Cunard announces headline speakers for 2019 Wine Voyage

By Cruise Adviser Last updated Mar 20, 2019

Luxury cruise line Cunard has announced three of wine’s biggest names as headline speakers for the second annual ‘Voyage Du Vin’ on board Queen Victoria, setting sail this September.

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 2019 is sure to delight. I’m already looking forward to joining Queen Victoria in September.”

Joining Clark is award-winning columnist and broadcaster Will Lyons. 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 is Charles Metcalfe, co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge. 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.

Along with talks from the experts, guests will experience daily wine tastings, pairings and fine dining, featuring more than 400 wines from 23 countries.

Following last year’s hugely successful inaugural trip, the two-week voyage will see Cunard’s Queen Victoria sail to some of the leading wine regions of France, Spain and Italy.

Lee Powell, Cunard’s VP of brand and product, 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.”

The Voyage Du Vin 2019 will depart from Southampton on September 6.