Emirates has released details of the rare and exclusive vintages which will be served inflight this summer.
To coincide with International Wine Day on 25 May, the carrier has launched its Icons of Fine Wine collection, including Dom Pérignon Rosé Champagne 2008 which is being served exclusively on Emirates flights.
First class customers are now being offered the vintage on routes from Dubai to the UK and the Americas, with stocks expected to last around three months.
During June and July first class customers on the same routes will be offered Louis Latour Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru Les Demoiselles 2014, a white wine from the Burgundy region of France.
Meanwhile first class customers travelling on flights from Dubai to Australasia between mid-June and October can opt for the Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay 2019.
There are several reds in the collection, including the Rhone Valley’s M. Chapoutier Ermitage Rouge Le Pavillon, 2012, which will be offered in first class on routes from Dubai to all mainland European destinations from June to mid-December, and Spanish vintage Vega Sicilia Unico 2006 Ribera del Duero which will be served in first class on flights to European destinations during June and July.
First class customers travelling on Emirates’ fifth freedom route between New York JFK and Milan are now being offered Ornellaia, Bolgheri Tuscany 2012, and those flying between Dubai and Italy until January 2025 will be served Brunello Di Montalcino 2010 Ceretalto, Casanova Di Neri Toscana.
Finally for first class, Opus One Napa Valley 2012 will be offered on flights between Dubai to North America from the end of May and throughout June.
In business class customers will be served wines from the carrier’s 2009 vintages, including Les Tourelles de Longueville 2009 on flights to the UK and the Americas, Sociando-Mallet 2009 on European routes, Château Lagrange 2009 on Middle Eastern routes and Larrivet Haut-Brion 2009 on far Eastern routes.
Emirates’ premium economy customers can opt for wines including Chablis 2022 from Albert Bichot, the Woodcutters Shiraz 2021 from Torbreck in Barossa, and Domaine Chandon 2017 – the last of which is exclusive to the airline’s premium economy cabins.
The carrier continues to offer one red and one white wine in economy class, with current choices including Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabarnet 2021.
Emirates claims to have the most extensive wine cellar of any airline, with dedicated facilities in France which currently house around six million bottles of fine wine, some of which won’t be served until 2037.
This week Air France unveiled Xavier Thuizat (head sommelier at Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel in Paris), as the airline’s new head sommelier.
Burgundy-born Thuizat will work alongside Air France to organise blind tastings in all of the wine-growing regions of France, and will put together the wine, champagne and spirits lists across all of the carrier’s cabins and lounges at its Paris airports.
