Regent Seven Seas Splendor Connoisseur Wine Lunch Menu
The Connoisseur Wine Lunch aboard Seven Seas Splendor is a multi-course food-and-wine experience built around carefully selected wines and dishes designed to complement them. The menu shown here is titled “The Journey to Iconic Winelands” and takes guests through Italy with wines from Lombardy, Tuscany, Veneto and Chianti Classico.
This particular Connoisseur Wine Lunch combines prestigious Italian labels with dishes including truffle supplì, branzino tartare, agnolotti, duck breast and panna cotta. Regent Seven Seas Cruises places a strong emphasis on culinary enrichment throughout its ships, with wine and spirits tastings among the experiences it offers to passengers.
CruisePrism readers can also explore our Regent Seven Seas menus, Regent Seven Seas drinks and wine menus and Regent Seven Seas onboard guides for more dining, beverage and onboard information.
What Is the Connoisseur Wine Lunch on Seven Seas Splendor?
The photographed menu identifies the experience as the “Connoisseur Wine Lunch” aboard Seven Seas Splendor, with the subtitle “The Journey to Iconic Winelands.”
Rather than being a standard restaurant lunch menu, this is a structured wine-pairing experience. Each principal food course is matched with a specific Italian wine, progressing from Franciacorta sparkling wine through white and red wines before finishing with Vin Santo.
Regent’s broader culinary program includes Epicurean Tastings designed to explore wines, spirits and other beverages with guidance from sommeliers, mixologists and chefs. Seven Seas Splendor is also one of the Regent ships equipped with the Culinary Arts Kitchen.
The exact Connoisseur Wine Lunch shown here should be treated as a specific onboard menu rather than a permanent menu guaranteed on every Seven Seas Splendor sailing.
A Journey Through Italy Wine Lunch Menu
The theme of this Connoisseur Wine Lunch is “A Journey Through Italy.”
The progression travels through several of Italy’s best-known wine regions and styles, beginning with Franciacorta and ending with a traditional Tuscan dessert wine.
First Pairing: Franciacorta and Supplì al Tartufo
The lunch begins with:
Ca’ del Bosco “Cuvée Prestige” Brut
Franciacorta DOCG, Lombardy, Italy
Paired with:
Supplì al Tartufo
Franciacorta is one of Italy’s most celebrated sparkling-wine regions. Beginning the lunch with a sparkling wine provides a natural opening to the tasting before moving into the still wines that follow.
The food pairing is Supplì al Tartufo, bringing together an Italian rice specialty and truffle.
Second Pairing: Poggio alle Gazze Sauvignon Blanc and Branzino Tartare
The next wine is:
2023 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia “Poggio alle Gazze”
Sauvignon Blanc, Tuscany, Italy
It is paired with:
Branzino Tartare
pistachio, pepperoncini
The menu marks the branzino tartare with an asterisk, indicating the applicable advisory for raw or undercooked food.
This course moves the lunch from sparkling wine into a Tuscan white, paired with a light seafood preparation.
Third Pairing: Amarone della Valpolicella and Agnolotti del Plin
The third wine is:
2015 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG
Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara
Veneto, Italy
Paired with:
Agnolotti del Plin
veal shank confit, porcini, pecorino romano
This is one of the richer combinations on the menu. Amarone della Valpolicella is a substantial red wine from Veneto, and here it accompanies filled pasta with veal shank confit, porcini mushrooms and Pecorino Romano.
The progression demonstrates how the lunch is constructed around increasing intensity, moving from sparkling wine and Sauvignon Blanc into a significantly richer red wine and pasta course.
Palate Cleanser: Lemon, Basil & Olive Oil Sorbet
Following the Amarone and agnolotti, the menu includes:
Lemon, Basil & Olive Oil Sorbet
No wine pairing is listed alongside this course.
Its placement separates the earlier courses from the main red-wine pairing that follows.
Fourth Pairing: Sassicaia and Duck Breast
One of the standout pairings on the entire menu is:
2022 Tenuta San Guido DOC Bolgheri Sassicaia
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Tuscany, Italy
Paired with:
Duck Breast
polenta, amarena cherry jus
Sassicaia is one of the most recognizable names in Italian fine wine, produced by Tenuta San Guido in Bolgheri, Tuscany.
The menu pairs the 2022 vintage with duck breast accompanied by polenta and amarena cherry jus.
This pairing forms the principal meat course of the Connoisseur Wine Lunch and continues the progression toward fuller and more structured wines.
Final Pairing: Vin Santo and Panna Cotta
The Italian journey concludes with:
Tenute Marchese Antinori Vin Santo del Chianti Classico
Tuscany, Italy
Paired with:
Panna Cotta
espresso caramel, hazelnuts
Vin Santo is a traditional Italian dessert wine particularly associated with Tuscany, making it a fitting conclusion to a lunch centered on Italian wine regions.
The accompanying panna cotta combines espresso caramel and hazelnuts, completing the progression from sparkling wine through white and red wines to a sweet final pairing.
Complete Seven Seas Splendor Connoisseur Wine Lunch Menu
The full progression shown on this menu is:
- Ca’ del Bosco “Cuvée Prestige” Brut Franciacorta DOCG — Supplì al Tartufo
- 2023 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia “Poggio alle Gazze” Sauvignon Blanc — Branzino Tartare with pistachio and pepperoncini
- 2015 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG — Agnolotti del Plin with veal shank confit, porcini and Pecorino Romano
- Lemon, Basil & Olive Oil Sorbet
- 2022 Tenuta San Guido DOC Bolgheri Sassicaia — Duck Breast with polenta and amarena cherry jus
- Tenute Marchese Antinori Vin Santo del Chianti Classico — Panna Cotta with espresso caramel and hazelnuts
It is a relatively compact menu in terms of the number of courses, but the emphasis is clearly on the caliber and progression of the wines rather than simply serving a lengthy tasting menu.
Wine Experiences on Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Wine is incorporated into Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ wider Epicurean Enrichment program.
Regent describes its Epicurean Tastings as opportunities for passengers to expand their palates and explore wines, spirits and other beverages with guidance from its sommeliers, mixologists and chefs.
The cruise line also offers culinary-focused Spotlight Voyages, culinary presentations and hands-on cooking experiences.
Seven Seas Splendor is particularly well equipped for this type of programming because it is one of the Regent ships featuring the Culinary Arts Kitchen, a dedicated teaching facility with individual cooking stations.
Is the Connoisseur Wine Lunch Included?
The photographed menu does not state a price or indicate whether this particular Connoisseur Wine Lunch was complimentary or carried an additional charge.
For that reason, passengers should not assume from this menu alone that the experience is included in Regent’s standard cruise fare.
Regent is known for an extensively inclusive onboard experience, but specialized culinary and wine experiences can have their own reservation requirements and arrangements. Passengers interested in a Connoisseur Wine Lunch should check the offerings and terms for their particular sailing.
Is This Connoisseur Wine Lunch Available on Every Seven Seas Splendor Cruise?
The photographs establish that this particular Connoisseur Wine Lunch menu is from Seven Seas Splendor, but they do not establish that the same menu is offered on every sailing.
Wine availability, vintages, menus, culinary programming and special events can change.
The safest way to use this menu is as an example of a Connoisseur Wine Lunch offered aboard Seven Seas Splendor rather than as a permanent fleetwide menu.
That distinction is especially important with a wine-pairing experience because specific vintages and bottles can change over time.
Seven Seas Splendor Connoisseur Wine Lunch FAQ
What is the Connoisseur Wine Lunch on Seven Seas Splendor?
It is a curated food-and-wine pairing experience. The photographed edition is called “The Journey to Iconic Winelands” and features an Italian-themed progression of wines and accompanying dishes.
What wines are served at the Connoisseur Wine Lunch?
This menu includes Ca’ del Bosco Cuvée Prestige Franciacorta, Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Poggio alle Gazze Sauvignon Blanc, Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia and Marchese Antinori Vin Santo del Chianti Classico.
What food is served?
The photographed menu includes Supplì al Tartufo, branzino tartare, agnolotti filled with veal shank confit, a lemon-basil-olive oil sorbet, duck breast and panna cotta.
Is Sassicaia served at the Regent Connoisseur Wine Lunch?
It is on the menu shown here. The featured wine is the 2022 Tenuta San Guido DOC Bolgheri Sassicaia, made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc and paired with duck breast.
That does not mean Sassicaia will necessarily be included in every future Connoisseur Wine Lunch.
Which ship is this menu from?
The menu itself explicitly identifies Seven Seas Splendor.
Is the wine lunch Italian themed?
This particular menu is. It is titled “A Journey Through Italy,” and the wines come from Italian wine regions including Lombardy, Tuscany and Veneto.
Does Seven Seas Splendor have a Culinary Arts Kitchen?
Yes. Seven Seas Splendor is one of the Regent ships equipped with the Culinary Arts Kitchen, where the cruise line offers hands-on culinary classes and other enrichment experiences.
Is the Connoisseur Wine Lunch available on other Regent ships?
The photographs only establish this particular menu aboard Seven Seas Splendor. Regent offers various wine and culinary enrichment experiences across its fleet, but passengers should not assume this exact Connoisseur Wine Lunch or menu is offered on another ship without checking the specific sailing.
Can the wine selections change?
Yes. The wines, vintages, dishes and overall format of special culinary experiences can change. The photographed menu should therefore be considered a snapshot of one Seven Seas Splendor Connoisseur Wine Lunch.
Final Thoughts on the Seven Seas Splendor Connoisseur Wine Lunch
The Connoisseur Wine Lunch shown here is a good example of how Regent Seven Seas Cruises turns wine tasting into a complete dining experience rather than simply presenting a flight of wines.
Its “Journey Through Italy” progresses from Franciacorta and truffle supplì through Tuscan Sauvignon Blanc and branzino, Amarone with agnolotti, and Sassicaia with duck before finishing with Vin Santo and panna cotta.
For passengers interested in fine wine, the presence of labels such as Ornellaia, Bertani, Sassicaia and Antinori makes this a particularly interesting example of the culinary experiences offered aboard Seven Seas Splendor.
Because these specialized experiences can vary by sailing, passengers should check their current onboard program and reservation information for the Connoisseur Wine Lunch available during their particular cruise.
