ANA introduces original in-flight wine blends

ANA has announced that it will be working with wine connoisseur Ned Goodwin to create a bespoke red and white wine for passengers.

Available in business and first class from September, the wines have been blended to take into account the changes in taste and smell perception at altitude, with the white using South Australian grapes and the red designed to complement richer onboard dishes.

Japan’s first Master of Wine, Goodwin has worked as a sommelier, consultant and TV show host. He explains that “there are a number of factors that affect the taste of wine on board. Fruity, lighter wines are more suited to enjoyment in flight, while wines with a high acid or tannin content don’t hold up as well. So I worked with ANA to blend these wines with the optimal combination of varieties, to enhance the in-flight environment, giving international flight passengers a delectable gastronomic experience.”

ANA senior vice president for EMEA, Akira Nakamura, said:

“ANA is dedicated to delivering a five star service to its passengers, and for us that means a high-quality and personalised service that embodies Japanese culture. With our original blend of wines, we’re giving our business and first class passengers an opportunity to enjoy fine wines that have been uniquely crafted to suit heights of 30,000+ feet.”

ANA has also announced its wider 2017 in-flight wine list, selected by Goodwin and chef and sommelier, Katsuhito Inoue. Goodwin and Inoue were joined by members of ANA’s “The Connoisseurs” team, made up of ANA cabin crew members that hold sommelier qualifications, chefs of in-flight meals, and ANA staff responsible for service planning. Around 300 wines were chosen to be blind tasted, before a selection of 29 wines was made.

ana.com