World wine tour versus Food and wine pairing? (Reflection 9/26/22)

[zitsky]

I've done some version of the world wine tour on the Equinox back in 2019.  Not sure if it is the same as now.  It was basically a circus with maybe 6 stations where you could get a taste.  Yes it was crowded but I actually enjoyed it.  I've read that it might be a little more organized now?

 

I also see the food and wine pairing and am debating between the two.  Maybe I'll do both?!

 

Any suggestions?

[CHEZMARYLOU]

Food and wine paring is very basic. We've enjoyed the Around The World Wine Tasting several times. I can't remember if it was an offering on Edge in October but I don't think it was.

 

[zitsky]

12 minutes ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

Food and wine paring is very basic. We've enjoyed the Around The World Wine Tasting several times. I can't remember if it was an offering on Edge in October but I don't think it was.

 

Darn.  (Thank you.). Just one more thing I have to sign up for 😂.

[peanut head]

When was this reserved--on board or through the planner before you boarded?

[Arizona Wildcat]

1 minute ago, peanut head said:

When was this reserved--on board or through the planner before you boarded?

In the past on board

[zitsky]

Just now, peanut head said:

When was this reserved--on board or through the planner before you boarded?

If you’re asking me (not sure) I booked through the planner with OBC, no problem.

[Shawnkat]

I'm on the same cruise as you and am faced with the same tough choices.  Riedel workshop also sounds interesting.  Hmmm.  🍷

[zitsky]

9 minutes ago, Shawnkat said:

I'm on the same cruise as you and am faced with the same tough choices.  Riedel workshop also sounds interesting.  Hmmm.  🍷

I’m doing the world wine tasting.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

We've done all the wine events from Wine 101 to the high end tasting when it was actually high end wines and champagnes. Value wise we liked the Around the World Wine Tasting the best, followed by the High End Wine Tasting when there were no beverage packages and the wines were "high end". This was when Mr. Mario and Mr. Mike were the Cellar Masters. Remember when they wore the burgundy jackets with the tasting cups on a chain around their neck.

[publicpersona]

We have enjoyed the Around the World (or sometime Old World vs. New World) tastings, especially when they were on the lawn. These were most appealing when we didn't have drink packages because the event was pretty much unabashedly "All You Can Drink for an Hour".

 

I noticed that upgrading to "& More" includes "Wine tasting experience". Does anyone know for certain that this is one of the real wine tastings like Around the World, or is it simply the same dining room four splashes of table wine that Elite get for free anyway?

[emmas gran]

We have done the "Five Senses " I think it's called in Murano and would not bother again, it was offering wine we would not normally drink which is why we tried it. Much prefer to pick what we want in our glass.

 

I also remember the tasting cups and burgundy jackets 

[drakes2]

14 hours ago, Shawnkat said:

I'm on the same cruise as you and am faced with the same tough choices.  Riedel workshop also sounds interesting.  Hmmm.  🍷

Did the Reidel workshop back in January of 2014 primarily for the variety of wine glasses you can purchase. They are quite expensive to buy on their own but a bargain during the class. 

[dazey]

We had "& More" on the Apex in November and the wine tasting was similar to what you described.  Four small tastes of wines along with description/information.  Depending on who is running the event you may gather some interesting information.  Not sure I would bother again as it was our third time.  Also I believe the "& More" program is no longer available.

 

 

[drakes2]

4 minutes ago, dazey said:

We had "& More" on the Apex in November and the wine tasting was similar to what you described.  Four small tastes of wines along with description/information.  Depending on who is running the event you may gather some interesting information.  Not sure I would bother again as it was our third time.  Also I believe the "& More" program is no longer available.

 

 

After doing it 2x it gets pretty boring and the wines were not great. Not worth me breaking up my morning as I'm always poolside.

[publicpersona]

45 minutes ago, dazey said:

Also I believe the "& More" program is no longer available.

 

There is a banner on it that says "Sold Out" but it still allows me to put it in the cart. I was giving it some consideration since, if you subtract the $50 casino credit, it is only a $13 (total, nor per day) upgrade. But I don't care for minibar drinks, and getting two bottles of wine someone else picked out is not appealing. However, the Around the World tasting is now $35, so that would more than pay for it.

 

That said, it appears that the "wine experience" they include is not Around the World or similar, but instead an invite to the Elite wine tasting .. which is pretty much a sham.

[drakes2]

6 hours ago, publicpersona said:

 

There is a banner on it that says "Sold Out" but it still allows me to put it in the cart. I was giving it some consideration since, if you subtract the $50 casino credit, it is only a $13 (total, nor per day) upgrade. But I don't care for minibar drinks, and getting two bottles of wine someone else picked out is not appealing. However, the Around the World tasting is now $35, so that would more than pay for it.

 

That said, it appears that the "wine experience" they include is not Around the World or similar, but instead an invite to the Elite wine tasting .. which is pretty much a sham.

I didn't go to it last week on the Edge and not even sure it was offered.  They give samples of a poor quality wine and a couple of breadsticks.  The so called sommelier speaks about the different wines how the grapes are harvested planted and types of soil where they're grown etc. etc. Not very informative 

[publicpersona]

31 minutes ago, drakes2 said:

I didn't go to it last week on the Edge and not even sure it was offered

 

I assume you are talking about the Captain's Club wine tasting that is in the dining room. Yes, that is a travesty for anyone that knows anything about wines. On the Edge last July, I observed that they had four decent (as in, at least grocery store quality) bottles of wine prominently displayed, yet were actually pouring bulk purchase table wine of the same varietals.

[drakes2]

12 minutes ago, publicpersona said:

 

I assume you are talking about the Captain's Club wine tasting that is in the dining room. Yes, that is a travesty for anyone that knows anything about wines. On the Edge last July, I observed that they had four decent (as in, at least grocery store quality) bottles of wine prominently displayed, yet were actually pouring bulk purchase table wine of the same varietals.

@publicpersonathat's truly unbelievable. Its  gone from bad to worse. I don't consider myself a wine aficionado by any means but I certainly know more about wine than most of the waitstaff.  I remember one evening asking my waiter if he could suggest a good Italian wine which would pair well with my meal and his answer was I don't like Italian wine.  😆 🤣 

[zitsky]

5 minutes ago, drakes2 said:

@publicpersonathat's truly unbelievable. Its  gone from bad to worse. I don't consider myself a wine aficionado by any means but I certainly know more about wine than most of the waitstaff.  I remember one evening asking my waiter if he could suggest a good Italian wine which would pair well with my meal and his answer was I don't like Italian wine.  😆 🤣 

People on here keep saying “ask the sommelier” but regardless of what cruise line I’m on, I’m never too sure that I’m talking to the sommelier and not someone who did a 2 hour course in selecting wine.  I’m no wine expert either but I think I can pick my own wine.

 

What I *would* like from a sommelier is…. “Oh you like wines from Paso Robles?  Well here’s a Bordeaux you might like.  You like Veuve Clicquot?  Well try this champagne instead.”

[drakes2]

12 minutes ago, zitsky said:

People on here keep saying “ask the sommelier” but regardless of what cruise line I’m on, I’m never too sure that I’m talking to the sommelier and not someone who did a 2 hour course in selecting wine.  I’m no wine expert either but I think I can pick my own wine.

 

What I *would* like from a sommelier is…. “Oh you like wines from Paso Robles?  Well here’s a Bordeaux you might like.  You like Veuve Clicquot?  Well try this champagne instead.”

There was a fantastic one on the Reflection years ago from Europe don't know which country but she was so informed about any type of wine you could think of.  Most of the wait staff get their knowledge from the guests onboard.  On the Silhouette last November my waitress from Bali her name was Krishna kept hanging around my table as she said she was learning about wine from me. Go figure. 

[LB_NJ]

Anyone try the World Wine Tour this year?

[canderson]

2 minutes ago, LB_NJ said:

Anyone try the World Wine Tour this year?

There was on our last two cruises.  Fully exoect there will be one for our 31 Oct as well.

[LB_NJ]

17 minutes ago, canderson said:

There was on our last two cruises.  Fully exoect there will be one for our 31 Oct as well.

How was it?

[canderson]

1 minute ago, LB_NJ said:

How was it?

Interesting, but don't expect any high end wines.  Nice way to gain some exposure to new things, but many of them won't be available at home.

 

I primarily go to score in the silent auction (see odd bin thread).

[drakes2]

20 minutes ago, LB_NJ said:

Anyone try the World Wine Tour this year?

I just got off a 10 night on the Equinox this past Thursday  and did not see the World wine tour offered or just was not looking for it.  Judging from the wines they had  onboard I don't think they are offering any great quality wines.  I did notice their cabernet on the basic package was MK Mondavi which they were also giving out during the HH.