
The Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky 2017 Awards, which recognise the best business and first class wines served by airlines worldwide in the last year, were presented on Monday February 19 at Trinity House near Tower Hill, London, by Charles Metcalfe, co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge.
Singapore Airlines was the evening’s biggest winner, taking the coveted Gold Medal for Best Overall Cellar, as well as the top spots in the Best Business Class White and Best Business Class Cellar categories.
Qantas also walked away with three Gold medals for Best First Class White, Best First Class Cellar and Best Business Class Fortified/Dessert.
Winning joint Gold for Best First Class Sparkling were Air France, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines and Qantas, as they all serve the same winning Champagne. The Gold Medal for Best Presented First Class Wine List went to All Nippon Airways, who also scooped the prize for Best Presented Business Class Wine List.
Oman Air received the Gold Medal for Best First Class Red, while Korean Air won Best Business Class Red and Air France grabbed Best First Class Fortified/Dessert Wine. Oneworld was once again named Best Airline Alliance.
Business Traveller contacted more than 75 airlines in summer 2017, and 32 entered. Blind tastings took place at the Hilton London Tower Bridge in December, with four judges independently scoring the wines. Along with Metcalfe, the judges were: Tim Atkin MW, Sarah Abbott MW and Peter McCombie MW, co-chairpeople of the International Wine Challenge.
Participating airlines were: Aegean, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Air Canada, Air France, Alitalia, American Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Finnair, Iberia, Icelandair, Japan Airlines, JetBlue, Jetstar, KLM, Korean Air, LATAM, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Sri Lankan, Tarom, United and Virgin Atlantic.
Cellars in the Sky was in its 32nd year in 2017, having been running since 1985. For more information and images for publications please contact Kirsty Clark at [email protected] or tel +44 (0)20 7821 2700.
For information on previous award winners, visit businesstraveller.com/awards/cellars-in-the-sky-awards/
FULL LIST OF WINNERS AND SHORTLISTED AIRLINES
FIRST CLASS
BEST FIRST CLASS RED
- Gold Medal: Oman Air – M Chapoutier Côte-Rôtie les Bécasses 2014, Rhône, France
- Silver Medal: American Airlines – Catena Zapata Angélica-Zapata Alta Malbec 2013, Mendoza, Argentina
- Bronze Medal (joint): Air France – Domaine de Chevalier 2010, Pessac Léognan, Bordeaux, France; Korean Air – Château du Tertre 2007, Margaux, Bordeaux, France
BEST FIRST CLASS WHITE
- Gold Medal: Qantas – Penfolds Reserve Bin 15A Chardonnay 2015, Adelaide Hills, Australia
- Silver Medal: Air France – Joseph Drouhin Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru Embrazées 2014, Burgundy, France
- Bronze Medal: Qantas – Flametree SRS Wallcliffe Chardonnay 2016, Margaret River, Australia
- Highly Commended: Malaysia Airlines – Domaine Trouillet Pouilly-Fuissé Aux Chailloux 2014, Burgundy, France; Singapore Airlines – Dalrymple Cave Block Chardonnay, 2014, Pipers River, Australia
BEST FIRST CLASS SPARKLING
- Gold Medal (joint): Air France, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas – Champagne Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2006, France
- Silver Medal: American Airlines – Champagne Philipponnat Clos Des Goisses Brut 2007, France
- Bronze Medal (joint): Qatar Airways – Champagne Krug Grande Cuvée Brut NV, France; Oman Air – Champagne Louis Roederer Cristal 2009, France
BEST FIRST CLASS FORTIFIED/DESSERT WINE
- Gold Medal: Air France – Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 2009, Sauternes, France
- Silver Medal: Qatar Airways – Gran Cruz Colheita 1992 Port, Portugal
- Bronze Medal: Qantas – Seppeltsfield Paramount Rare Tokay, Barossa Valley, Australia
BEST-PRESENTED FIRST CLASS WINE LIST
- Gold Medal: All Nippon Airways
- Silver Medal: Japan Airlines
- Bronze Medal: Qatar Airways
BEST FIRST CLASS CELLAR
- Gold Medal: Qantas
- Silver Medal: Air France
- Bronze Medal: Oman Air
BUSINESS CLASS
BEST BUSINESS CLASS RED
- Gold Medal: Korean Air – Haselgrove Catkin Shiraz 2014, McLaren Vale, South Australia
- Silver Medal: American Airlines – Paul Jaboulet Ainé Les Jalets Crozes-Hermitage 2014, France
- Bronze Medal: Singapore Airlines – Dandelion “Lioness of McLaren Vale” 2015, South Australia
BEST BUSINESS CLASS WHITE
- Gold Medal: Singapore Airlines – Coldstream Hills Chardonnay 2015, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
- Silver Medal: Jetstar – Mud House Woolshed Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Marlborough, New Zealand
- Bronze Medal: Icelandair – Petit Clos de Clos Henri Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Marlborough, New Zealand
BEST BUSINESS CLASS SPARKLING
- Gold Medal: EVA Air – Champagne Delamotte Blanc de Blancs NV, France
- Silver Medal (joint): Air France, Singapore Airlines – Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve NV, France
- Bronze Medal: British Airways – Champagne de Castelnau Brut Réserve NV, France
- Highly Commended: Sri Lankan Airlines – Champagne Piper Heidsieck Cuvée Brut NV, France
BEST BUSINESS CLASS FORTIFIED/DESSERT WINE
- Gold Medal: Qantas – Baileys of Glenrowan Founder Series Classic Muscat, Victoria, Australia
- Silver Medal: Jetstar – De Bortoli Show Liqueur Muscat, Riverina, Australia
- Bronze Medal (joint): Aeroflot – Grahams 10 Year Old Tawny Port, Portugal; Singapore Airlines – Taylors 10 Year Old Tawny Port, Portugal
BEST BUSINESS CLASS CELLAR
- Gold Medal: Singapore Airlines
- Silver Medal: British Airways
- Bronze Medal: Icelandair
- Highly Commended: Sri Lankan Airlines
BEST-PRESENTED BUSINESS CLASS WINE LIST
- Gold Medal: All Nippon Airways
- Silver Medal: Finnair
- Bronze Medal: EVA Air
- Highly Commended: Qatar Airways
OVERALL
BEST AIRLINE ALLIANCE
- Gold Medal: Oneworld
BEST OVERALL CELLAR
- Gold Medal: Singapore Airlines
- Silver Medal: Air France
- Bronze Medal: Qantas