Costa Cruises and La Banca del Vino have launched a new wine list onboard. To develop the new wine array, Europe’s leading cruise line partnered with the Italian cooperative company “Wine Bank” founded by Carlo Petrini, chairman of Slow Food International, an active supporter of Italy’s oenological history and regional cuisine.
The wine list, which is now available fleetwide, includes selections from Italy’s 19 regions and other countries including Australia, France, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain and the United States. With over 100 carefully chosen labels from the most respected wineries from those countries, the list also features an extensive selection of sustainable and organic wines. In addition, the menu includes many DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita), DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) and AOC (Appellation d’origine contrôlée) wines that hold these prestigious certifications based on being crafted in specific geographical regions with the highest quality in winemaking standards.
The wine list is divided into four categories, distinguishable by symbols next to each wine. Guests may choose between sustainable wines, organic wines, territory-specific wines and wines that have been paired with specific Italian regional dishes.
The sustainable wines are selected from wineries that adopt farming methods that reduce environmental impacts and enhance biodiversity. Among them are the Roero Arneis Pradalupo di “Fontanafredda” from Italy’s Piedmont region, the Friuli Colli Orientali Sauvignon di “Le Vigne di Zamò” and the Pinot Nero dell’Alto Adige di “Elena Walch.”
The new wine list also features biodynamic wines, which are included in the “sustainable wines” category. Biodynamic farming is a holistic philosophy of life forces that treats the cosmos as a living system and emphasizes factors like energy, lunar cycles and planetary forces. The perfect representations of the biodynamic wine are the Gavi “La Raia” from Piedmont and the Teroldego Rotaliano di “Foradori” from Trentino Alto Adige, which are marked by the earthy tones and the authentic expression of the terroir of origin — the environmental conditions, especially soil and climate, in which grapes are grown that give a wine its unique flavor and aroma.
The organic wine category features selections from wineries that follow the strict European guidelines of not containing synthetic chemicals and are from grapes grown without the use of genetically modified organisms. Examples of the organic wines include the Albana di Romagna Vigna Rocca di “Tre Monti”, the Frascati Superiore Racemo “L’Olivella” dal Lazio, the Chianti Classico Riserva Berardenga di “Fattoria di Fèlsina” from Tuscany and the Aglianico del Vulture Il Repertorio “Cantine del Notaio” from Basilicata.
Along with the new selection of sustainable and organic wines, Italian and international wine icons, such as the Trento Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore Extra Brut, the Bolgheri Sassicaia di “Tenuta San Guido” and the Champagne Brut “Dom Perignon,” are also prominent options for guests.
The new wine list is another layer of Costa’s “Italy’s Finest” initiative, in which the line has revamped its culinary and entertainment offerings by bringing the best Italian brands to sea. That includes new regional and gala night menus by Michelin-star chefs Fabio Cucchelli and Bruno Barbieri, and partnerships with leading Italian brands like Barilla, Illy Caffé, Nutella and Ferrari sparkling wines.
