Watermark Resumes Taxi Serivice for 2007 Season

Released: April 19, 2007

Media Contacts: Wendy Thomas, Watermark Director of Marketing
Phone: 410-268-7601 x 111, Email: wendy@watermarkjourney.com
Web Site: www.watermarkjourney.com

Watermark Cruises, Ken's Creative Kitchen and Wine Cellars of Annapolis have combined forces to bring to Annapolis a totally unique dining experience. "Bringing Bouchard Père & Fils into the mix is taking this already successful concept to an even higher level," explains Patrick Bouculat, president of Wine Cellars of Annapolis. Chef Ken Upton has created a five-course menu featuring French cuisine that is expertly paired with fine wines from this world-renowned vineyard.

The dinner cruise aboard Watermark's luxury charter yacht Catherine Marie is slated for July 18 from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Boarding is at 6:45 p.m. at Annapolis City Marina, which has a conveniently located parking garage. Reservations are required and limited to 70 participants. Tickets are $149 per person plus 5% tax. Tickets can be purchased from Watermark Cruises by calling 410-268-7601 x 100.

For those interested in learning more about the wines and vineyards of Bouchard Père & Fils, wine experts Pascal Salvadori and Suzanne da Silva of Clicquot, Inc. will be onboard to talk with cruise participants. Clicquot, Inc. is a wine importer that has built an international portfolio of ultra-premium wines and spirits. Pascal Salvadori is the Mid-Atlantic Region Manager and Suzanne da Silva is the Senior Manager of Communications and Marketing and also manages the Bouchard brand.

The Burgundy house of Bouchard Père & Fils is both négociant and vineyard owner. Some of Burgundy's top terroir is theirs, including 12 hectares of Grand Cru vineyards and over 70 hectares of Premier Cru. Bouchard Père & Fils can trace its origins back to 1731, and today it is by far the largest landowner in Burgundy with over 130 hectares of vines. The majority of the company's vineyards are located in the Côte de Beaune and the wines are vinified at a state-of-the-art winery in Beaune. Yields are kept low and winemaker Philippe Prost produces a range of wines that are expressions of finesse, elegance and purity of fruit. In 1995 Joseph Henriot acquired the Bouchard Père & Fils. In a recent interview, Joseph Henriot remarked, "The great wines of Burgundy have been known for almost 1,000 years, Bouchard Père & Fils has existed for over 270 years. The reputation of the wines of Burgundy, as that of Bouchard Père & Fils, is therefore the result of hundreds of years of striving for perfection. We think that the great wines of Burgundy are the expression of the land from which they come and should be reference points for connoisseurs; they may vary with each harvest but must never be concocted by the wine-makers in order to satisfy the latest craze. That would be tantamount to an architect disfiguring an historic monument to follow fashion."

Those connoisseurs fortunate enough to have attended one of Ken Upton's "Ken in the Kitchen" gourmet dinners or catered events can attest to his culinary talents, creativity and elegant presentation. "I am really excited about this menu that is designed to wow. The Bouchard wines are indeed the icing on the cake," says Ken Upton, owner of Ken's Creative Kitchen, about the July 18 dinner cruise. Word of mouth alone keeps Ken's Back Porch Café at Annapolis Landing Marina filled with loyal patrons. The outdoor café is open from Mid-May through Labor Day, Wednesday through Sunday for breakfast and lunch and has become a very popular meeting spot.

The beautifully appointed Catherine Marie is the largest yacht in the Watermark Cruises fleet. She has two enclosed, climate-controlled levels and an open third deck. The main deck is set for elegant dining and the second level is a lounge featuring a handsome mahogany bar. "Catherine Marie was custom-built for Watermark in 1999 and has become a popular venue for weddings, social events, and corporate entertaining. She is an extraordinary setting for this equally extraordinary wine dinner," remarks Debbie Gosselin, president of Watermark Cruises.