s personal at-home sommelier will be able to enhance it and reach the perfect serving conditions in less than a minute. There are no wine bottles or corks involved.

The machine offers a selection of various French wines in flacons of 10cl, patented by WIT, designed to preserve the flavours and product quality for a duration of 3 years. 10cl is the size of a glass of wine, nothing more, nothing less. The selection is based on 10-Vins wine subscription service – an at-home delivery program offering tubes of premium wines ranging from €2 to €16.

Wine lovers insert the flacon of their choice in the smart machine. Via an RFID (Radio-frequency identification) tag D-Vine detects automatically the wine temperature and oxygynation level and gets ready. The glass of wine is in your hand in less than a minute. A water cleaning cycle allows to drink alternatively white, rose or red wine.

To be launched in France on November 15, the aerating and chilling machine retails for €499 ($560 USD).

Frenchvineyard D-Vine sommelier machine-100ml flacon 1 glass of wine D-Vine sommelier machine D-Vine sommelier machine interior D-vine how it works D-vine 2015 selection 10-vins 2015 selection 3 10-vins 2015 selection 2

The coveted “Oscar” of the wine world goes to Australia

Decanter World Wine Awards 2013.  10th annual Decanter World Wine Awards in London brought a great victory for Australia’s wine producers. Aussie winemakers claimed a host of coveted international trophies at the DWWA gala dinner, alongside a strong Southern Hemisphere showing and wins for Canada, Croatia and Hungary. Australia’s haul of six international trophies eclipsed … Read more

Most extensive water menu launched in LA

Water is essential to life. But are all waters the same?  “Water is sometimes sharp and somtimes strong, sometimes acid and sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet and sometimes thick or thin, sometimes it is seen bringing hurt or pestilence, sometimes health giving, sometimes poisonous. It suffers change into as many natures as are the different places … Read more

Discovery WineStation by Dacor: First virtual sommelier

Luxury Wine Experience with First Virtual Sommelier: pouring a taste or full glass of wine with just the touch of a finger.   The Discovery WineStation by Dacor is the first virtual sommelier. The built-in, commercial-grade wine dispenser and preservation system for the home not only displays and dispenses fine wines, but keeps contents tasting … Read more