You'd be forgiven for thinking there is just one crewon a superyacht, but in many cases there are two.While one set are the finest in their league, utterlydisposed to please and competent sailors, the oth-ers can be poor travellers, fussy about conditions on board andprone to be utterly spoilt when you most expect them todeliver. When it comes to the latter we are, of course, referringto Les Grand Crus.Sadly, fine wines and superyachts are not natural bedfellows.The former are sensitive travellers and the latter can be inhos-pitable hosts presenting challenges the likes of constantmotion, altering temperatures, humidity and sunlight. While theaverage bottle of wine will probably fare acceptably at sea (andnot provoke a hernia in the event that it does turn and need to bebinned), wine connoisseurs would be wise to hesitate beforeThanks to today's high-techcellars, your favourite wines canbe as comfortably accommodatedona yacht as your charter party,discovers Kate RigbyThe dream cellarswine on board70Isea&iISPRING-SUMMER 2012ordering a case or two of their finest vintage Burgundy for a charter.Thankfully, on-board wine storage has become something ofa science, with specialist companies providing bespoke solutionsfor travelling wines. But before your chosen labels grace yourhi-tech cooler racks, before they even arrive dockside, there'sthe all-important consideration of which ones you should choseto take, for even with the most sophisticated storage technologysome wines simply don't 'do' yachts. Raise a glass, then, tothose companies that exist not only to offer the expert adviceyou need when selecting the ideal wines to take on board, butwhich also supply them. Wines that sail wellIf you're in the market for expert advice pre-charter, ask yourCamper & Nicholsons charter broker as they are in touch withexpert wine suppliers, the likes of Vins Sans Frontières. Pre-charter, you'll also have the opportunity to liaise with the cap-tain and chef of your chosen yacht to discuss how the on-board cuisine and your favourite wines can be partnered. Beprepared to elaborate on what sort of wine you generally enjoyat home, as well as the style and extent of entertaining you'reanticipating on board, and your guests' tastes, which may dif-fer from your own. From this information, and bearing in mindthe specifics of the destination and duration of your cruise,your charter broker and a chosen supplier can recommend theideal wines for your charter, and ensure that your yacht is pro-visioned accordingly.Another company that specialises in providing advice and finewines is The Antique Wine Company, one of the world's premierwine merchants established more than a quarter of a centuryago and with a network of offices, advisers and storage facilitiesacross Europe, Asia and North America. Five years ago, due topopular demand, the company set up a division advising?THE PERFECT TEAM Just as the meals on your charter can be customised to suit your cruise destination, so tooyour choice of wine can reflect the areas in which you travel. If you're heading to theMediterranean this summer, consider the recommendations of Stephen Williams, managingdirector of The Antique Wine Company, for the following regions:The Amalfi Coast of Italy:a top Italian wine, such as a 2000 Sassicaia or 2003 Ornellaia Southern Spain:two highly recommended choices are the mouthwatering 2002 Pintia andAlvaro Palacio's magnificent 2000 L'Ermita from PrioratFrance's Côte d'Azur:a Provence Rosé, ideally Garrus from Château d'Esclans, of which onlythree barrels are produced each year. The estate is owned by Lichine and the wine is madeby Patrick Léon, former managing director of Mouton-RothschildThe Greek islands:a lively and fragrant Loire Sauvignon Blanc from Dagueneau. For examplethe Cuvée Silex, which is well rated. Or, if you want pure Grecian inspiration, a 2010 GaiaThalassitis Santorini, which has an intense, mineral, freshness. Santorini's black volcanic soilsand the native Assyrtiko grape combine to produce something akin to a Chablis of the Cyclades.

SPRING-SUMMER 2012I sea&iI71specialinterest