Luxury travel brand Cunard has partnered with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the world's largest provider of wine and spirits qualifications, to launch the first ever WSET certified wine and spirit courses to be available on its flagship ocean liner Queen Mary 2.

WSET works with Approved Programme Providers in over 70 countries to offer its qualifications to interested enthusiasts and industry professionals, ranging from Level 1 Awards in Wines, Spirits and Sake to the prestigious Level 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits. The partnership with Cunard is the first time WSET courses will be available to guests on a transatlantic or round-world cruise line.

WSET courses will initially be available on Queen Mary 2's Westbound Transatlantic Crossings and World Voyage trips with plans to extend courses to Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth later in 2017. Classes led by WSET Certified Educator Andrés Solís Lira who, having been born at the foothills of the Andes Mountains in what is now the Cachapoal wine country, has worked in the wine world for the past decade joining Cunard in 2009 as a sommelier on Queen Mary 2 and rising to the position of educator for the Cunard Wine Academy.

Guests aboard Westbound Transatlantic Crossings from Southampton to New York can embark on a five day course to achieve WSET Level 1 Award in Wines. The course gives a hands-on introduction to the world of wine in an interactive and relaxed atmosphere for beginners. The course covers the basics of wine types and styles through sight, smell, and taste, as well as how to store and serve wine and pairing food with wine.

Guests aboard Round World Voyages from Southampton to Cape Town, Cape Town to Fremantle, Hong Kong to Dubai and Dubai to Southampton, can participate in a 12-day course to achieve WSET Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits. The beginner to intermediate level course is for enthusiasts seeking a core understanding of wine and spirits. It explores the major grape varieties and the styles of wines they produce as well as important wine regions in which they are grown. Participants also learn about key classifications and labelling terminology and are given a basic overview of the key categories of spirits and liqueurs.

Each of the courses finishes with a multiple choice exam, and, on passing, candidates receive a globally recognized WSET qualification certificate and lapel pin as proof of their new knowledge.

The debut voyage to offer WSET courses will be the Westbound Transatlantic Crossing departing Southampton on December 15, 2016. The first Round World Voyage offering WSET courses will set off on January 10, 2017 from Southampton to Cape Town. Guests can book a WSET course by calling Cunard ahead of their journey or speaking to the sommelier whilst on board.

The WSET courses are the latest addition to the cruise line's extensive wine credentials. Queen Mary 2 is renowned for having one of the finest wine lists at sea while The Cunard Wine Academy offers an all sensory experience of food and wine pairings, tastings and producer master classes for guests.

WINE & SPIRIT EDUCATION TRUST COURSES ABOARD QUEEN MARY 2:

WSET Level 1 Award in Wines:

• Five-day course of one hour morning sessions inclusive of revision day and multiple choice examination
• The price includes all study materials, examination fees, certificates, Champagne Reception and a four course lunch with matching wines in The Verandah Restaurant on the last day of the course
• During the course participants will have the opportunity to taste a minimum of 10 wines and will also be provided with a WSET study guide to make notes on and take home
• Examination on the last day with 30 multiple choice questions to be answered in 45 minutes. A mark of 70% required to pass
• Certification - all guests who pass will be issued a certificate suitable for framing and a lapel pin
• Price: $295 USD

WSET Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits:

• 12-day course of two hour morning sessions inclusive of revision day and multiple choice examination
• The price includes all study materials, examination fees, certificates, Champagne Reception and a four course lunch with matching wines in The Verandah Restaurant on the last day of the course
• During the course participants will have the opportunity to taste up to 45 wines and four spirits and will also be provided with a WSET study guide for you to make notes on and take home
• Examination on the last day with 50 multiple choice questions to be answered in 60 minutes. A mark of 55% required to pass
• Certification - all guests who pass will be issued a certificate suitable for framing and a lapel pin.
• Price: $595 USD

ADDITIONAL WINE SERVICES ON QUEEN MARY 2

The World's Finest Floating Wine Cellar

Queen Mary 2 has one of the finest wine lists at sea. Guests can indulge in a unique collection of 484 fine wines, including the highly sought after California Screaming Eagle at $4,500 per bottle, which is to be served by the glass for the very first time. The wine list is an integral part of the dining experience on board and took over a year to be designed. Cunard has highly skilled sommeliers on board (the majority of them have a WSET Level 2 or 3 qualifications) who are constantly in contact with their suppliers and growers. Cunard's Bar Service Manager, Edward Dieusaert and Head of Beverage Services, Anthony Habert tasted over 2,000 wines from all over the world before finalizing the perfect selection.

Highlights from the wine list include:

• First Growth Wine Flight: The five Premiers Crus of the Médoc are served together in an unforgettable flight celebrating their brilliance and individuality.
• Legendary wines by the glass: Served using the ground-breaking Coravin system which allows wine to be served without removing the cork from the bottle, maintaining wine in its optimum cellaring condition, protected from oxygen, and ready to be enjoyed another day.
• A unique vintage Port collection: The only one of its kind in the world. Cunard worked with the world's most renowned Port Houses to help tell the story of its history in a unique way through 46 vintage Ports each produced in a key year of Cunard's 176-year history, beginning with the rare 1840.

The Cunard Wine Academy

The Cunard Wine Academy is an all sensory experience of food and wine pairings, tastings and producer master classes. The unparalleled expertise of the sommeliers combined with an approachable style make the wine tasting courses both highly enjoyable and informative for those with no previous experience to the serious wine aficionado.

The Academy runs a variety of courses and each program is bespoke to each cruise. Examples are:

• Lunch and Learn: Expert sommeliers from the Queens Grill guide guests through a chosen topic as they tuck in to a delicious four course lunch at the fine dining restaurant, The Verandah.
• Tutored Tastings: The Chief Sommelier and his team guide guests through a range of wines while educating them on a chosen topic, from the world's major wine regions, grape types and styles.
• Fine Wine Seminars: Experts from the Queens Grill use state-of-the-art visual equipment and Riedel Glassware to showcase a minimum of 8 wines from the wine list and around the world accompanied by small dishes to complement the wines. Spaces are limited to 10 guests.
• Wine Master Classes: Leading wine experts and producers host tutored tastings and dinners on everything from wine to Sake. This year master classes will be held with George Sandeman - Sandeman Port, Beatriz Cabral de Almeida - Chief Wine Maker of Quinta dos Carvalhais, Zoe Warrington - Magill Estate Ambassador of Penfolds, Miho Komatsu - Global Brand Manager of Akashi-Tai Sake and Alvi Van De Merwe - Partner and Wine Maker of Alvi's Drift.