British Airways has partnered with Hattingley Valley winery in Hampshire to create its own sparkling wine.
The 2015 Blanc de Noirs will be served in First cabins and in the Concorde Room at Heathrow Terminal 5 from July 1.
The airline said it is a Pinot Noir dominant blend that will “work perfectly at altitude.”
Family-owned Hattingley Valley was founded in 2008, and ferments a small proportion of each year’s wine in oak barrels. Its wines include Classic Reserve, Rose and Blanc de Blancs.
The release is part of BA’s year of centenary celebrations, which has also seen it launch a bespoke ale with Brewdog, a branded jar of Marmite, limited-edition products including a Mulberry tote and a teddy bear, and a series of retro liveries featuring its predecessor companies, BEA and BOAC.
As part of its push to serve more British-made products on board, it will also introduce a ten-botanical blend gin from Edinburgh distillery Pickering’s (available on short-haul flights and in the High Life shop), and Chapel Down’s 2018 Bacchus, an English white wine from Kent.
The airline is also coming out with its own whiskey… but passengers will have to wait until 2031 to get a taste.
On the collaboration with Hattingley Valley, Kelly Stevenson, British Airways’ Wine and Beverage Manager, said: “There’s no better, or more British way to toast our milestone year than with an English Sparkling Wine.
“We’ve loved working with Hattingley Valley to create something really special for our First customers and this will be the first time we have ever served an English Sparkling Blanc de Noirs on board.
“This blend will excel at altitude as the notes of red apple skins and light red fruits really shine through.”
Emma Rice, Hattingley Valley’s Director, said: “English Sparkling Wine is now incredibly popular around the world so we’re thrilled to have partnered with British Airways to create an exceptional wine that can be enjoyed on the ground and in the air across their network.”
We examined how British Airways traces its history back 100 years here:
