Here’s how it all came together. Hélène and I visited Amélie Barrot in Châteauneuf du Pape last September and discussed the idea of holding a wine tasting event to showcase the superb wines from Vignobles Mousset-Barrot. Amélie thought it a grand idea and specially select a range of her family’s wines for the occasion. We then had the wines shipped over with our regular wine club order and let them rest for a while as we contemplated an appropriate way to showcase them.

Our old friend David Moorcroft writes an excellent travel blog for Triphourbour.ca in which he tells of the marvellous experiences that he and his wife Gail enjoy as they cruise the seven seas in abject luxury (and you think I have a cozy job!). See what I mean by taking a look for yourselves. A little while ago David told us about a very special cruise that Crystal Cruises was developing that just might appeal to our wine club members – a food and wine themed cruise of the northern Mediterranean!! “Perhaps we could co-host an event to promote the cruise”, he suggested. “Sure, if you and Crystal Cruises treat our guests to some Champagne”, I rejoined.

Crystal Cruises was voted the world’s best cruise line by the readers of Condé Nast Traveller and Travel + Leisure magazine. Who better to guide you on a wine and food centric cruise from Barcelona to Venice? Called ‘Tapas to Tiramisu’, this twelve day gastronomic extravaganza aboard the beautiful Crystal Serenity will also take you to several other glamorous ports of call including Monte Carlo, Livorno, Portoferraio, Rome, Sorrento, Corfu and Dubrovnik. From September 17 to 29 the lucky passengers will be treated to wine tastings led by master sommeliers and wine experts, cooking demonstrations with celebrity chefs and so much more. For additional information, please call Tripharbour.ca at 1-877-810-Trip (8747) or email guestservice@tripharbour.ca.

We knew where to go to find exactly the right cuisine to match the VM-B wines and a place in keeping with the spirit of the ‘Tapas to Tiramisu’ cruise and the discerning tastes of our wine club members – Bodega Restaurant. As you can see, Paul Biggs was more than up to the task and as the result, a very special evening awaits. The price for absolutely everything is $135 per person. Please call Bodega at (416) 977-1287 to make your reservations (have your favourite credit card ready). Bodega is at 30 Baldwin Street not too far from the AGO.