Parker's Passion for Chateauneuf-du-Pape

This shore tour is not yet available for purchase. Specific details for this program are not yet finalized and the tour elements are subject to change. An email announcement will be sent to all confirmed group members 4 to 5 months before departure.

TIME Magazine described Robert Parker Jr. as, "the man with the paragon palate… for countless wine lovers, Robert Parker’s tastes are infallible.” Wine lovers across the globe look to his ratings to influence their wine cellar selections. For Parker the choice is simple, the bottle he reaches for the most comes from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. What is behind Parker’s passionate crush? He explains, "The greatest appeal of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, beyond its food-friendly qualities, expansiveness, generosity of flavors and sumptuous texture, is the almost addictive attraction of its combined intellectual and hedonistic elements."

Less than 60 miles from Marseille, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is your destination for the day and your guide is an American-born and French-trained superstar sommelier. His goal is to educate you and your palate on what makes Châteauneuf-du-Pape such a classic wine region. The first stop is one of the oldest properties the region, Domaine La Barroche. With wines consistently rated in the 90s by Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator, Barroche has established itself as a new star in the appellation.

Next, just North of the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is Alain Jaume Domaine Grand Veneur. Dating back to 1826, the family winery is now in its fifth generation of wine makers. Although one of perhaps the first wineries to experiment with using new French oak for aging, Alain’s sons, Sebastien and Christophe have continued in their father’s footsteps with organic viticulture, green-harvesting and manual harvesting.

Lunch will be served at nearby chef-owned restaurant, La Table de Sorgues. The menu, made with fresh ingredients and full of flavorful foods, is paired with a selection of regional wines. If time allows, you will make a short stop at the chocolate factory before returning to the ship.