Kathie Lee Gifford Debuts Her New 'GIFFT' Pinot Noir Rose At Special Event Onboard Carnival Splendor In NYC

Newest Addition to GIFFT Wine Collection to Be Featured Fleetwide Aboard Carnival Ships

News provided by

Jul 27, 2015, 05:27 ET

MIAMI, July 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Kathie Lee Gifford -- "Today" show host, original Carnival Cruise Line spokesperson and current brand partner with her GIFFT wine collection -- today boarded Carnival Splendor in Manhattan to officially launch her GIFFT wine Pinot Noir Rosé. The new blend joins the GIFFT Red Blend and Chardonnay that were introduced fleetwide aboard Carnival's ships earlier this year.

Created in consultation with California-based Scheid Family Wines -- one of the largest vineyard owners in Monterey County and known for having the longest growing season in California -- the limited-edition Pinot Noir Rosé is 100 percent estate-grown and features ripe strawberry, raspberry and red apple aromas to exhibit bright fruit flavors framed by a crisp, juicy acidity.

"I love that I'm launching our Pinot Noir Rosé aboard Carnival, with whom I've had such a fantastic partnership for so many years now," Gifford said. "The fact that we can expand on that relationship through a love of wine is just all the better! I can't imagine a better spot for folks to enjoy a glass of GIFFT wine than while relaxing out on the ocean aboard a Carnival ship!"

Gifford originally became associated with the "Fun Ship" brand in the 1980s when Carnival launched the cruise industry's first national television campaign, and she appeared in the "If You Could See Me Now" and "Ain't We Got Fun?" ads. Today, Carnival is the only cruise line featuring GIFFT wines, with all three varietals available in the main dining rooms and at a wide array of bars on all Carnival ships. In its tasting ratings, Wine Enthusiast magazine has rated the GIFFT red with 91 of a possible 100 points, while giving the Chardonnay 88 points.

"Our guests have really embraced GIFFT wines to make them among the most popular offerings on our wine list," said Carnival's Vice President of Beverage Operations Eddie Allen, who joined Gifford onboard to conduct a mixology demonstration of summer-inspired wine cocktails incorporating GIFFT Pinot Noir Rosé. "The aromas and flavors of this Rosé are very 'food friendly,' and complement so much of Carnival's vast shipboard culinary offerings."

For additional information, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com. Carnival can also be found on:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/carnivalcruise
Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/carnival
YouTube: www.youtube.com/carnival
Instagram: www.instagram.com/carnival
Journalists also can visit Carnival's media site, www.carnival-news.com or follow the line's PR department on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CarnivalPR.

About Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is "The World's Most Popular Cruise Line®" with 24 ships operating three- to 16-day voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. The company currently has two new 133,500-ton ships on order -- Carnival Vista, set to debut in 2016, and an as-yet-unnamed vessel scheduled to enter service in 2018.

SOURCE Carnival Cruise Line