Having the choice of 32 different wines by the glass in TV wine expert Olly Smith’s wine bar on board P&O Cruises latest ship, Azura has been a hit with passengers with Peller Ice Cuvee, Blind River Sauvignon Blanc and Perez Cruz Cabernet Sauvignon all proving firm favourites.
Olly Smith, said: “The Glass House really is a must for both wine lovers and for those who are dipping their toes into the wonderful world of wines for the very first time. The Glass House menu features different wines recommended with each course, all served by the glass. I am thrilled to say that the fleet house wines we blended have recently received the commended award from the Decanter World Wine Awards 2010 and the Porta Palo white wine also received a commended award from the International wine and spirits competition 2010.
“I have made several trips on board so far and have some planned for the rest of the year too. It has been great to chat to passengers and hear their feedback on The Glass House, host some fun wine tasting sessions and also to enjoy a glass of wine, or two, with the new friends I have been making at sea.”
Passengers are able to order ‘wine flights’ in The Glass House. A wine flight consists of three 125ml glasses of different wines so that passengers can sample wines they have not tried before, compare different wines and learn more about wine and concepts of wine tasting. The wine flights have been designed by Olly Smith. There are seven flights and each one has a different theme, for example luxury wines, wines from classic wine growing regions, wines from new wine growing regions, and Olly’s favourite wines.
The Glass House has a state of the art Enomatic wine system which enables passengers to try wines by the glass rather than having to buy an entire bottle. A bottle can be opened, then preserved by using revolutionary inert gas so it does not react to the oxygen in the air allowing the flavours and characteristics of the wide range of selected vintages to remain intact, as if the bottle had just been opened and therefore able to be enjoyed by many.
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Notes to editors
Olly will be on board:
· Cruise A014 7 night cruise departing Southampton Tuesday September 21 2010
· Cruise A017 12 night cruise departing Southampton Sunday October 17 2010
Sample wine flights below:
Flight 1: Exotic Whites £9.95
A flight of three widely differing exotically flavoured wines.
Peller, Niagara Ice Cuvée NV, Canada
Ever tasted a wine from Canada before? Peller Icewine Cuvée is blended from the juice of naturally frozen grapes that have been picked in the middle of a cold Canadian winter. A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir honey coated fizz with subtle richness and a surprisingly dry finish.
Château Saint Ferréol Viognier 2007, Vin de Pays d’Oc, France
Viognier kicked off its career in the Rhône Valley in France and has made great strides. Peachy, fl oral touches, exotic notes of sweet tropical fruit. Sip it and behold the life and tang, it’s like electric apricots with real verve and a trace of vanilla creaminess.
Beblenheim Gewurztraminer Dom Trapet 2005, Alsace, France
Flamboyant, fun and unmistakable! This wine smells of orangey marmalade with lemon Turkish delight, elderflower and lychee floating around like an air display of tropical fruits. Off-dry with luscious fruit and some proper zing to balance.
Flight 5: Beginner’s Luck £7.95
A bit of simple fun if you’re up for spreading your wings in the world of wine or just dipping a toe in at the edge! Welcome aboard!
Alois Lageder Biodynamic Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio 2008 Italy
Pinot Grigio is very popular with us Brits, but this is Pinot Grigio like no other. It’s so delicious and accomplished it deserves a knighthood – rich, pure, creamy, complex, layered and excellent.
Château Sainte Marguerite Grande Reserve Rosé 2008, Provence, France
There is no drink that says “holiday” quite as much as a cool glass of rosé. And this is not just any old rosé. This is an absolute stonker. It’s all about floral aromas (think roses) and strawberry freshness. It comes from Provence, made from organic grapes and feels like pure summertime in a glass.
Perez Cruz Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Maipo Valley, Chile
Seriously packed with blackcurrant fruitiness and a lively minty streak, it’s fleshy, smooth and generous mouthful of yum!
