Attracted by Shale Oaks’ commitment to producing high quality wines in a sustainable fashion, Curtis Hascall has been winemaker at Shale Oak since 2010. Born in Watford, England, Curtis intended on becoming a master beer brewer when he grew up. He moved from the San Francisco Bay area to San Luis Obispo where he became a food-science graduate of Cal Poly State University. His focus on making beer took a turn, however, when a friend hired him to drag hoses in the cellar at Norman Vineyards in Paso Robles. After working there for a few years, he took advantage of an opportunity to work a harvest at Cumulus Winery in Orange, Australia, where he would stay for one vintage. Curtis and the winemaking team have racked up an impressive list of awards and accolades in a relatively short amount of time. Upon your first tasting of Shale Oak, you'll know why.
Join Curtis on a voyage of discovery, cruising up the Blue Danube on the deluxe river ship AmaSonata. This is the best-selling river cruise in Europe. Onboard AmaSonata, Curtis will conduct 2 tastings and a gourmet dinner, paired with the wines of Shale Oak. Along the way visit Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, the Wachau Valley, Passau and Vilshofen Bavaria. Conclude with 3 nights in beautiful Prague, never destroyed in WWII.