Today’s wine consumers are increasingly interested not only in what’s in the bottle, but also in the stories, people, and values behind it.
A special enrichment activity onboard Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas is their Women of Wine tasting class. It’s one of the line’s more intimate and thoughtfully curated onboard enrichment experiences. It’s ideal for solo travelers, couples and groups, as it is part wine education, part social gathering, and part celebration of female-led winemaking.
Hosted on select sailings, the experience introduces guests to wines from around the world produced by women winemakers and owners of vineyards. During the tasting, participants receive generous tastings of 7 different varietals. Sparkling wine, white wines with different nuances, and vibrant, bold reds. Guests learn about the region, wine profile styles, and listen to interesting stories behind each pour.
The atmosphere in the main dining room of the ship is more of a refined lounge experience than formal wine seminar. Guests can linger over conversation while exploring different varietals and vintages.
What makes the class especially appealing on a cruise is its pace. On sea days, when the rhythm onboard slows and passengers have uninterrupted time to explore the ship, experiences like Women of Wine feel immersive rather than scheduled. It becomes less about simply tasting wine and more about savoring the ocean views, discovering new wines, and connecting with fellow travelers.
It’s ideal for travelers seeking something more curated than the typical cocktail or drink package.
The first wine poured is usually a sparkling Chandon Brut offering a crisp and fresh flavor profile. One detects hints of green apple and pear with an essence of spice that ends with a soft and dry finish.
Winemaker Pauline Lhote is an expert at Champagne. She received a National Diploma of Winemaking in Reims. During her studies, she gained hands-on winemaking experience at Moet & Chandon. Later she set her sights on Domaine Chandon in Napa Valley, the first French-owned sparkling wine house in California.
She uses three noble grape varietals that include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier to make this exquisite bubbly. Even though these grapes are white, red and dark purple, this sparkling wine is colorless, because the skin of these grapes is removed.
Participants learn about sight, aroma and acid levels with each tasting. Pairing suggestions include salty, creamy and nutty foods. It’s a light wine to drink on its own or with food. Enjoy with a Caesar salad, Italian cheese, antipasti, fried calamari, oysters and sushi.
The second white wine to taste is Villa Maria, a herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Winemaker Helen Morrison earned her Bachelor’s degree in Viticulture and Oenology in 2005. She graduated as top female in her class and joined the Villa Maria team in 2014.
Sauvignon Blanc is the highest acidity of white grapes, and New Zealand is one of the best places to grow these grapes.
This crisp wine had aromas of lemongrass and hints of coriander. There is a lingering hint of grapefruit and spicy jalapeño on the finish. Pairings include Indonesian and Thai food that is not too spicy.
With a focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility, she has been a judge in the New Zealand one show and a member of the Marlborough Wine Options Committee.
Deborah Ruffing is the winemaker for Lucien Albrecht, and makes a delicate on the nose Riesling Reserve. Pleasing aromatic notes include fresh citrus peel and blossoms. On the palate there is a dry sweetness offset by a citrus lime finish.
France and Germany are known for their fabulous Rieslings that range from bone dry to syrup sweet. This white wine offers a medium acidity and is great to sip with grilled fish with a white sauce.
Deborah Ruffing holds a degree in Oenology and Winemaking and is a member of the Oenologists Union of Alsace, and hosts a wine club tasting in Languedoc, France.
The last white wine during Women of Wine tasting is a very popular Chardonnay by La Crema in Sonoma Valley. Winemaker Jen Walsh obtained her Master’s degree in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California Davis. Her passion is making Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. La Crema is owned by women in the Jackson Family Estates. In the mid 1980s, Barbara Banke built Jackson Family Wines alongside her late husband, Jess Jackson. Sisters Laura Jackson-Giron and Jennifer Jackson help run this successful winery near the Russian River area of Sonoma.
La Crema Chardonnay has aromatic hints of vanilla from the oak barrels, plus a touch of Meyer lemon. On the palate one is reminded of grilled pineapple and tropical guava. There is a touch of spice and minerality with each sip. The balanced acidity lingers for a pleasant finish. This wine has a little more alcohol than the other white wines tasted.
On to the red wines, the red blend from France, Castellum Cite De Carcassone is made by owner and winemaker Ingrid Bertraud. Born in Bordeaux, she was inspired by the Castellum Estate and has been the lead winemaker since 2016. Her red blend wine offers a deep red color and complexity in aroma. There are intense ripe stone fruit and berries. It’s a slightly silky wine that offers well-integrated tannins and spicy notes with a lovely linger on the palate.
Red blends are a combination of different varietals to achieve a desired tasting profile. It’s an ideal wine to serve at a barbecue with grilled meat or during an Italian pasta night meal.
Another red, Zolo Malbec is a beautiful red wine with intense violet hues. With each sniff there is an explosion of ripe plum and blackberry. This luscious light to medium body wine is aged in French and American oak for 6 months. This oak offers notes of vanilla and cocoa. It’s not as light as a Pinot Noir, and doesn’t have a long and lingering finish. It’s a nice wine to pair with a gourmet burger, as the bold fruit and tannins stand up nicely with marbled beef. It’s also a perfect match for Argentine-style barbecue, braised short ribs and beef bourguignon.
Winemaker Patricia Ortiz is also the owner of the winery and avid art collector. She has been involved in the wine industry since 2003 and is the owner of Fincas Patagonicas, with 7 vineyards. One of her wineries is located on the coast of Patagonia. In 2019, she became the first female President of Bodegas de Argentina, and was nominated Wine Enthusiast Executive of the Year in 2023.
The wine tasting finishes with a popular Cabernet Sauvignon by Decoy’s Assistant Winemaker Monica Watson. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Cal Poly and a doctorate in molecular physiology from UC Davis.
Her Cabernet Sauvignon offers an inviting ruby red appearance with hints of purple hues in the glass. On the nose, it offers a perfume of blackberry, plum and boysenberry. With one sip, the lush fruit flavors are framed by rich tannins. There are hints of dark chocolate and barrel spice on the medium to long finish. Pair this red wine with a rib-eye with a bake potato and either chicken or eggplant parmesan.
Before joining Decoy, Monica worked at EOS Winery in Paso Robles, Rimu Grove Winery in Mapua, New Zealand and at Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Sonoma County.
For much of wine history, women were often excluded from leadership roles in vineyards and cellars despite their behind-the-scenes contributions. Now there are expanding opportunities for women to help reshape the industry in meaningful ways. Women winemakers provide diversity in perspective and strengthen the wine industry economics in creatively and work culture.
This Women of Wine class and tasting is offered on longer itineraries and repositioning cruises with multiple sea days. The event is generally bookable through the cruise planner or Royal Caribbean app before sailing.
