In our continuing mission to make wine appreciation and enjoyment accessible to everyone, the James Suckling team is proud to announce a new collaboration, with Holland America Line, the world’s top cruise line.
Starting this spring, “James Suckling’s Guide to Great Wines” will be available across the entire fleet of 15 cruise liners, which carry more than 800,000 passengers every year on more than 500 cruises, stopping in more than 400 ports.
James started his collaboration with Holland America in March 2018, when he was named the cruise line's new wine curator, designing and developing the wine offerings of all shipboard dining venues and bars.
This new initiative allows James to hand-select a diverse range of champagnes, rosés, reds and whites for the new wine menu, which features only wines that scored 90 points or more, and includes a few 100-point ‘perfect wines’ too.
“I created the wine list to be fun and experiential for guests on Holland American Line,” said James, who rated more than 22,000 wines last year with his team and more than 200,000 wines in his three-decade career as a wine critic.
The 100-point wines include Louis Roederer Cristal Brut from Champagne, France; Vega Sicilia Unico from Ribera del Duero, Spain; Seña Red Blend Biodynamic from Aconcagua, Chile; and Chateau d’Yquem from Sauternes, France.
The guide is organized by categories, such as Light Conversation, Mealtime Favorites and James’s Rock Star Wines, instead of traditional ways such as provenance, vintage or price.
James provides further guidance with wines listed in categories such as “easy, fun and delicious,” “thoughtful, reflective and rich,” “versatile with any food,” “fresh, light and fruity,” “medium body, balanced and focused” and “bold, flavorful and characterful.”
“As we crafted our new wine list with James, our goal was to make it accessible for everyone, no matter their wine knowledge, but we also wanted it to have a selection that was unmatched anywhere at sea,” said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line’s president.
“The idea behind having such an exceptional collection on board is to give our guests the opportunity to try wines they might not know, experiment with different types of wines, and, for those who are new to wine, ease into it with guidance from one of the foremost experts in the world. James’ wine list is like having him at the table helping choose the perfect wine just for you.”
James Suckling's Guide to Great Wines only includes wines that score 90 points or above.
