The Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky Awards 2007 were presented at the Business Travel Show today (February 5) at London’s Earls Court Two.
For over two decades Business Traveller has held annual Cellars in the Sky Awards, celebrating the best airline wines served on long-haul flights in business class and first class. Once again, this year it teamed up with renowned magazine Wine and Spirit, organisers of the International Wine Challenge.
A total of 26 airlines took part in the awards, with blind tastings taking place at the Radisson SAS Portman Hotel in London in November 2007. Entries were judged in a total of 14 categories across business and first class, with awards for best red, white, sparkling and fortified wines, as well as overall cellar awards.
Among the winners this year were Air New Zealand, which picked up Best Business Class Red, as well as a special award recognizing the wealth of information presented in its onboard wine menus. Qatar Airways won Best First Class Fortified or Sweet and Best First Class Red, while Israeli airline El Al walked away with Best First Class White, the business class award going to Air France. In the sparkling categories Singapore Airlines and Qantas shared the business class award, with Lufthansa winning Best First Class Sparkling.
The awards were presented by Charles Metcalfe, wine expert, author, and co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge. Commenting on this year’s awards Charles said, “This year’s competition came up with some great individual winning wines, and showed that an increasing number of carriers have realised that a good wine-offering is one of the important points of difference between them and their rivals.
“We work hard for two days to select the best of the best. Cellars in the Sky rewards airlines which are making the effort to provide their business and first class customers with imaginatively and carefully chosen wines which will enhance their in-flight experience.”
Below is a list of the full results from this year’s awards. For an indepth look at the world of in-flight wine, see the March edition of Business Traveller.
Cellars in the Sky: Results 2007
BUSINESS CLASS
BEST WHITE
1. Air France
Gerard Bertrand Domaine de Cigalus 2005, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
2. Eva Air
Christoffel Erben Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese 2003, Mosel, Germany
3. (Joint) Air New Zealand
Fromm La Strada Riesling 2005, Marlborough, New Zealand
Korean Air
Montana Marlborough Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand
4. El Al
Tishbi Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Carmel Mountains, Israel
5. KLM
Ermita Veracruz Verdejo 2006, Ruedo, Spain
BEST RED
1. Air New Zealand
Martinborough Vineyard Pinot Noir 2005, Wairarapa, New Zealand
2. Air France
Gerard Bertrand Domaine de Cigalus 2002, Languedoc, France
3. TAM Brazilian Airlines
Jacob’s Creek Shiraz Reserve 2004, Australia
4. South African Airways
Longridge Pinotage 2004, Stellenbosch, South Africa
5. Eva Air
Chateau Beaumont Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux 2003, France
BEST SPARKLING
1. (JOINT) Singapore Airlines and Qantas
Charles Heidsieck, MEC 2003 NV, France
2. Lufthansa
Duval-Leroy Fleur de Champagne Brut NV, Champagne, France
3. (Joint) Kenya Airways / Korean Air / Japan Airlines
Piper Heidsieck NV, France
United Airlines
Pol Roger NV, France
4. Emirates
Taittinger Brut Reserve, France
5. (Joint) British Airways / KLM/ Asiana Airlines
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, MEC 2004 NV, France
BEST FORTIFIED OR SWEET
1. American Airlines
La Plaza Vieja, Medium Golden, Emilio Lustau, Spain
2. (Joint) Qatar Airways
Taylor’s 20-Year-Old Tawny Port, Portugal
Singapore Airlines
Dow’s Late Bottled Port 2001, Portugal
3. Lufthansa
Niepoort Late Bottled Vintage 2003, Portugal
4. (Joint) Gulf Air
Noble One 2004, De Bortoli, Australia
Emirates
Warre’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 2001, Portugal
Korean Air
Inniskillin Vidal Icewine 2004, Canada
5. British Airways
Warre’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 1999, Portugal
FIRST CLASS
BEST WHITE
1. El Al
Blanc du Castel, Jerusalem Haut Judee, Chardonnay ‘C’ 2005, Castel Winery, Israel
2. (Joint) Emirates
Cesconi Olivar 2006, Pressano, Dolomiti, Italy
Qantas
Hardys Eileen Hardy Chardonnay 2005, Australia
3. British Airways
Sancerre Edmond 2003, Alphonse Mellot, Loire Valley, France
4 (Joint) Qatar Airways
Jules Taylor Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2005, Marlborough, New Zealand
American Airlines
Wairau River Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, 2006, New Zealand
Qantas
Penfolds Reserve Bin 05A Chardonnay, 2005, Australia
5 (Joint) Lufthansa
Kiedrich Grafenberg 2005, Rheingau, Germany
Asiana Airlines
Maison Champy Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2004, Burgundy, France
Japan Airlines
Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2004, France
BEST RED
1. Qatar Airways
Knappstein Shiraz 2001, Clare Valley, Australia
2. Lufthansa
Sartori Amarone Corte Bra 2003, Valpolicella, Italy
3. (Joint) Asiana Airlines
Mortier Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2004, France
Qantas
Lusatia Park ‘Phi’ Pinot Noir, 2005 Yarra Valley, Australia
4. Singapore Airlines
Castello di Brolio Chianti 2001, Tuscany, Italy
5. (Joint) El Al
Golan Heights Merlot Yarden 2002, Israel
Asiana Airlines
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2004, Bordeaux, France
BEST SPARKLING
1. Lufthansa
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1997, France
2 (Joint) Qantas / British Airways
Charles Heidsieck Blancs des Millenaires, 1995, France
3. (Joint) United Airlines
Pommery Grand Cru 1998, France
Singapore Airlines / Emirates
Dom Perignon 1999, France
4. (Joint) TAM Brazilian Airlines
Drappier La Grande Sendree Vintage 2000, Aube, France
Air France
Henriot Cuvee des Enchanteleurs 1995, France
5. American Airlines
Pommery Brut, NV, France
BEST FORTIFIED OR SWEET
1. Qatar Airways
Domaine Weinbach Clos Capucins Gewurztraminer, France
2. Qantas
Morris Old Premium Liqueur Muscat NV, Australia
3. Japan Airlines
Graham’s Tawny Port 30-Year-Old, Portugal
4. Asiana Airlines
Port Sandeman 20-Year-Old Tawny Porto, Portugal
5. (Joint) Gulf Air
Noble One 2004, De Bortoli, Australia
Lufthansa
Westhofener Bergkloster 2006, Germany
OVERALL AWARDS
BEST BUSINESS CLASS CELLAR
Winner: American Airlines
Runners Up: Air France and Air New Zealand
BEST FIRST CLASS CELLAR
Winner: Qantas
Runners Up: Lufthansa and Asiana Airlines
CONSISTENCY OF WINES ACROSS BUSINESS AND FIRST CLASS
Winner: Qantas
Runners Up: Qatar Airways, British Airways, Lufthansa, Asiana Airlines
MOST INFORMATIVE WINE LIST
Winner: Air New Zealand