Ever wondered which airlines offer the tastiest wines onboard? At Points, Miles & Martinis we definitely enjoy a nice glass of wine or two when we travel! As reported by Business Traveller, the Cellars in the Sky Awards 2014 have been announced.
“British Airways was the biggest winner, taking the coveted Gold Medal for Best Overall Wine Cellar. It was also placed first in the Best Business Class Cellar, Best First Class Red and Best Business Class White categories.”
“Two airlines took home two Gold Medals apiece — Singapore Airlines for Best First Class Cellar and Best First Class Fortified/Dessert, and Qantas for Best First Class Sparkling and Best Business Class Fortified/Dessert.”
Which Airlines Offer The Tastiest Wines Onboard?
Here’s the full list of options to look forward to the next time you fly with these airlines:
BEST FIRST CLASS RED
- Gold Medal: British Airways – Kiwa by Escarpment Pinot Noir 2011, Martinborough, New Zealand
- Silver Medal: British Airways – Château Lagrange 2004, Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France
- Bronze Medal (JOINT): Air France – Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes 2010, Châteauneuf du Pape, France; Etihad Airways – Château du Tertre 2006, Margaux, Bordeaux, France
BEST FIRST CLASS WHITE
- Gold Medal: Garuda Indonesia – Domaine Marc Morey & Fils, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru En Virondot 2009, Burgundy, France
- Silver Medal: Qantas – Delatite Riesling 2006, Mansfield, Central Victoria, Australia
- Bronze Medal (JOINT): Singapore Airlines – Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Marlborough, New Zealand; TAM Airlines – Dr Bürklin-Wolf Gaisböhl Riesling 2009, Ruppertsberg, Pfalz, Germany
BEST FIRST CLASS SPARKLING
- Gold Medal: Qantas – Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, 2000, France
- Silver Medal: Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines – Champagne Dom Pérignon 2004, Moët & Chandon, France
- Bronze Medal: Etihad Airways – Champagne Gosset Grand Millésime 2004 Brut, France
BEST FIRST CLASS FORTIFIED/DESSERT
- Gold Medal: Singapore Airlines – Château Filhot 2009, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France
- Silver Medal (JOINT): British Airways – Mullineux Straw Wine 2013, Mullineux Family Wines, South Africa; Korean Air – Château Rieussec 2006, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France
- Bronze Medal: American Airlines – PX Alvear Solera 1927, Montilla, Spain
BEST FIRST CLASS CELLAR
- Gold Medal: Singapore Airlines
- Silver Medal: British Airways
- Bronze Medal: Qantas
- Commended: American Airlines, ANA
BEST BUSINESS CLASS RED
- Gold Medal: Finnair – Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir 2012, Marlborough, New Zealand
- Silver Medal: Finnair – Nicolas Perrin Crozes-Hermitage 2012, France
- Bronze Medal: EL AL – Ela, 2012, Galil Mountain, Galilee, Israel
BEST BUSINESS CLASS WHITE
- Gold Medal: British Airways – Rémi Niero Condrieu Les Ravines 2012, France
- Silver Medal: Jetstar – De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate Grown Chardonnay 2012, Victoria, Australia
- Bronze Medal: Jetstar – The Ned Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Waihopai River, Marlborough, New Zealand
BEST BUSINESS CLASS SPARKLING
- Gold Medal: Cathay Pacific – Champagne Cuvée William Deutz Brut Millésimé 2000, France
- Silver Medal: Eva Air – Champagne de Castelnau Blanc de Blancs Millésimé 2002, France
- Bronze Medal: Korean Air – Champagne Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut, France
BEST BUSINESS CLASS FORTIFIED/DESSERT
- Gold Medal: Qantas – Baileys of Glenrowan, Founder Series Classic Muscat, Victoria, Australia
- Silver Medal (JOINT): Etihad Airways – Gramp’s Botrytis Semillon 2011, Riverina, New South Wales, Australia; LAN and TAM Airlines – Croft Late Bottled Vintage Port 2007, Portugal
- Bronze Medal (JOINT): Emirates – Dalva 1985 Colheita Port, Portugal; Garuda Indonesia – De Bortoli Noble One Botrytis Semillon 2011, Riverina, Australia
BEST BUSINESS CLASS CELLAR
- Gold Medal: British Airways
- Silver Medal: Jetstar
- Bronze Medal: Korean Air
- Commended: Eva Air, Cathay Pacific
BEST-PRESENTED WINE LIST
- Gold Medal: El Al
- Silver Medal: Brussels Airlines
- Bronze Medal (JOINT): Finnair, Qantas
BEST OVERALL WINE CELLAR
- Gold Medal: British Airways
- Silver Medal: Qantas
- Bronze Medal: Singapore Airlines
- Commended: Cathay Pacific
BEST AIRLINE ALLIANCE
- Oneworld
The airlines that took part were: Aer Lingus, Air Berlin, Air Canada, Air France, Air Mauritius, American Airlines, ANA, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, El Al, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Eva Air, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Hawaiian Airlines, Jetstar, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, LAN, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, SATA International, SAS, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, TAM Airlines, TAP Portugal, United and Virgin Atlantic.
Bottom Line
Some of these wines look fabulous! I recognize many of the wines. Be sure to check out these offerings the next time you are onboard any of these airlines! What’s your favorite wine/airline combination?
was in 1st class today on deltqa had a chardonnay from ??calif sweet and served hoit??? why can’t they get it right?? andrea robinson is their consultant for international wish she could get them to have a better domestic set of wines and CHILLED