As Norway is not known for its wine production, the coastal voyage operator has worked with Portuguese winery José Maria da Fonseca and commissioned two popular Portuguese wines.

The two wines, one red and one white, were chosen from more than 60 possibilities and the winemaker agreed to some tweaks to make them unique Hurtigruten wines. The red is described as having a balanced flavor with soft tannins and a fruity aroma, while the white is a pale yellow with aromas of lychee and lime and a full fruity flavor.

They will be offered as the house wine on all Hurtigruten ships making the daily sailing along Norway’s western coast as well as aboard the MS Fram on its expedition voyages to Greenland, Antarctica and the Arctic island of Spitsbergen.

Like Hurtigruten, whose own history dates back to 1893, Winery José Maria da Fonseca also has a long history, producing remarkable wines including its landmark wine, Periquita, for more than 150 years.  A family-owned concern, the vineyard estate is located in Portugal’s just outside Lisbon, on the Setúbal peninsula.