British Airways is to add an English sparkling wine to its first class menu.
The airline will be listing Bolney Wine Estate’s Vintage Blanc de Blancs from the West Sussex-based winery as its guest sparkling wine in First for six months.
The full-bodied vintage Chardonnay complements dishes served in First this month, such the Loch Fyne Kinglas smoked salmon with tartar sauce, watercress panna cotta and Oscietra caviar, or a fresh seasonal salad with choice of a blue cheese dressing.
Commenting on the new addition, British Airways’ head of catering Colin Talbot said:
“We are delighted to be adding Bolney Wine Estate’s Vintage Blanc de Blancs as our guest sparkling wine. This is the first time we have offered an English sparkling white wine on board and we think our customers are going to love it. All of our wines are blind tasted by experts to ensure we serve the very best and this English sparkling wine came out on top.”
Managing director and lead Master wine maker at Bolney Wine Estate Sam Linter said:
“We are absolutely delighted that British Airways considers our Blanc de Blancs one of the finest wines available. It is such a privilege that it will be sampled by British as well as international flyers. We feel this partnership shows the strength of the English wine industry and we are very much looking forward to continuing our relationship with British Airways.”
The sparkling wine will join Laurent Perrier Grande Siècle and Jacquart Mosaique Rose NV on the Champagne and Sparkling Wine menu. The Bolney Wine Estate Blanc de Blancs is the second wine from the West Sussex-based winery to be served on British Airways flights, following the Bolney Estate Pinot Gris – introduced on the wine menu for First customers in 2015.
Last year British Airways’ First customers consumed more than 160,000 bottles of champagne, 133,000 bottles of red wine and 150,000 of white wine on board flights.
The airline also introduced new washbags earlier this year, with British brand Liberty London creating an exclusive range for the airline’s First customers.
