Silver Spirits: What Brands Is Silver Cloud Pouring?
So what exactly is Silversea pouring? Let's start with the champagne. Silversea's complimentary pours are Perrier-Jouet, generally preferred by guests from the United Kingdom; Pommery, the preference of many American guests; and Drappier, a new offering for Silversea that is the French president's preferred brand, according to Tim Donvin, Food & Beverage Controller on Silversea.
House pour wines number about 80 different brands from regions worldwide, says head sommelier Vanja Vrhovac (pictured). Wines are chosen primarily based on Silversea's heritage (an Italian company) and the regions where the ship is sailing. For example, on sailings in South America, regional wines, such as Malbec, are provisioned.
In addition, Silver Cloud offers a selection of about 50 premium wines, available at an extra charge. One passenger I spoke with said prices for the premium wines were about half of what he paid for the same brands in restaurants in the United States.
Not an oenophile myself, I am content with the complimentary pours. When I ordered white wine with room service earlier this week, the room steward brought along a bottle of Chateau Saint Marie, a Bordeaux blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion and Muscadelle. I had no trouble quaffing a glass of the 2007 vintage.
Starting this month, complimentary wines are being upgraded, Vrhovac says, citing such new brands on board as Conundrum and Caymus, from two of California's best-known wineries.
House pour spirits include fine brands, but you can cough up a little extra for the best brands if you wish.
Silver Cloud's guests may also request bottles of wine and spirits to be delivered to their suites.
During a typical 10-day cruise, more than 1,900 bottles of wine and 400 bottles of champagne are consumed along with beer and spirits.
One special wine experience on Silver Cloud is Le Champagne, which offers a Relais & Chateaux dining experience with paired wines. For $200 per guest, the dinner includes a paired wine with each course of the Degustation menu. The menu is offered for $30 without the special pairings.
On this sailing, a Bordeaux menu was featured last night that started with Dom Perignon, followed by Sauternes, which typically costs $140 to $180 a bottle, then a selection of other wines that average around $150 per bottle. For oenophiles, Le Champagne appears to represent a good value.
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