Global Traveler has served up the results of its Wines on the Wing airline competition, the survey’s 20th tasting. The blind tasting took place recently at The Ned NoMad in New York City. Judges, including included wine makers, sommeliers, wine shop owners and other wine industry executives, participated in a blind tasting of airlines’ white, red and sparkling wines.
Airlines are required to submit five different wines – two red wines, two white wines and one sparkling wine/Champagne – to be eligible for the overall Top International First-Class Wines on the Wing award or Top International Business-Class Wines on the Wing award.
This year, the winner for Top International First-Class Wines on the Wing was British Airways, and the winner for Top International Business-Class Wines on the Wing was Korean Air.
In the white wine category, Top White Wine International First Class was Leeuwin Estate Art Series Margaret River Chardonnay 2021, submitted by Qatar Airways. For business class, the winner was Air Tahiti Nui with Lionel Osmin & Cie ‘Clos Cancaillü’ Le Denier Carré Jurançon 2015.
Cathay Pacific Airways won for top first-class sparkling wine, serving Krug Vintage, Champagne, France 2004. The top business-class Champagne was also Cathay’s, this one a Taittinger Brut Reserve, Champagne, NV.
When it came to red wine, British Airways reigned supreme in the first-class category with Alta Mora, Contrada Guardiola Etna Rosso 2020, Sicily, Italy. British Airways also took the No. 1 business-class spot with Château de La Liquíere, Faugéres 2023, Languedoc, France.
Airlines submitted wines served in international premium economy. As no airline submitted a complete submission of two reds, two whites and one sparkling/Champagne, there is no overall winner in this category; however, individual winners include:
- Cathay Pacific Airways, Top Sparkling Wine International Premium Economy for Astoria Lounge Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superior DOC Extra Dry, Italy; and Top Red Wine International Premium Economy for Katnook Estate Shiraz Cabernet, Coonawarra, South Australia, 2024
- Air Tahiti Nui, Top White Wine International Premium Economy for Château de Montguéret Le Petit Saint Louis Saumur Blanc, 2024.
North America
For the 15th year, Global Traveler also awarded Top North America Premium Class Wines on the Wing. Airlines flying from a point in North America to another point in North America submitted first- and business-class wine samples, depending on their flight offerings.
American Airlines was named Top North America Premium Class Wines on the Wing and also swept the entire category, winning Top Sparkling Wine North American Premium Class, for Champagne Vollereaux Brut Réserve, Champagne, AOC, France; Top Red Wine North American Premium Class, for High Heavens Vintners “Roaming Elk Red Blend,” Columbia Valley, USA 2021; and Top White Wine North American Premium Class for Pfaffl “Vom Haus” Grüner Veltliner Niederösteireich, Austria, 2025.
For the 12th year, Global Traveler awarded Best Alliance Wines on the Wing. The participating airlines were grouped by airline alliance. The overall points for each airline were tallied and averaged to determine the alliance with the highest total: SkyTeam.
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