VALENCIA, Calif., Dec. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Luxury
travel brand Cunard has partnered with the Wine
& Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the world's largest
provider of wine and spirits qualifications, to launch the first
ever WSET certified wine and spirit courses to be available on its
flagship ocean liner Queen Mary 2.
WSET works with Approved Programme Providers in over 70
countries to offer its qualifications to interested enthusiasts and
industry professionals, ranging from Level 1 Awards in Wines,
Spirits and Sake to the prestigious Level 4 Diploma in Wines and
Spirits. The partnership with Cunard is the first time WSET courses
will be available to guests on a transatlantic or round-world
cruise line.
WSET courses will initially be available on Queen Mary
2's Westbound Transatlantic Crossings and World Voyage trips
with plans to extend courses to Queen
Victoria and Queen Elizabeth
later in 2017. Classes led by WSET Certified Educator Andrés Solís
Lira who, having been born at the foothills of the Andes Mountains
in what is now the Cachapoal wine country, has worked in the wine
world for the past decade joining Cunard in 2009 as a sommelier on
Queen Mary 2 and rising to the position of educator for the
Cunard Wine Academy.
Guests aboard Westbound Transatlantic Crossings from Southampton
to New York can embark on a five
day course to achieve WSET Level 1 Award in Wines. The
course gives a hands-on introduction to the world of wine in an
interactive and relaxed atmosphere for beginners. The course covers
the basics of wine types and styles through sight, smell, and
taste, as well as how to store and serve wine and pairing food with
wine.
Guests aboard Round World Voyages from Southampton to
Cape Town, Cape Town to Fremantle, Hong Kong to Dubai and Dubai to Southampton, can participate in a
12-day course to achieve WSET Level 2 Award in Wines and
Spirits. The beginner to intermediate level course is for
enthusiasts seeking a core understanding of wine and spirits. It
explores the major grape varieties and the styles of wines they
produce as well as important wine regions in which they are grown.
Participants also learn about key classifications and labelling
terminology and are given a basic overview of the key categories of
spirits and liqueurs.
Each of the courses finishes with a multiple choice exam, and,
on passing, candidates receive a globally recognized WSET
qualification certificate and lapel pin as proof of their new
knowledge.
The debut voyage to offer WSET courses will be the Westbound
Transatlantic Crossing departing Southampton on December 15, 2016. The first Round World Voyage
offering WSET courses will set off on January 10, 2017 from Southampton to
Cape Town. Guests can book a WSET
course by calling Cunard ahead of their journey or speaking to the
sommelier whilst on board.
The WSET courses are the latest addition to the cruise line's
extensive wine credentials. Queen Mary 2 is renowned for
having one of the finest wine lists at sea while The Cunard Wine
Academy offers an all sensory experience of food and wine pairings,
tastings and producer master classes for guests.
WINE & SPIRIT EDUCATION TRUST COURSES ABOARD QUEEN MARY
2:
WSET Level 1 Award in Wines:
- Five-day course of one hour morning sessions inclusive of
revision day and multiple choice examination
- The price includes all study materials, examination fees,
certificates, Champagne Reception and a four course lunch with
matching wines in The Verandah Restaurant on the last day of the
course
- During the course participants will have the opportunity to
taste a minimum of 10 wines and will also be provided with a WSET
study guide to make notes on and take home
- Examination on the last day with 30 multiple choice questions
to be answered in 45 minutes. A mark of 70% required to pass
- Certification - all guests who pass will be issued a
certificate suitable for framing and a lapel pin
- Price: $295 USD
WSET Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits:
- 12-day course of two hour morning sessions inclusive of
revision day and multiple choice examination
- The price includes all study materials, examination fees,
certificates, Champagne Reception and a four course lunch with
matching wines in The Verandah Restaurant on the last day of the
course
- During the course participants will have the opportunity to
taste up to 45 wines and four spirits and will also be
provided with a WSET study guide for you to make notes on and take
home
- Examination on the last day with 50 multiple choice questions
to be answered in 60 minutes. A mark of 55% required to pass
- Certification - all guests who pass will be issued a
certificate suitable for framing and a lapel pin.
- Price: $595 USD
ADDITIONAL WINE SERVICES ON QUEEN MARY 2
The World's Finest Floating Wine Cellar
Queen Mary 2 has one of the finest wine lists at sea.
Guests can indulge in a unique collection of 484 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. The wine list is an
integral part of the dining experience on board and took over a
year to be designed. Cunard has highly skilled sommeliers on board
(the majority of them have a WSET Level 2 or 3 qualifications) who
are constantly in contact with their suppliers and growers.
Cunard's Bar Service Manager, Edward
Dieusaert and Head of Beverage Services, Anthony Habert tasted over 2,000 wines from
all over the world before finalizing the perfect selection.
Highlights from the wine list include:
- First Growth Wine Flight: The five Premiers Crus of the Médoc
are served together in an unforgettable flight celebrating their
brilliance and individuality.
- Legendary wines by the glass: Served using the ground-breaking
Coravin system which allows wine to be served without removing the
cork from the bottle, maintaining wine in its optimum cellaring
condition, protected from oxygen, and ready to be enjoyed another
day.
- A unique vintage Port collection: The only one of its kind in
the world. Cunard worked with the world's most renowned Port Houses
to help tell the story of its history in a unique way through 46
vintage Ports each produced in a key year of Cunard's 176-year
history, beginning with the rare 1840.
The Cunard Wine Academy
The Cunard Wine Academy is an all sensory experience of food and
wine pairings, tastings and producer master classes. The
unparalleled expertise of the sommeliers combined with an
approachable style make the wine tasting courses both highly
enjoyable and informative for those with no previous experience to
the serious wine aficionado.
The Academy runs a variety of courses and each program is
bespoke to each cruise. Examples are:
- Lunch and Learn: Expert sommeliers from the Queens Grill
guide guests through a chosen topic as they tuck in to a delicious
four course lunch at the fine dining restaurant, The Verandah.
- Tutored Tastings: The Chief Sommelier and his team guide
guests through a range of wines while educating them on a chosen
topic, from the world's major wine regions, grape types and
styles.
- Fine Wine Seminars: Experts from the Queens Grill use
state-of-the-art visual equipment and Riedel Glassware to showcase
a minimum of 8 wines from the wine list and around the world
accompanied by small dishes to complement the wines. Spaces are
limited to 10 guests.
- Wine Master Classes: Leading wine experts and producers
host tutored tastings and dinners on everything from wine to Sake.
This year master classes will be held with George Sandeman - Sandeman Port, Beatriz Cabral de Almeida - Chief Wine Maker of
Quinta dos Carvalhais, Zoe
Warrington - Magill Estate Ambassador of Penfolds,
Miho Komatsu - Global Brand Manager
of Akashi-Tai Sake and Alvi Van De
Merwe - Partner and Wine Maker of Alvi's Drift.
For more information or to book a voyage, contact your Travel
Agent, call Cunard Line toll-free at 1-800-728-6273, or visit
www.cunard.com.
About the Wine & Spirit Education Trust
WSET is the largest global provider of qualifications in the
field of wines and spirits. WSET qualifications are formally
recognised by the UK Government and have a strong reputation
worldwide. In the last academic year (2015/16) 72,171 people sat
for a WSET qualification.
Courses are available in 19 languages and over 70 countries, and
are open both to industry professionals and interested enthusiasts.
Since 1969 more than half a million individuals have completed a
WSET qualification. We currently offer nine qualifications, from
one-day beginner courses through to a specialist level diploma.
For more information about WSET, please visit the new fully
responsive website: www.WSETglobal.com
About Cunard
Defining true excellence at sea with 176 years of legendary
voyages, Cunard is the operator of luxury ocean liners Queen
Mary 2, Queen Victoria
and Queen
Elizabeth, which are all renowned for impeccable
White Star Service, gourmet dining and world-class
entertainment. Cunard has been synonymous with the quest for
new discoveries since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer,
Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Today, Cunard offers the
only regularly scheduled transatlantic liner service and continues
the legacy of world cruising which it began in 1922.
World's Leading Cruise Lines
Cunard is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our
exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland
America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises, Seabourn and Fathom.
Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality
and value, World's Leading Cruise Lines inspires people to discover
their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety of
exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most
desirable destinations. Visit us at
www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com.
Cunard is also here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cunard |
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cunardline
YouTube: www.youtube.com/wearecunard | Instagram:
www.instagram.com/cunardline
Cunard photography is available online at www.cunard3queens.com
or at www.cunardimages.com
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Password: guyonda
WSET Media Contact:
Stephanie
Murray: SMurray@wset.co.uk, 0207 089 3873
For additional information about Cunard,
contact:
Jackie Chase, Cunard
Line, 661-753-1035, jchase@cunard.com
Maria Andriano, MGA Media Group,
212-251-1015, maria@mgamediagroup.com
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SOURCE Cunard Line