Category: Wine

Global Traveler has released the results of its 10th annual Wines on the Wing Airline Wine Competition.

This year there were twenty-four judges who participated in the blind tasting of airlines’ white, red and sparkling wines. The judges consisted of various wine trade: sommeliers, wine shop owners and winemakers. With twenty-nine airlines participating and providing over 126 samples for tasting and rating.

The airlines are required to submit five different wines: two red wines; two white wines; and one sparkling wine/Champagne — to be eligible for the Best Overall International Business Class Wines on the Wing award or the Best Overall International First Class Wines on the Wing. This year, the overall winners were Brussels Airlines (for the 3rd consecutive year) and Asiana Airlines, respectively.

In the white wine category, Best International Business Class White Wine was: Domaine Thomas Le Chant du Merle Sancerre, 2012, submitted by Brussels Airlines. For first class, the winner was British Airways, with Domaine d’Ardhuy Corton-Charlemagne 2009, Grand Cru.

The best business-class Champagne was TAM Airlines’ Drappier Carte d’Or, NV. The best first-class Champagne was British Airways’ Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle, NV. This year, the Best Sparkling Wine International First or Business Class winner was EL AL Israel Airlines’ Yarden Blanc de Blancs, 2007.

With respect to red wine, Brussels Airlines reigned supreme in the business-class category with Château A’Aurilhac 2006, Bordeaux. For first class, the winner is Jet Airways, with its Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 2009, Italy.

American Airlines took top honors in Best North American Wines on the Wing. The airline was also recognized for its sparkling wine, Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Caneros Brut, NY (first class); its Black Birch Mountain Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (first class); its The Climber Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (business class); and its Cline Syrah 2010 (first class). Delta Air Lines won recognition for its business-class red wine, Arrowood Cabarnet Sauvignon 2009.

The top airlines in each category are as follows:

BEST INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS WINES ON THE WING

1. Brussels Airlines
2. Etihad Airways
3. TAM
4. LAN Airlines
5. American Airlines

BEST INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS WINES ON THE WING

1. Asiana Airlines
2. All Nippon Airways
3. British Airways
4. American Airlines
5. TAM

BEST CHAMPAGNE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS
1. TAM
2. Hainan Airlines
3. Etihad Airways
4. Delta Air Lines
5. Brussels Airlines

BEST CHAMPAGNE INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS
1. British Airways
2. All Nippon Airways
3. Asiana Airlines
4. TAM
5. American Airlines/Etihad Airways (TIE)

BEST SPARKLING WINES INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS AND BUSINESS CLASS
1. EL AL Israel Airlines
2. EL AL Israel Airlines
3. China Airlines
4. TAP Air Portugal
5. South African Airways

BEST WHITE WINE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS
1. Brussels Airlines
2. LAN Airlines
3. Airberlin
4. Hainan Airlines
5. China Airlines

BEST WHITE WINE INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS
1. British Airways
2. Asiana Airlines/TAM (TIE)
3. American Airlines
4. American Airlines
5. All Nippon Airways

BEST RED WINE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS
1. Brussels Airlines
2. Etihad Airways
3. Jet Airways
4. TAM
5. TAP Air Portugal

BEST RED WINE INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS
1. Jet Airways
2. Etihad Airways
3. China Airlines
4. China Airlines
5. All Nippon Airways

For more information on the competition, check out the August 2014 issue of Global Traveler or visit www.globaltravelerusa.com.