Airline Ratings recently came out with their rankings of “Who got the best wine served in the air”… and the surprisingly, the best flying wine cellar actually went to … *drum rolls please* … Malaysia Airlines!
Here’s the summary.
According to Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky
Malaysia Airlines
Best Overall Cellar (GOLD) and Best Business Class Cellar. Malaysia Airlines also took out the business top spot with a Champagne Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2007.
All Nippon Airways
Gold Medal First Class Red Wine, a Domaine David Duband, Nuit-Saint-Georges Les Pruliers 1er cru 2017 from Burgundy — scored 98 out of the possible 100 points. The (red) wine was dark, alluring and perfectly complex — incredibly good, the judges said. An Australian white – Stella Bella Skuttlebutt Sauvignon Semillon 2018 from Margaret River, won the best business class white.
Qatar and Air New Zealand
Jointly took Best Overall Cellar (SILVER) in the business class category
Aer Lingus
Best Overall Cellar (BRONZE)
Qantas
Gold for the Best First Class Cellar white wine with a Shaw and Smith Lenswood Vineyard Chardonnay 2017 from the Adelaide Hills.
Cathay Pacific and All Nippon airways
Silver and Bronze Respectively. Bubbly lovers should book a seat on Cathay Dragon to sample its gold medal Champagne Rare Millesimé 2002, Piper-Heidsieck.
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand – best business class red went to Air New Zealand with the Brennan B2, 2016, Queenstown from Central Otago. Air New Zealand also picked up the business class gold for its Two Rivers Isle of Beauty Rosé 2018 from Marlborough.
American Airlines
The newly introduced Rose category saw American Airlines take gold in first class with a Château Gassier Le Pas du Moine Côtes de Provence Rosé 2018 from Sante-Victoire.
Emirates
Gold in the first-class section with a South African Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2013 and in business with Dow’s Colheita Port 1992, Douro Valley from Portugal.
Singapore Airlines
Awarded the best-presented wine list in both their first class and business class!
Best alliance
Thirty-five airlines entered the 2019 competition with a panel of internationally-renowned judges blind tasting more than 250 bottles in London in November to find the winners.
The competition is open to airlines that serve wine in business or first class on mid-or long-haul routes.