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The Captain said that due to our weather delays that we would be going through some areas during daylight that the ship normally only goes through during the night and would have a chance to do some rare daylight scenic cruising. I don't think the above is what the Captain was talking about, but we have been going by enjoyable scenery of Chilean islands. Until I looked at a map, I had no idea how much of Chile is actually islands of the west coast of the nation. We've been doing a lot of cruising between the continent and these islands as it tends to be waters protected from the rough seas. Right now at 9am the water is like glass, as smooth as sailing across a pond.
SABATINI'S
Italian Trattoria
Super Tuscan
Wine Lunch
Stateroom: A212
Super Tuscan Wine & Lunch
History of Super Tuscan Wines "Super Tuscan" is a term to describe a few numbers of red wines that do not adhere to the wine laws of Tuscany.
Thank you for signing up for this event. This is just a gentle reminder that it will be held in our:
Sabatini Dining Room
Deck 7
15th March, 2024 (At Sea)
@12:00 pm
Due to the exclusivity of this event a nominal
non-refundable fee will automatically
be applied to your shipboard account.
We look forward to your graceful presence.
Sapphire Sommelier Team
The term Super Tuscan was coined in the early 1980s to describe a red blend from Tuscany. What makes "super Tuscan" wine different from other Tuscan wines (like Chianti) is the use of wine grapes that are not indigenous to Italy. Learn about super Tuscan wine and how to seek them out.
"Super Tuscan" is a term used to describe red wines from Tuscany that may include non-indigenous grapes, particularly Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. The creation of super Tuscan wines resulted from the frustration winemakers had towards a slow bureaucracy in changing Italy's wine law during the 1970s. Winemakers began mixing 'unsanctioned' wine varieties (like Merlot) into their blends to make high-quality wines. The legal system eventually yielded in 1992 with the creation of IGT, a new designation that gave winemakers the ability to be more creative.
The First Super Tuscan: The most famous super Tuscan wine was called "Tignanello" and was created by Antinori in 1971. It was the first super Tuscan wine, and today Tignanello is a blend of 80% Sangiovese 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. Tignanello commands about $120 a bottle, but you can find many other great valued super Tuscan wines today. Let's find out how.
Evidently the kitchen got a bit confused between two different menus they have for this event. I'm not sure why they just couldn't have followed the menu they placed at every table. Menu #1 was at every table when we arrived. It was the menu we followed until we got to dessert. At that point they realized they had given us the wrong menu for some of the courses and replaced Menu #1 with Menu #2. All of the wines they served matched what is listed on Menu #1, not Menu #2. The Antipasto they served is the one listed on Menu #1. However, the First Course is the one listed on Menu #2. I did not see any fresh mint on it and my wife and I both thought the item in the center was a mushroom and not a zucchini. Turns out we were right as the First Course is the one descriped in Menu #2 which is Prcini "Mushroom" Risotto. Actually, I think the rest of the items served were from Menu #2 and not Menu #1. The Main Course was some sort of beef and I think it was on polenta rather than mash potatoes. I'm not really sure about that one, but the dessert was definitely from Menu #2 and not Menu #1. The dessert was served with Crema di Limoni which is not listed on Menu #1. The staff apologized for having given us the wrong menus and mixing up what was served.
We were one of the first to arrive so they placed us at a table for two right by the window. Ever since we got up in the morning until 4pm there was beautiful scenery of Chilean island mountains out the windows of the ship. I only took a few photos of the scenery or else this page would have been filled with hundreds of beautiful scenery photos.
This was a bit of a strange Super Tuscan wine tasing. Super Tuscans have always been one of my favorite types of Italian wine, with the exception of Amaroni being my very favorite. I like the Super Tuscans more than Chianti or California Sangioves. But my concept of Super Tuscans has always been an Italian wine with Sangiovese being the main ingredient with other wine types added in such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, to enhance the intensity and flavor of the wine. Chianti must be made from at least 70% Sangiovese grapes from Toscana with no more than 15% of Cabernet Sauvignon. There are many other rules that must be met for a wine to be labeled Chianti, espcially DOC status, depending on the type of Chianti. But if the wine maker waivers from these rules, then the wine can not be labeled a Chianti. Instead such wines from Tuscany are labeled "Super Tuscans".
The first wine that was served was a sparkling Santa Cristina Brut composed of Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. I had never heard of a white Super Tuscan before, especially a sparkling one. But I guess since the grapes are grown in the Tuscany region and they don't conform to the Chianti rules, then it is considered a "Super Tuscan."
The second wine served was "Castello Banfi Rosso Di Montalcino Toscana IGT." This one baffled me. If a wine is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, it can be considered a Chianti, yet this one is classified as a Super Tuscan. I guess it must have violated one of the other strict rules for Chianti classification to be allowed the Chianti DOC classification, such as aging process, alcohol level, or one of the other criteria. Again, I'm used to Super Tuscans being a blend and not a pure Sangiovese wine.
The third and fourth wines, "Gaja Ca' Marcanda Promis Toscana IGP" and "Pian delle Vigne Brunello Toscana IGT," were my favorites. They both had a rich intense flavor. The first one surprised me as it is a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Shiraz/Syrah, and only 10% Sangiovese. That changed my understanding that the main ingredients of Super Tuscans were blends with the main grape being Sangiovese. The second wine was 100% Sangiovese. Again, there were not the Sangiovese blends that I was expecting, but these last two wines were very good.
I just did an entire walk around the outer deck of the ship to see if it was possible. On most newer cruise ships it is not possible to walk all the way around the ship on any outer deck. Newer cruise ships have tried to use every available space for additional cabins, restaurants, bars, and other revenue generating space. But this ship being a somewhat older cruise ship, has preserved the ability to completely walk around the entire ship outside. There is one little oddity in that when you get to the front of the ship you have to go upstairs and continue your walk around the front on Deck 8 and then come back down to Deck 7 once you have gone past the front. But other than that minor inconvenience, you can make as many complete rounds on the outside of the ship as you like. Three times around the deck is one mile. There is also a walking track on the Sports Deck, but you have to make ten rounds for a mile. You are only allowed to job on the Promenade Deck 7, not on the Sports Deck.
It was cold and very windy while I was doing my walk, especially when I was walking around the front of the ship on Deck 8. I had to hold onto my fedora hat the entire time to keep it from blowing away. Once I got inside, I went to the store on Deck 6 and puchased a pair of gloves for $11 and a knit hat for $11 for a total of $22. Now I'll be able to keep my hands warm and keep a hat on my head not in danger of flying off.
Captain Todd McBain requests the pleasure of our Most Traveled Passengers, along with our Platinum & Elite members of the Princess Cruises Captain's Circle to a special cocktail party to thank you for your loyalty. Mr Stephen Grande & Ms Barbara Cepinko. Dress code: Formal. We look forward to celebrating your loyalty!
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