Saga to ditch champagne and christen new ship with English sparkling wine

Hush Heath Estate in Kent, home of Balfour wines, has created a new blend exclusive to Saga Cruises, which will also be served on board the 999-passenger ship.

Spirit of Discovery will be christened with a jeroboam of Saga’s own-label special brew during a ceremony at the Port of Dover on July 5.

Saga Cruises chief operating officer Nigel Blanks said: “We are making history with our first new British cruise ship for the British market, so it’s the perfect blend to christen Spirit of Discovery with her own beautiful sparkling wine.

“Spirit of Discovery is a luxury, boutique ship – everything is bespoke and that includes the English sparkling wine. Not only will this new blend be used to christen the ship, guests will be able to toast the ship again and again during their cruise.”

Winemaker Owen Elias worked with Saga Cruises’ executive chefs to create the sparkling wine.

“We wanted to produce a bespoke wine to mark such a wonderful occasion,” he said. “It is a delicious sweeter wine with balanced acidity and a delicate mousse.”

Spirit of Discovery will homeport from Dover for the christening before sailing on a maiden voyage around the British Isles on July 10.

The line held a keel-laying ceremony last June, marking the start of construction.

Blanks added: “Saga is very proud of its Kentish heritage. We have our headquarters in Folkestone and our first ship set sail from Dover over 20 years ago.

“We also source much of our fresh produce from the county and so the new Spirit of Discovery sparkling wine, made from grapes grown and picked in Kent, the Garden of England, is another exciting treat for our guests.”