Wine tasting?

[scrappermcl]

When and where are the sign-ups for the wine tasting on the Western?
Thanks,
Mary

 

[natdencro]

We did the wine-tasting on the Eastern, and we just asked at Guest Services and booked there and then. Cost $12 each, but was informative and we enjoyed it............especially drinking the 6 glasses of wine! Enjoy. Nat :

 

[suez live]

Usually they have a sign up when you arrive. You should make it a priority as they fill quickly. However, every cruise we have been on, they have offered additional tastings. You may want to check with the crew periodically to see if they are scheduling additional sessions.

 

[wdw47]

can you sign up for the tasting befor the cruise what time and where do they hold it

 

[MariaTia2]

Is the wine tasting always the same (wines, etc?) We did the tasting in January on the Wonder, but we loved it and considering doing it again in May on the Magic. Just curious if we would taste different wines and learn new info? TIA -=

 

[halloween1031]

Typically they change the wines from tasting to tasting. On one trip we did all four sessions and overlapped three or four. Not really bad considering we sampled 24 total.

If you are really into the process, you might chat with one of the Cellar Masters (the crew members who lead the tasting) to let them know you will be repeating. As they are experts—and judging by their passion it is as much of an art as it is a job, they always seemed happy to mix things up with the selections. (Keep asking for an Ice Wine!)

The information is always basically the same (as many guests are first-timers and just having fun—which, with all due respect to the one or two wine-snobs in the audience who like to show how “knowledgeable” they are by grousing at the simplicity of the presentation—is the point!) but the insights to the vineyard, grapes, etc. is different. Again, this is true as well if they know you are a return taster with an interest in the details.

Without being too glib about the wine “connoisseurs,” this is a great opportunity to try different wines and learn a little about the differences in types, origins, grapes, etc. Sadly, the whole wine “thing” can be so unnecessarily complex that many people simply avoid the awkwardness of making a selection. (Ever have the experience of an impatient waiter standing over you at a restaurant as you scan over a wine list with unfamiliar names and a spectrum of prices. . .9 times out of 10 he knows less than you do!)

The “point” is to find a wine that tastes good—or hopefully great—to you. Period. The truly exceptional thing about these tastings is that the Disney crew goes out of their way to take the mystique out of the process and equip you with the ability to find something you can enjoy both on the ship and back home. (And hopefully learn there is not a thing wrong with going into your local wine store an asking for “Something good that goes with *fill in the blank* and costs less than $10!”)

If you have ever been even remotely curious about wine, this is a “must do” on your cruise. And for those seasoned “experts” who are inclined to become exacerbated by introductory level discussions, just try to avoid pulling a Paul Giamatti from Sideways and beating on the tables screaming “I won’t drink any &*%$#@! Merlot!”