Guests of the Cornucopia Majesty ate and drank to their heart’s content, and enjoyed a crisp autumn night last Thursday, Oct. 25, as they cruised along the Hudson River for the “1st Annual Grand Tasting Cruise” sponsored by Giannone Wine and Liquor Co., located in West New York.
Offering a sampling of the finest cuisine from around the county, as well as wines and spirits from all over the world, Giannone Wine and Liquor had something for everyone.
“We wanted to do something a little different [from typical wine tastings],” said owner John Giannone, last October. “These events never offer food, so I thought why not cross-promote with our local merchants from local bakers to the high-end steakhouses.”
Several hundred guests boarded the Cornucopia Majesty at Port Imperial Harbor in Weehawken and enjoyed an assortment of cocktails and international foods from various local establishments including from the Madison in Hoboken.
“It’s definitely different; we have never done anything like this before,” said Serder Ercetin of West New York, as he took in the view of the Manhattan skyline with his wife Tracy on the third floor deck.
“This is absolutely wonderful,” said Tracy. “It is a little challenging doing the tasting on a boat with all the rocking, but it is wonderful. It’s a great combination of everything.”
There was live entertainment from a Latin Jazz band on the first floor, as guests sampled their food and cocktails, and a few establishments like Ben and Jerry’s in West New York offered a selection of desserts. There were also several raffles going on, as well as a silent auction.
Guests were offered a selection of fine wines and spirits from the usual favorites to high end selections. Among the stars of the evening was the popular Ketel One.
“They are a great liquor store for us, and anything we can do to help them and help cancer [research] we’re on board,” said Dan Smith, district sales manager for Ketel One.
Proceeds from the tasting, as well as a $10,000 donation from Giannone Wine and Liquor, went to Cancer Care, a national non-profit organization that provides free professional support services to anyone affected by cancer. For more information on Cancer Care, visit: www.cancercare.org.