Discover Wine Around the World With Azamara
In celebration of National Wine Day, Azamara, the upmarket cruise line and leader in Destination Immersion® experiences, is inviting travelers to discover wine around the world through new shore excursions featuring immersive wine tasting experiences in Italy and Croatia.
On Azamara’s new Meet The Winemakers excursion in Croatia, guests will take a scenic drive to the wineries of beautiful Konavle Valley. At Vodopić Winery, guests will sample four delicious wines accompanied by traditional local bites while learning about the achievements of the Vodopić family over generations. Travelers will then make their way through picturesque villages to Crvik family vineyards and winery, which has been producing wines for over 100 years. Andro Crvik, the third generation winemaker in the family, will take guests through a tasting of some of the finest wines in the region.
In Italy, Azamara’s new Volterra & Exclusive Bocelli Wine Tasting excursion takes guests on a guided walking tour through Volterra to see historic beauties and an artisan laboratory. Travelers will stop at Teatro del Silenzio, where world-renowned Maestro Andrea Bocelli performs annually for thousands of fans, before touring the Bocelli family vineyards in the heart of Tuscany. At the Bocelli Restaurant, Andrea Bocelli’s own nephew will host guests for a private wine tasting and four-course lunch.
On an intimate Cinque Terre Wine Tasting excursion, a small group will hop aboard a local boat for a panoramic cruise through the rugged sea cliffs, terraced vineyards, and secluded townships of Cinque Terre. The cruise will arrive at the charming village of Monterosso al Mare, where guests will visit a local winery for an exclusive tour and tasting of the estate’s finest vintages.
Guest-favorite wine-focused shore excursions include the Wine Workshop at Spinoglio Winery in Montevideo, Uruguay, where the Spinoglio Winery winemaker guides guests through an exclusive tasting and wine blending workshop, and the Wineries of Hawkes Bay excursion in Napier, New Zealand’s famed wine country. Travelers can also extend their voyage with pre- and post-cruise programs such as the Greater Kruger National Park Safari & Winelands program which explores South Africa wine region, and the Enchanted Tuscany Countryside program which includes a three-night stay at the Castello di Velona Thermal Spa & Winery.
In addition to these shore excursions and land programs, Azamara features wines from around the world onboard with a wine list of over 100 labels. The independent cruise line offers a selection of 9 wines complimentary, all of which are single-vineyard and must be approved by a wine expert before carrying an exclusive Azamara logo. At each port, Azamara’s sommelier expands wine options further by purchasing local wines to offer during lunch or dinner, so guests can get an immersive taste of every unique destination without leaving the ship. Guests looking for a bespoke onboard experience will love the Chef’s Table, an exclusive dining experience pairing a destination-inspired seven-course meal with wines selected by Azamara’s sommelier, tailored to guests’ preferences.
My review of Viking Ocean Cruises’ Viking Orion
