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Oceania Cruises will bring you to the doors of imagnificent estates, centuries-old wineries and traditional restaurants that will afford you the opportunity to sample specialty food and wine focused shore excursions, called Epicurean Immersions. Produced in conjunction with renowned culinary experts at Food & Wine Trails of Sonoma, California, and showcased at places most travelers have never heard of, but are famous nonetheless, these tours will be offering one-of-a-kind experiences to provide an up-close and in depth look at local food and wine legacies. Each tour showcases its culinary treats including meals at some of the world’s best wineries or private homes – settings that enhance both food and drink, and will leave guests with a true taste of southern Europe.

Italy, Greece and the south of France are an epicurean’s delight and the perfect stage for this new series of culinary tours which are offered in virtually all 2008 and 2009 western Mediterranean voyages. Featuring tours in Venice, Florence La Spezia, and Sorrento, Italy; Corfu, and Santorini, Greece; Provence, France; a variety of half- and full-day tours are available. As guest participation is typically limited to 25 or 30 guests, the tours offer a unique perspective not just into the local cuisine, but the personalities that are the fabric of the region’s history and lore.

Enhancing and enriching the tours, and ensuring a truly immersive experience, each is led by a renowned expert. Noted wine experts, cookbook authors, and critically acclaimed food and wine academe such as Judy Francini, Pamela Sheldon, Judy Witts, and Padraig Fournier are among the luminaries that will personally guide guests through each Epicurean Immersion. Each is not only intimately acquainted with the local food and wine scene, but has been instrumental in designing the tours.

“We are always searching for new and exciting ways to enhance and enrich our guests’ culinary experience, whether aboard ship or ashore. With this series of intimate and in depth tours, our guests can immerse themselves in the local cuisines and wines while truly connecting with the local culture,” stated Bob Binder, President of Oceania Cruises.

Food & Wine Trails, the educational tour division of HMS Travel, organizes international food and wine tours for many of America’s top food and wine organizations. Clients include Robert Mondavi, Beringer and Kosta Browne wineries, culinary schools like the Culinary Institute of America and consumer groups like ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers), the American Wine Society and Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.

To preserve the intimate nature of these experiences, availability on these tours is extremely limited. Please consult your travel agent, or call Oceania Cruises at 800-531-5658 to reserve your Epicurean Immersions.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Best of La Spezia Experience
La Spezia, Italy
Chef lead cooking demos
Tasting of locally prepared artisan products
Wine paired luncheon prepared by a local chef
Free time to explore and shop for local wines, olive oil and other regional products
Best of Venice Strolling and Noshing Experience
Venice, Italy
3-hour guided walking tour through three popular campos (neighborhoods)
Three noshing stops for traditional bite sized snacks
Lunch served with wine in a trattoria
Best of Florence Strolling and Noshing Experience
Florence (Livorno), Italy
Walking tour of the Mercato Centrale food market with snacks provided at pre-arranged food stands. This program is personally led by Judy Witts, who has been recognized by Travel + Leisure magazine and leads one of Europe’s most acclaimed culinary programs.
Lunch served with wine at a local trattoria
Two and a half hours to independently explore Florence
Best of Santorini Wine Experience
Santorini, Greece
Guided tour of the Oia Village
Private Tour and Tasting at the Boutari Winery with a hosted wine paired lunch
Private Tour and Tasting at Domaine Segalas, the only Greek winery selected by Wine Spectator in their Top 100 Wines of the World
Free time in the town of Thira and a cable car ride down to the pier
Best of Provence Wine Experience
Provence (Marseille), France
Private tour of historic Chateau Bas and the estate grounds
Private, winery staff led tasting of their highly rated wines
Multi-course, Provencal luncheon served with premium wines
Two hours for shopping and exploring Aix-en-Provence
Best of Pompeii Wine Experience
Sorrento/Capri, Italy
1-1/2 hour guided tour of the archeological area of Pompeii
1 hour guided vineyard and cellar tour of the Azienda Sorrentino Winery
Winery hosted lunch paired with Azienda Sorrentino Lacryma Christi red & white wines
Best of Ornellaia Wine Experience
Florence (Livorno), Italy
Guided tour of the Ornellaia vineyard, one of the few wineries to ever receive a perfect “100” score by Wine Spectator magazine
Guided tour of Ornellaia’s estate property and wine cellar
Luncheon paired with wines hosted by Ornellaia’s hospitality staff
Free time to explore a medieval village
Opportunity to purchase wines and other regional products
Best of Corfu Wine Experience
Corfu, Greece
Tour of the Theotoki Estate olive press and winery facility
Self exploration of the Estate grounds and historical document library
Wine and food tasting hosted by the Theotoki family
Country luncheon at “Spyros and Vassilis” restaurant served with wine
Best of Gragano Pasta Experience
Sorrento/Capri, Italy
Tour of the Villa San Marco in Castellamare
Guided tour of the Di Nola Pasta Company in Gragano with a demonstration of traditional pasta making and drying methods
Lunch or Dinner hosted by the Zampino Family in their restaurant, with traditional pasta dishes served with wine
Best of Terriccio Wine Experience
Florence (Livorno), Italy
Visit to a medieval village with time to explore and shop for local wines, olive oil and other regional products
Guided estate tour of Castello del Terriccio
Wine tasting presented by a member of the Hospitality Staff
Wine paired luncheon hosted by the winery
Independent time to explore the estate grounds and purchase wine
About Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises® is the world’s only upper-premium cruise line and offers a unique combination of the finest cuisine at sea, luxurious accommodations, exceptional personalized service and extraordinary value. As the leader in destination cruising, Oceania Cruises sails to more than 180 ports in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, South America, and the Caribbean. Featuring three intimate and elegant mid-sized ships, Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, the line will introduce two new mid-size Oceania Class ships to its award-winning fleet in 2010 and 2011. For additional information, to make a reservation, or to order a brochure, please contact me at 888-579-8706. Visit them at OceaniaCruises.com.