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Guests Create Their Own Wine at BLEND by Chateau Ste. Michelle on Holland America Line’s ms Koningsdam

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Seattle, Wash., Sept. 29,2015 –Wine connoisseurs and novices alike can experience the art of winemaking atBLEND aboard Holland America Line’s new ms Koningsdam when the shipdebuts in April 2016. In collaboration with Chateau Ste. Michelle, WashingtonState’s oldest and most acclaimed winery,the intimate venue will enable guests to blend their own wine and enjoy it atdinner or in the privacy of their stateroom.

BLEND — the first of itskind for Holland America Line and the only purpose-built wine-blending venue atsea — will have a tasting table that accommodates 10 guests who can createtheir own blend from a selection of five barrels of single-vineyard red wine.In addition to participating in the blending process, guests also will learnabout wine from the ship’s wine expert, who leads the blending session.

“At the core of everyHolland America Line cruise is our desire to offer unique, immersive andinnovative experiences, and BLEND by Chateau Ste. Michelle is all of thosethings and more,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “The BLEND experience on Koningsdamis designed to appeal to everyone, and it will be exciting for our guests tocreate an exclusive wine tailored to their personal taste that they can enjoyonboard with our exceptional cuisine.”

After viewing a welcomevideo by Bob Bertheau, Chateau Ste. Michelle’s winemaker, guests will learninteresting information about the history of Washington wines and winemaking,examine soil samples, and see how different vineyard sites impact the flavorsand style of the wine. The Cellar Master also will instruct guests on whatcharacteristics, flavors and nuances to look for in the wine from each barrel.

Guests then sample thefive unique wines, featuring such varietals as Cabernet Sauvignon, CabernetFranc and Merlot from the winery’s Cold Creek and Canoe Ridge Estate vineyards,and make tasting notes on what they like about each. The blending begins in agraduated cylinder, with guests determining how much of each wine to include intheir personal bottle.

After the personalizedwine blend is put into the bottle with a stopper, guests will be able to createtheir own label to add a personalized touch. The wine will then be sent to TheDining Room or another restaurant, where it will be waiting for the guests toenjoy with their evening meal. Alternatively guests can take the wine blend totheir stateroom to enjoy at their leisure.

The wine blending sessionswill be held daily for a fee, and reservations are required.

About Chateau Ste.Michelle

Founded in 1934, ChateauSte. Michelle pioneered vinifera growing in Washington State and has beenproducing classic European varietal wines under the Ste. Michelle label since1967. The winery combines an ongoing dedication to research with a commitmentto classic winemaking traditions. The winery owns 3,500 acres of vineyards inthe Columbia Valley of eastern Washington, including Canoe Ridge Estate andCold Creek, which are LIVE and Salmon Safe certified as environmentallysustainable. Chateau Ste. Michelle enjoys winemaking partnerships with two ofthe world’s most distinguished vintners — Col Solare is an alliance withTuscany’s Piero Antinori and Eroica Riesling is a partnership with the Mosel’sErnst Loosen.

For more information about Holland America Line and Koningsdam,consult a travel professional, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.

Editor’s note: Renderingsare available at #