(Photo: Courtesy of Splendor Images) Kathie Lee Gifford toasts the release of her new wine, GIFFT Pinot Noir Rose, with Carnival Splendor Captain Candeloro Donato, left, aboard the ship while docked in New York, July 27, 2015. The wine will now be served across the entire fleet. Carnival Cruise Lines/Ray Stubblebine
Today Show host and businesswoman, Kathie Lee Gifford, was onboard the Carnival Splendor at Pier 90 to celebrate the launch of her new Rosé wine, which was recently added to her GIFFT wine collection. The latest addition to the collection joins the GIFFT Red Blend and Chardonnay, which are all offered on Carnival’s fleet of ships. Her wine collection is distributed nationally and has received high marks by the wine industry. She was proud to share the fact that Wine Enthusiast magazine awarded the GIFFT Red with a rating of 91, which is impressive, considering the highest point value is 100. The chardonnay also scored well with a rating of 88 points.
The wines were developed in consultation with California-based Scheid Family Wines. The region in Montery County is the perfect backdrop for the varietals of the GIFFT line of wines.
The event was a trip down memory lane as Gifford sang the signature Carnival Cruise Line song from the 1980’s and shared stories of filming the now legendary commercials at sea. The television campaign for Carnival was the first of its kind and in 1984; there were only seven Carnival Ships in existence. Now, there are 24 ships in the Carnival fleet. Her catchy songs about the “Fun Ship” were a big part of the success of the brand and she is proud to have the relationship expand into her GIFFT line. Today, the cruise ship industry is embraced by people of all ages and demographics. The City of New York was awarded the “Best US Homeport” by TravelAge West magazine and the Big Apple boasts that is has been serving cruise passengers longer than any other US city. With cruises departing out of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal at Pier 88 and Pier 90, passengers and New Yorkers are sure to enjoy the GIFFT wines at sea and on land.
-by Denise Courter, Lifestyle and Family Editor, Founder of FiDiFamilies.com and TodayParenting Contributor
