March 1, 2010

Sipping by the Sea: Riedel Glassware and Celebrity Cruise Lines Pair Well Together
By Candice Sabatini

Ever notice how much more you enjoy that martini in a pretty V-shaped glass rather than a short
squat round tumbler? Champagne is more festive in a flute because it holds the bubbles longer,
and red and white wines are served in different sized glasses so we can appreciate their taste
and aroma more. We all know that size matters and Riedel Glass Ware is teaching us that
shape also matters — paired up with Celebrity Cruise Lines Solstice Class ships, they offer an
on-board wine tasting experience that’s like no other at sea.

At a recent taste testing when the elegant ship was docked here for an afternoon, I had the
pleasure to experience the same Riedel seminar that passengers can experience while at sea.
Paired with an elegant dinner in one of the specialty restaurants, this is an experience that sets Celebrity apart from the rest.

Riedel makes a number of different glass shapes, and during our session, we focused on four of
them, specific to chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, and cabernet sauvignon. As our lively
and informed sommelier talked about the varietals being poured with our delicious gourmet
courses, he talked about wine notes, tastes and aromas. Each wine was poured into the wrong
shaped glass and we tasted, after that we transferred the wine into the right glass and tasted. It
was amazing how everyone could so easily perceive the difference. Strong oaky and woody
notes that were so obvious in one shaped glass became totally unnoticeable and smooth in
another. We sniffed, we swirled, we tasted on the front of our tongues, and then on the back. It
was like experiencing a magician, thinking “how’d they do that?” All of us skeptics of course had
to re-pour into the original glass to see if it was merely the power of suggestion. But no, the
shape of the glass allows some aromas and tastes to escape while keeping other subdued. I’m
no expert and so can’t explain to you why the flavors change from glass shape to glass shape;
you’ll just have to experience this for yourself on Celebrity and ask them! Afterwards, you’re
given a set of four Riedel wine glasses so you can recreate the experience at home. The cost
is $87 per person, which includes the glasses.

What to do if the ship starts rocking and some of that wine misses your mouth? The quest for
clothes that look elegant, don’t wrinkle, are easy to care for and can withstand a mishap like a
spill can be like a search for the Holy Grail. Whine no more mon petite syrah, Ming Wang to the
rescue! The basic black collection is created from the same high quality Amica knit fabric season
after season, with a few seasonal colors added in. All the new pieces will match ones from prior seasons, so you can keep your favorite skirt and update it with a new jacket, or vice versa. Last
year’s dress looks new and fresh worn with the ruffled jacket you see above. I love the horizontal
tuxedo shirt-like fine pleating detail on the front and wore it over Ming Wang’s wide-legged
pants, which have a great fit.

A votre santé!

For more information go to:
http://www.CelebrityCruises.com
http://www.Riedel.com
http://www.mingwangknits.com

BeautyNewsNYC

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