Falling in Love with Wine
Jeff and Kristen Patten met in 2010 while throwing strikes on the same bowling league. Kristen was well-traveled: China, England, ocean cruises. Jeff had never been out of the country. Regardless, a spark ignited and, after several months of dating, the couple headed out to California’s Temecula Valley for their first-ever wine tasting excursion at Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyards.
“I wasn’t too thrilled about going. I was more of a beer guy,” admitted Jeff. “I am so glad that Kristen got me to go!”
Amazed at how much they enjoyed the wines and how welcoming the Wilson family and staff were, Jeff and Kristen immediately signed up to become members of the wine club. Little did the head-over-heels couple know they were about to fall in love with something even more spectacular: AmaWaterways’ wine-themed river cruises.
First AmaWaterways Experience
A long-time partner of AmaWaterways, Wilson Creek Winery just happened to be promoting an upcoming Romantic Danube Wine River Cruise. Jeff and Kristen were immediately intrigued with the prospect of a romantic getaway and booked the November 2014 cruise hosted by Mick Wilson, whose parents founded the winery.
“We both fell in love with AmaWaterways as soon as we got to the ship,” said Jeff, recalling the first moment they met the attentive crew. Kristen agreed. “It was as if we were being welcomed home.”
In addition to warm, inviting atmosphere on board, Jeff was enamored with the cuisine. “The way the chefs worked to pair the food with the areas in which we were sailing was awesome. I started turning away the menu because I knew whatever the chef recommended would be incredible.”
The One with the Proposal
Not long after they returned home, Jeff and Kristen booked another AmaWaterways Wine Cruise with Wilson Creek on the Enchanting Rhine, but it wasn’t until they scheduled their third cruise, Taste of Bordeaux, that Jeff cooked up a life-altering plot: proposing to Kristen on the river. “With the adventures AmaWaterways has allowed for us to have, I couldn’t think of a better way to continue on our next adventure in life than on an AmaWaterways river cruise.”