Rhone River Cruise: Burgundy and Provence

May 29th to June 5th, 2022

Itinerary | The Ship | Pricing | FAQ | Reserve

SS Catherine The South of France beckons. The wines and cuisine of Burgundy and the Rhone Valley are the focus this weeklong journey from Lyon to Avignon. We’ve chartered the entire ship for seven fun-filled days and nights. Cabins are available to book in a variety of categories for this previously sold-out event.

Chef in the Hat, Thierry Rautureau (Luc, Loulay) will join us to lend his unique talents to the experience. In addition, this cruise will feature Washington Winemakers Kerry Shiels of Côte Bonneville, and Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen of WT Vintners. In addition, Master Sommelier Larry Stone, Co-founder and CEO of Oregon’s Lingua Franca Wines will add to the on-board educational component. We’ll have wine and food discussions, visit cellars, and sample Michelin-starred restaurants, all while exploring villages and vineyards along the river.

Your cruise includes accommodations on the luxurious SS Catherine as she travels from Avignon to Lyon, all meals, adult beverages, most shore excursions , taxes & gratuities. By chartering the entire vessel, we’re able to offer exclusive low rates to our guests and provide a unique educational program on board.

Sample vintages as we cruise the Saone and Rhone Rivers.
Shore excursions in the villages on the river
Dine with old and new friends
Evening entertainment on board and ashore
Wine discussion throughout the week
Unique Michelin dining experiences

Itinerary

DAY 1: Lyon (Embark)

Arrive at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship.

Note: For Arrival, Departure and Transfer details, please visit Uniworld.com/transfers. For Port Location details, please visit Uniworld.com/ports.

DAY 2: Mâcon (Beaune)

The pace of life is decidedly more relaxed in Burgundy, where endless rows of grapes hang heavy on the vine. The capital of the region’s wine trade, Beaune is renowned for its history, beauty and highly prized wine, as well as its medieval-era hospital—the Hospices de Beaune.

A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

DAY 3: Lyon

As the epicenter of French gastronomy, Lyon is a city of tantalizing contrasts. There’s much to explore here, from the work of culinary visionaries to silk weavers’ secret passageways. After your choice of excursions, embrace the locals’ favorite mode of transportation with a bike ride—a great way to see the sights.

DAY 4: Tournon (Tain-l’Hermitage)

If you love fine wine, you’ll love the twin villages of Tournon and Tain-l’Hermitage. Tournon may be a small town, but stirring events took place here: A castle was raised on the hilltop in the 10th century to protect the region, and new fortifications were added over the centuries, including two “new” towers built to defend against Protestant attacks in the 16th century. You’ll see the handsome houses constructed by wealthy merchants and garrison officers when you walk through the Rue de Doux area, and you’ll pass the 14th-century church and the oldest secondary school in France.

DAY 5: Viviers, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

An enchanting village where time seems to have stopped centuries ago, Viviers has a long and storied past that goes back more than 1,600 years—and a splendid architectural heritage to match. At one time, Viviers was divided along religious lines—the clergy lived in the upper part of the town, the laity in the lower part. Your exploration of the town will take you through both parts, as you begin at the crest and make your way to the riverbank.

Featured Excursion:

DAY 6: Avignon

The walled city of Avignon is one of the most fascinating towns in southern France, with a host of historic gems to explore—including the fortress residence of rebellious popes who broke from Rome and once lived and ruled here. You’ll see the Palace of the Popes and much more today, and also have a chance to kayak under a 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct.

Featured Excursion:

DAY 7: Tarascon (Arles)

Explore a sun-drenched Provençal town today with an allure all its own. Known for its remarkable Roman ruins, Arles so inspired Van Gogh that he painted some 200 paintings there. Arles has existed since the sixth century BC, when the ancient Greeks founded it and named it Theline. It was here that the Romans built their first bridge across the Rhône River, creating a vital overland route between Italy and Spain.

Featured Excursion:

A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

DAY 8: Avignon (Disembark)

Disembark the ship. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Marseille International Airport for your flight home.

Shore tour options available for our guests

Touring and dining opportunities:

Kayaking at the Pont du Gard
Michelin dining experience at the three-star Maison Pic
Bicycling along the Rhone River
Wine tasting in Burgundy at Domaine Drouhin and Patriarche
Visit to a family-owned truffle estate followed by a bistro lunch in nearby Gignan
Enjoy Gastronomique lunch near Les Baux de Provence at l’Aupiho Restaurant.
Additional wine sampling and dining opportunities in Beaune and Avignon

More information about shore tour options is available here.

For a printable list of shore tours, click here for the Rhone Tour options 2022

To make your shore tour request, click Rhone Tour Rqst

Pricing

Your cruise costs (per person, based on double occupancy)

Category	Brochure Price	NW Travel Charter Price
Grand Suite	$10,799	$9,339
Suite	$8,699	$7,039
Deluxe Balcony	$6,499	$4,439
French Balcony	$5,999	$4,139
Classic	$4,799	$3,299
Classic Single	$5,099	$3,995 (single cabins sold out)

These prices apply for payment by Visa or MasterCard. An additional discount is available to guests paying by check in lieu of credit card (Visa/Master Card).

Classic: $100
French Balcony: $120
Deluxe Balcony: $150
Suite: $225
Grand Suite: $300

Because we are now within 3 months of departure, payment in full is due within 7 days of confirmation.

Due to a recent cancellation, there are two cabins available in French Balcony category and 2 cabins available in Classic Category. Contact brad@nwtravel.com for current availability.

Booking Early has its benefits.

Booking early will guarantee:

Best choice of stateroom selection
Priority for pre- and post-cruise tours
Priority for limited-capacity shore tours
Early Booking discount offers

The Ship

SS Catherine Accommodations

To get a better sense of the cabin amenities and layout, visit this page at the Uniworld site.

Grand Suite

Lavishly appointed river view royal suite (401 sq ft – 38 sq m) with an open-air balcony
Handcrafted Savoir® of England beds, generous built-in closets, hair dryer, individual climate-control thermostat, direct-dial telephone, flat screen TV with infotainment center, safe, separate spacious living room and a bathroom with a separate rain shower and tub, and a secluded toilet and bidet area
Triple accommodation option available. The sofa converts into a comfortable bed to accommodate a third person
Marble bathroom includes L’Occitane en Provence and Hermes bath and body products, plush towels, special towel warmers, backlit magnifying mirror, heated mirrors, cozy bathrobes and slippers
Additional amenities and services include: in-suite butler service; packing and unpacking assistance; in-room breakfast; daily fruit and cookie plate, and an elegant evening snack; Nespresso coffee machine and fine teas; fully stocked mini bar; bottle of wine upon arrival; shoe shine; free laundry service; and a special dinner in Bar du Leopard
Grand Suite category is sold out, but waitlist is open.

Suite

Lavishly appointed river view suite (305 sq ft – 28.3 sq m) with an open-air balcony
Handcrafted Savoir® of England beds, generous built-in closets, hair dryer, individual climate-control thermostat, direct-dial telephone, flat screen TV with infotainment center, and safe
Triple accommodation option available. The sofa converts into a comfortable bed to accommodate a third person
Marble bathroom includes L’Occitane en Provence and Hermes bath and body products, plush towels, special towel warmers, backlit magnifying mirror, heated mirrors, cozy bathrobes and slippers
Uniquely decorated and additional amenities and services, including: in-suite butler service; packing and unpacking assistance; in-room breakfast; daily fruit and cookie plate, and an elegant evening snack; Nespresso coffee machine and fine teas; fully stocked mini bar; bottle of wine upon arrival; shoe shine; free laundry service; and a special dinner in Bar du Leopard
Suite Category is now sold out, but waitlist is open.

Deluxe Balcony

Lavishly appointed river view stateroom (194 sq ft – 18 sq m) with open-air balcony
Handcrafted Savoir® of England beds, generous built-in closets, hair dryer, individual climate-control thermostat, direct-dial telephone, flat screen TV with infotainment center, and safe
Marble bathroom includes: L’Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, special towel warmers, backlit magnifying mirror, heated mirrors, cozy bathrobes and slippers
This category is fully booked. Waitlist is open.

French Balcony

Lavishly appointed river view stateroom (194 sq ft – 18 sq m) with a French balcony
Handcrafted Savoir® of England beds, generous built-in closets, hair dryer, individual climate-control thermostat, direct-dial telephone, flat screen TV with infotainment center, and safe
Marble bathroom includes: L’Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, special towel warmers, backlit magnifying mirror, heated mirrors, cozy bathrobes and slippers
Cabins are available in this category.

Classic Stateroom

Lavishly appointed river view stateroom (162 sq ft – 15 sq m)
Handcrafted Savoir® of England beds, generous built-in closets, hair dryer, individual climate-control thermostat, direct-dial telephone, flat screen TV with infotainment center, and safe
Marble bathroom includes: L’Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, special towel warmers, backlit magnifying mirror, heated mirrors, cozy bathrobes and slippers
Cabins are available in this category.

SS Catherine

Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQ)

FAQ for 2021 in France

Uniworld Experience

In July 2015, Northwest Travel chartered the River Royale for seven nights in Bordeaux. My previous river cruising experience up to that time had all been with Viking River Cruises. I could not have been more pleased with my personal experience as coordinator and with the comments and reviews provided by my guests during and after the cruise. Since then, Northwest Travel has chosen Uniworld for 6 river cruise events with the same fantastic service and attention to detail. It was an easy decision to choose Uniworld for this 2021 event.

If you have enjoyed other river cruise companies, I guarantee you will love what Uniworld has elevated the experience to.

Covid-19 and restrictions on travel

This cruise departure, originally scheduled for June 2021, was moved to May 29th, 2022. As of early March 2022, things have begun to open up all across Europe. Mask mandates are disappearing, and it looks as though the vaccine mandates might end before we sail at the end of May. Cruise participants will continue to be apprised of developments as we get closer to the travel dates.

Air Transportation

When you book your flights, consider the following:

This cruise will begin in Lyon on Sunday, May 29th.

Arrive in Lyon (LYS) on May 29th. This means a departure from the USA on May 28th. The ship will depart from Lyon at 6:00 PM the evening of the 29th, so you should plan to arrive at the ship no later than 4:00 PM.

The cruise will end in Avignon the morning of Sunday, June 5th.

The best airport to schedule return flights is Marseille (MRS), located about 90 minutes drive from Avignon. Lyon airport is an alternative, about 2.5 hours to the north.

Reservations are generally open to book flights 330 days or approximately 11 months in advance. Flights for this cruise won’t be available to book until early to mid-July. That may not be the best time to book as the summer season is usually a more expensive time for fares. See the paragraph below about best times to book your flights.

There are numerous online options for fare information and ticketing. I find that Kayak.com has been very accurate to get a sense of pricing for overseas travel. Set up an account (no cost) with Kayak. Once this is done, you can set flight alerts for any city pair combination. You’ll receive email notification about fares trending up or down.

Google Flights is also a good resource to determine who flies to your destination and what fares are offered.

I use these sites to find fares and schedules, but stop short of purchasing tickets through these links. I suggest taking the information you obtain from these sites to the airline websites. Sometimes Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity will offer a slightly better deal, but keep in mind that the trade off may be more restrictions or penalties. If you buy a Delta ticket via one of these online resellers, for example, the airline may refer you back to the issuing agency to make any changes or pursue a refund. Buy directly from the airline wherever possible.

When you search for fares and schedules, going into one city, returning from another is still technically a round trip. It’s referred as an “open-jaw” round trip. Search engines will generally give you the open of “one way”, “round trip”, or “multiple city” or “multiple destination”. Since your flights will have you arrive in Lyon (LYS) and depart from Marseille (MRS), you’ll use the multiple city option to search.

Arriving in France

Lyon Arrival

If you arrive at Lyon Airport on May 29th, embarkation day, Uniworld will provide transportation for you from the airport to the ship. This only applies for guests arriving at LYS on this date. If you fly in prior to this or arrive in Lyon by train or car, you’ll have to make your own way to the ship. The pier address is shown below.

SS Catherine Location–Quai Claude Bernard, 69007 Lyon, France

Getting to the ship on your own is easier than you might think.

You can use your Uber app, which is usually a little less money than taxi. Using Uber also eliminates questions about rates and language issues since you’re paying through the app. Uber estimate from the Lyon Airport is €52.38 or about $64. Taxi estimate is about €8 higher than Uber.

Guests arriving by train in Lyon will arrive at Lyon Part-Dieu station. If you’re traveling to the ship from here, expect to pay approximately €12 with Uber to get you to the pier.

You won’t officially have access to your cabin until 2:00 PM, however you can drop your bags off anytime during the day to explore Lyon on your own or just find a quiet place on board.

Consider coming to Lyon, arguably the gastronomic heart of the country, in advance of the cruise (recommended).

I don’t have any specific arrangements with any hotels in Lyon, but here are two that I recommend. They are relatively close the ship, and enjoy good reviews.

M Gallery Le Royal is an Accor hotel property located on the Lyon Peninsula between the Rhône and Saône Rivers. Rates are listed starting at $188 a night. You can save on these rates by becoming an Accor member.

Mercure Lyon Centre Château Perrache hotel is a little more on the budget side though still a very nice hotel. This property, located near Lyon’s local rail station, is priced at around $110 a night. Another Accor property, you save some money by joining their points program.

If these two are booked up, or you’re looking for another neighborhood, I use Tripadvisor.com to get a sense of the rating, upkeep, services, and pricing. Throw out the best and the worst of the reviews and somewhere in the middle you can get a sense of how the hotel is. Pay particular attention to whether the hotel is responding to client complaints. As I stated with flights, you may well add another layer of penalties and restrictions by booking hotels at anything but the hotel itself. Booking directly could save some hassle later.

Alternatives to flying into Lyon:

The high-speed train from Paris-Gare de Lyon takes about 2 hours with no connections. First class tickets range in price between $60 and $110, depending on the time you select. It’s a scenic journey and beats renting a car. If your plans include a pre-cruise stay in Paris, the train is a wonderful option to get to the ship.

I like thetrainline.com as a source for reservations and tickets. Schedules and fares are usually available 2-3 months out.

After the cruise:

Our cruise week ends in Avignon, where the closest international airport is Marseille, a 90-minute drive to south. Uniworld will provide transportation to Marseille for flights departing from that airport on June 5th.

If your plans include staying over in Avignon (a very good base for exploring Provence) see the section below for train options.

Book your flights home for any time departing Marseille on the 5th. The ship is docked in Avignon the evening of the 4th the night before we leave the ship. Uniworld will schedule transportation from the ship to the airport for all scheduled flights from Marseille on June 5th.

If you are traveling onward from Avignon on your own:

Hotel

I heartily recommend the Hotel de l’Horloge in the center of Avignon. Comfortable, convenient, and affordable. Rates are not posted yet for 2022, but should be in the $150-$160 range with breakfast.

There are two train stations in town. The TGV Station is the station to use for high-speed trains within France and on to other European destinations. The TGV Station in located a bit farther from the town walls. The other station (Centre) is mostly for regional trains, though you can connect to the TGV station and on to Paris or the south of France from there.

Car Rental

Budget, Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Sixt and others have rental locations on the outside of the town wall near the rail station. Uber will run you about $15 to take you to one of these rental offices.

Champagne

If you’re coming for bubbles prior to the cruise, here’s what you need to know.

This tour begins at Paris/CDG Airport at noon on Thursday, May 26th. You’ll be provided with a meeting location at the airport at a later date. There are many airlines that will get you to CDG in plenty of time to meet. Delta will offer a nonstop from Seattle, which is your best bet. Once we have the group together, we’ll meet our coach and driver and be on our way.

If you are coming early to spend time in Paris, there is a great rail connection from Gare de Montparnasse to the CDG terminal. This makes sense if there are two or less in your party. Larger parties should take a taxi or Uber. Traffic may slow you down a bit, but it’s a cost saving and slightly more convenient. Just be sure that you arrive at the appointed place at the designated time.

After our three nights in Champagne, we’ll leave Reims the morning of the 29th for the drive to Lyon to join the ship. I expect our arrival time at the ship to be between 3-4 PM. Follow the instruction for departing flights from Marseille to complete your reservation.

Barcelona

I will coordinate your transportation from Avignon to Barcelona. I would prefer to take the train, but if a flight is scheduled that will cut our travel time, that might be a better option. These questions will be answered before the end of February next year.

For flights home, you will depart Barcelona (BCN) on Wednesday June 8th. Most of the departing flights you’ll find for the west coast will be very early. British Air is the only exception I see with a mid-morning connection via London. The early departures are probably inevitable. I’ll arrange to get you to the airport in time for a 2-hour check-in.

Once you get your flights confirmed, share those details with me. I’ll subsequently provide the details to the cruise line in the event that you qualify for an airport transfer. It’s easiest if you forward your airline confirmation by email.

To recap:

· Flight schedules and fares should be available to begin the booking process the second week of July, though that may not necessarily be the best time to buy.

· Buying directly through the airline, versus consolidator or wholesale companies, gives you the most flexibility in assigning seats or changing flights.

Tour Extensions

Three-night Champagne pre-cruise extension includes:

Coach transportation from CDG Airport to our hotel in Reims
Services of a local guide in Champagne
Three nights’ hotel in Reims at La Caserne Chanzy
2 full days of touring and tasting the Champagne houses in the region*
Evening Champagne Dinner
Burgundy wine tasting visit at Chassagne Montrachet with a light lunch en-route to the ship

*A similar tour in 2018 was provided prior to our departure from Lyon. The specific Champagne houses on the visitation schedule won’t be known until early 2021. Here is a sample list of some of the houses visited in 2018. Moët and Chandon, Taittinger, Mercier, Pommery, & Comtesse Lafond.

Single price for this tour is $2390. A discount of $75 applies if paid by check

Double price is $1990 per person. A discount of $60 per person applies if paid by check. A deposit of $800 (per room) is due at time of confirmation. Balance is due January 15^th, 2022.

Three-night Barcelona post-cruise tour includes:

Transfers from the ship to Barcelona (Train or Plane, dependent upon schedules and rates)**
Services of a local guide
Three nights in Barcelona at Passeig de Gracia Hotel*
Welcome dinner at a traditional Tapas restaurant
Orientation tour of Barcelona
Admission and guided tour to Sagrada Familia
Excursion to Montserrat and surrounding countryside for wine tasting, lunch, and exploration
Transportation to the Barcelona hotel to the airport for flights home

*Great location in the pedestrian area of Barcelona. Close to shops, restaurants, and Casa Battlo, one of the must-see Gaudi sites in the city.

**Determination will be made in the latter part of 2021 as to whether we will fly from Marseille to Barcelona, or take a train directly from Avignon to Barcelona. Schedules are in flux at this time.

Single price for this tour is $2175. A discount of $65 applies if paid by check

Double price is $1645 per person. A discount of $50 applies if paid by check. To confirm this tour, a deposit of $800 per room is due. Balance is due January 15^th, 2022.

Aboard Ship

The order of the day is casual. There is no reason to pack any formal wear for your time aboard. The cruise line asks that you dress appropriately for dinner and evening time. There will be evening events scheduled both on and off ship. Our winemakers will discuss the regions at associated wines as we progress on our route.

You need not be concerned with motion during the cruise. River cruise ships are not subject to the same type of side to side motion common to ocean-going vessels.

There are three scheduled meals per day with table sizes ranging from two to ten guests. Seating is not assigned. Dine with a group of friends each evening or mix it up to enjoy your meal with friends met along the way. Wine, beer, and spirits are included with your cruise.

Documentation

You’ll need a valid passport, which much have at least 6 months validity from the date of entry in France. No additional visa is needed for US or Canadian citizens (at least not yet). We may see an additional level of documentation for European visitors in place in 2021.

Your stateroom

The SS Catherine was launched in 2014. She holds 158 guests in a variety of stateroom configurations and sizes. Some cabins offer picture windows, while others provide French or full-sized balconies. Determine what’s right for you by looking over the cabin descriptions above or visiting the web page at SS Catherine Staterooms.

Dining

The ship provides three meals a day, beginning with a breakfast buffet, plated lunch and dinner. Tables are not assigned. You’re free to dine with different group of friends each evening. The ship is able to accommodate a wide range of dietary restrictions and allergies.

The SS Catherine has a wonderful little alternative restaurant located aft on Camargue Deck. This 30-seat Bar du Leopard provides an opportunity for a semi-private dining experience with your favorite winemaker or Chef Thierry. Each guest will have one evening to dine in this fashion. Guests that book early (first 44 guests) will have a 2nd evening to select if they wish.

Sightseeing

At least one Uniworld shore tour per day is included in the cost of your cruise. These tours are supplemented by additional tours that are available as an option. Tours will include visits to Michelin restaurants, additional visits to wine producers, and a truffle farm.

I anticipate that additional wine visits will cost approximately $30-$45 each, mostly to cover transportation costs and tasting fees. Pricing for Michelin Experiences, including the restaurant of Paul Bocuse, will be determined by the menu and Euro exchange. In 2017, lunches at these restaurants ranged from $150-$450 per person, depending on the restaurant. These events were so popular and sold out so quickly, that additional experiences will be added this year. Specific pricing will be available in Summer 2020. Early booking guests will earn priority in selecting these tour options.

Early booking incentive

Guests who book early will have priority in stateroom selection. In additional, early booking will secure priority in selecting optional wine touring throughout the week and well as pre-cruise and post-cruise tour extensions, which will be limited to 22 guests for each tour.

Weather

June is an excellent time to visit the region. Summer tourists have not yet arrived en-mass, and the weather is fairly moderate with average temperatures ranging from 60°-75° in Lyon to 65°-80° in Avignon. Both locations average about an inch of rain for the month. We’ll have over 15.5 daylight hours for touring in June as we near the solstice.

Deposit and payment schedule

Payments made to Northwest Travel Service are non-refundable. If you need to cancel, I will do everything possible to find someone to take your place. Cancellation insurance is an option to protect your deposit. Trip cancellation will cost between 6% and 10% of the total cost of your tour. I’ve had very good results with two insurance companies with links provided below.

An initial deposit of $1200 per person is required to confirm your reservation. An intermediary deposit of $1500 per person is due by May 15th, 2021. The balance of payment is due by January 15th, 2022.

Port or Starboard? Which side should I choose?

I’ve cruised this itinerary a few times and the cruise line has confirmed my opinion that there is little to no beneficial “edge” of one side of the ship or the other. The ship may dock with either side to the shore and there is every possibility that you’ll either raft next to another ship or have a ship tie up next to you. Pick a cabin adjacent to your friends or choose one across the hall from yours so that you’ll always have a view. If you’re doing it right, you won’t be spending much time in your cabin anyway!

What if I need to cancel my cruise?

Because payments are nonrefundable, travel insurance is suggested. Both of the companies listed below have a policy rate calculator online. Enter the cost of your tour and personal data to receive a no-obligation cost estimate.

Two recommended companies are: Generali Travel Insurance and Travelex Insurance.

Cancellation insurance will range in price based on the cost of your travel and the age of the applicant. Get a quote at the websites above before making a purchase. If you have a pre-existing condition to cover, you usually must purchase your policy within 2 weeks of the initial deposit.

Winemaker Biography

Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen

Jeff’s passion for wine and fine cuisine has led him around the world in pursuit of strengthening his knowledge and feeding his passion. To gain a deeper understanding of the vast world of wine, he has worked the harvest at esteemed estates in Burgundy, New Zealand and here at home in Washington and Oregon. In addition to exploring the great wine regions of the world, Jeff has been hard at work at here in the Pacific Northwest.

He holds an Advanced Sommelier Certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers and a Sommelier Diploma from the International Sommelier Guild. In 2008, he won the Pacific Northwest Super-Regional Best Young Sommelier Competition and competed as a finalist in the national competition hosted by La Chaîne des Rotisseurs International Food & Wine Society.

Jeff has had the honor of working alongside several of the Pacific Northwest’s best chefs, restauranteurs, sommeliers, and winemakers while honing his craft. As Wine & Spirits Director of the multi-award-winning wine program at Seattle’s Cascadia Restaurant, Jeff built an internationally renowned wine program. In 2009, he was given the task of developing a dynamic wine program for the much-anticipated second location of the celebrated Wild Ginger restaurant in Bellevue, WA. Jeff went on to develop a much-acclaimed Northern Italian focused wine program and an Outstanding Restaurant nomination from the James Beard Foundation at Holly Smith’s Cafe Juanita in Kirkland, WA. Jeff is currently the Wine Director at celebrity Chef Michael Mina and rock-star sommelier Rajat Parr’s RN74 in Seattle, WA.

Kerry Shiels-Cote Bônneville

Kerry is the winemaker for Côte Bonneville. She began making wine in middle and high school in a series of science projects. After earning her engineering degree from Northwestern University in Chicago, she worked in Torino, Italy, in Fiat’s management development program. She was transferred to Case New Holland (CNH) world headquarters in Chicago before deciding to enter the world of wine.

Kerry received her master’s degree in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis, and then assumed the winemaker title in August 2009. She has been immersed in DuBrul Vineyard and Côte Bonneville since the inception, but especially since 2005, when she left engineering.

Kerry gained experience in Napa, California, Argentina, and Australia, before returning to Côte Bonneville full time. She loves crafting world class wines that express this spectacular site and sharing them with people.

Lawrence Stone-Nilsen, CEO and Founder Lingua Franca

After Krug-Cup-winning* Master Sommelier Larry Stone won the prestigious Grand Prix de Sopexa title in Paris for Best Sommelier in the World in French Wines, he continued as a restaurateur and sommelier for the next 25 years, associated with Four Seasons Hotels, Charlie Trotter’s, and Rubicon. At Rubicon he joined forces with NY restaurateur Drew Nieporent, Robin Williams, Robert De Niro and Francis Ford Coppola.

Larry has served as Trustee of the James Beard Foundation, on the board of the Court of Master Sommeliers and also served on the board of the Kronos Quartet. He has won numerous awards and mentored a host of young sommeliers. With everyone he teaches, Larry tries to instill a sense of service and a respect for all people.

A Seattle native, Larry has had a long love affair with the Eola-Amity Hills. There he bought a highly coveted farm on an exceptional site in 2012. He planned and planted Lingua Franca, using clonal and massal selection of vines to insure the finest quality material. In 2016 Lingua Franca winery was completed, with Dominique Lafon as the consulting winemaker and the brilliant young French winemaker, Thomas Savre.

Today his sole focus is on Lingua Franca Estate Wines, the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

*The Krug Cup is awarded to those Master Sommeliers who pass their exam on the first attempt.

Make Your Reservation!

If you have any questions about this tour, please contact Brad Cilley at brad@nwtravel.com or by phone at 425 375 2676.

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