Cunard's 2019 Wine Voyage

Cunard Line has announced three of wine’s biggest names will be the headline speakers for the second annual ‘Voyage Du Vin’, on board Queen Victoria, setting sail from Southampton on 6 September, returning 14-nights later. Along with talks from three renowned experts, guests will experience daily wine tastings, pairings and fine dining, featuring over 400 wines from 23 countries. 

As one of three famed wine experts on the voyage, Oz Clarke is one of the world’s foremost wine connoisseurs. Clarke has written several award-winning books, and is generally regarded as leading Britain's wine revolution in the 1990s and 2000s. Clarke has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows, including Food and Drink, the long-running BBC Food show.  He said: “Whether you’re an existing wine buff, or simply have a love of fine wine, fine holidays and good times, the Voyage Du Vin in 2019 is sure to delight.  I’m already looking forward to joining Queen Victoria in September.” 

Joining Clarke is award winning columnist and broadcaster Will Lyons, who will bring his trademark humour and down to earth style to the voyage. For more than a decade Lyons has published a weekly column on wine, formerly in The Wall Street Journal and now The Sunday Times. His humorous, informed, down-to-earth writing has been recognised in both the Glenfiddich and Roederer wine writing awards. 

Supporting them will be Charles Metcalfe, the International Wine Challenge’s co-chairman. One of the best-known, most spontaneous and amusing wine critics in Britain, Metcalfe presented drinks and occasionally food items for 12 years as one of the Richard-and-Judy team on the ITV programme, ‘This Morning’.

Following last year’s hugely successful inaugural trip, the voyage will see Cunard’s Queen Victoria sail to some of the leading wine regions of France, Spain and Italy including calls to Vigo, Mallorca, Livorno (for Florence) Cannes, Barcelona and Gibraltar where guests can go ashore and explore the diverse cultures, tastes and experiences each destination has to offer.

Lee Powell, VP Brand and Product, Cunard said: “Voyage Du Vin will offer a unique and truly extraordinary way for wine lovers to uncork some of the world’s leading wines, while travelling in style on board one of Cunard's iconic ships, Queen Victoria.”

Extravagant references to yesteryear underline what differentiates Cunard ships. Some rival companies have ships which boast sumptuous features and multifarious facilities, but none of them have such a colourful heritage. Fanciful illusions of being transported back to a golden age of travel, when screen sirens walked the decks and flirted over dinner are tangible.