The Tallink & Silja Line Ship’s Wines and Beers were chosen as a result of an international competition, using a blind tasting method by the company’s in-house extensive panel of experts, including sommeliers, wine and beer experts and both on shore and on board restaurant managers across the Group.

Commenting on the launch of Tallink & Silja Line Ship’s Wines and Beers 2022, Head of Tallink Duty Free, Aimar Pärna said:

• „We are excited to launch our brand new ship’s wines and beers. Following the latest trends of the industry – we showcase five exquisite, organic, and sustainably grown wines from Europe: France, Italy, and Austria. For the beer lovers, we present two finest craft beers from Estonian microbreweries, including an award-winning Baltic porter.  Our new ship’s wines and beers have been carefully selected by our extensive panel of experts and the collection truly reflects the finest knowhow and quality from all over Europe for the delight of our good customers ahead of the upcoming summer travel season”.

The Tallink & Silja Line new ship’s wines were chosen from among 120 wines, submitted to company’s competition from various European producers from France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Austria in 5 categories:  champagne, sparkling wine, white wine, red wine, and –  in keeping with the global buzz – a rosé wine.

Ship’s sparkling wine Corvezzo Blanc de Blancs Spumante Organic comes from Italy’s Veneto region. Certified organic and vegan, this wine is produced by one of the largest 100% organic wine producers in Italy. It is a blend of Glera, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc grapes. ?This extra dry wine is perfect to be enjoyed on its own or with an assortment of antipasti or seafood. ? 

Ship’s champagne, Champagne Lombard Extra Brut Premier Cru comes from the highly prestigious Premier Cru vineyards from the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims regions in France and is crafted from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier? grapes. Extra Brut dosage contributes to the finesse and purity of the champagne, ageing in cellars for 36 months gives this champagne extra depth and complexity. 

Ships’ white wine Markus Huber Grüner Veltliner Winemaker´s Selection Organicis produced by the Austrian wunderkind of the wine industry, the acclaimed Markus Huber and made fromAustria’s superstar grape Grüner Veltliner, which is sustainably grown, is certified organic and vegan. The wine pairs well with a broad range of foods such as salads, chicken, cooked or grilled vegetables, fish and seafood dishes as well with Asian cuisine. ?

Ship’s rosé wine Barone Montalto Nero D'Avola Rosato Organic is fresh, fruity, and savoury. Nero d’Avola is the most valued local variety of red grape in Sicily, Italy, grown organically.? The rosé wine offers fruity notes of strawberries, pomegranate combined with delicate flowery scents of violets.? The wine pairs well with grilled salmon, seafood pasta and carpaccio.

The ship’s red wine, Barbanera Campo Pietra Appassimento Organic, comes from the dry and sunny southern Italy, is certified organic and made from the local Primitivo and Negroamaro grapes using the appassimento method. This wine is full-bodied, luscious, and jammy with blackberries, ripe cherries and plums in the aroma and taste. Pairs excellently with grilled beef and lamb, mature cheeses and perfect just to enjoy on its own.

The ship’s beers were chosen from among 60 beers in two categories – light and dark beers – submitted to competition from breweries in Europe, from Estonia, Sweden, Finland, and Italy.  The new ship’s beers include two craft beers, one light beer and one porter, both produced by Estonian breweries.

Commenting on the launch of Tallink & Silja Line Ship’s beers, Urmas Roots, Board Member of the Estonian Õllenaut brewery, said:

• “We are happy and proud that our special brew, a fine example of Baltic porter – which is the only internationally recognised regional beer style from the Baltic Sea area – was chosen as the ship’s special brew to showcase the finest regional beer tradition onboard Tallink and Silja Line vessels.”

The Ship’s Special Brew Meritäht (5,2% alc vol) by Estonian Pühaste brewery is an unfiltered and unpasteurised light beer which is soft, fruity, and creamy in character with peaches, apricots and pears present in the aroma. The fruitiness is balanced with bitterness and acidity of a fresh lemon zest with malty sweetness and hoppy bitterness blended in the aftertaste. This light beer pairs well with poultry, fish, pizza, and salads.

For the lovers of dark beer, the Ship’s Special Brew features the award-winning Baltic Porter (7,9% alc vol), by the Estonian Õllenaut brewery.  This beer, which originates from the 18th century London, is brewed with six different malts, British and German hops and fermented with British ale yeast. This porter is characterized by aromas of toast, liquorice, coffee and molasses and it pairs well with pork roast, chocolate cake or aged Gouda.

The new ship’s wines and beers will now replace the previous private label collection introduced in 2019 and will be available onboard Tallink Grupp’s vessels and hotels for two years, from May 2022 until spring of 2024.