CELLARS IN THE SKY 2016 AWARD WINNERS REVEALED
The winners of Business Traveller’s 31st annual airline wine awards have been announced
The Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky 2016 Awards, which recognise the best business and first class wines served by airlines worldwide in the last year, were presented on Tuesday February 21 at Trinity House Tower Hill by Charles Metcalfe, co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge.
This year, British Airways took home the coveted top spot of Best Overall Wine Cellar, with fellow Oneworld member Malaysia Airlines taking Best First Class Cellar. Taiwanese carrier EVA Air took the Gold Medal for Best Business Class Cellar, along with Best Business Class Sparkling.
Winning joint Gold for Best First Class Sparkling were Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways, who also picked up trophies for Best Presented First Class Wine List and Best Presented Business Class Wine List, respectively.
Japan Airlines received the Gold Medal for Best First Class Red, while American Airlines won joint Gold with Malaysia Airlines for Best First Class White. Brussels Airlines won Best Business Class Red, and Finnair Best Business Class White. Singapore Airlines grabbed Best First Class Fortified/Dessert Wine and Qatar Airways Best Business Class Fortified/Dessert Wine. Oneworld was once again named Best Airline Alliance.
Business Traveller contacted more than 75 airlines in summer 2016, and 33 entered. Blind tastings took place at the Crowne Plaza London Kensington in December, with four judges independently scoring the wines. Along with Metcalfe, the judges were: Tim Atkin, Sarah Abbott and Peter McCombie, co-chairpeople of the International Wine Challenge.
Participating airlines were: Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Air Astana, Air Canada, Air France, Alitalia, American Airlines, ANA, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, El Al, EVA Air, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, Icelandair, Japan Airlines, Jetblue, Jetstar, KLM, Korean Air, LATAM, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, SAS, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Thai Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
Cellars in the Sky was in its 31st year in 2016, having been running since 1985. For more information and images for publications please contact Kirsty Clark events@panaceapublishing.com or
tel +44 (0)20 7821 2700. Also visit our website at businesstraveller.com/awards
FULL LIST OF WINNERS AND SHORTLISTED AIRLINES:
BEST FIRST CLASS RED
Gold Medal: Japan Airlines – Kusuda Syrah 2013, Martinborough, New Zealand
Silver Medal: British Airways – Escarpment Kupe Pinot Noir 2012, Martinborough, New Zealand
Bronze Medal: Malaysia Airlines – Schubert Wairarapa Syrah 2013, Martinborough, New Zealand
BEST FIRST CLASS WHITE
Gold Medal (joint):
American Airlines – Domaine René Lequin-Colin, Clos Devant Chassagne-Montrachet 2014, Burgundy, France
Malaysia Airlines – Château La Louvière Blanc 2013, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France
Silver Medal: Air France – E. Guigal Condrieu 2014, Northern Rhône, France
Bronze Medal: Qantas – Flametree SRS Wallcliffe Chardonnay 2015, Margaret River, Australia
BEST FIRST CLASS SPARKLING
Gold Medal (joint):
Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways – Krug Grande Cuvée, NV, Champagne, France
Silver Medal (joint): Air France – Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2005, France
American Airlines – Champagne Philipponnat Clos des Goisses 2007, France
Bronze Medal (joint): Malaysia Airlines – Champagne Joseph Perrier Cuvée Josephine 2004, France
ANA – Champagne Louis Roederer Rosé 2010, France
BEST FIRST CLASS FORTIFIED/DESSERT
Gold Medal: Singapore Airlines – Graham’s 20 Year Old Port, Douro, Portugal
Silver Medal: Qantas – Seppeltsfield Paramount Rare Tokay, Rutherglen, Australia
Bronze Medal: British Airways – Mullineaux Olerasay Number One, NV, Swartland, South Africa
BEST-PRESENTED FIRST CLASS WINE LIST
Cathay Pacific
BEST FIRST CLASS CELLAR
Gold Medal: Malaysia Airlines
Silver Medal: American Airlines
Bronze Medal (joint): Qantas, Qatar Airways
BEST BUSINESS CLASS RED
Gold Medal:
Brussels Airlines – Château d’Eyran 2012, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France
Silver Medal: Air France – Château la Sauvageonne Grand Vin 2012, AOP Terrasses du Larzac, Languedoc Roussillon, France
Bronze Medal (joint):
Aer Lingus – Delas Saint Joseph “Les Challeys” 2014, Rhône Valley, France
Austrian Airlines – Hans & Christine Nittnaus, Neusiedlersee DAC Reserve, Zweigelt Luckenwald 2013, Burgenland, Austria
BEST BUSINESS CLASS WHITE
Gold Medal: Finnair – Schloss Reinhartshausen Hattenheim Wisselbrunnen Riesling Kabinett 2014, Hattenheim, Rheingau, Germany
Silver Medal: Qantas – Voyager Estate Chardonnay 2013, Margaret River, Western Australia
Bronze Medal: Qantas – Seppelt Jaluka Chardonnay 2015, Henty, Victoria, Australia
Highly commended: Austrian Airlines – Gruber Röschitz Weinviertel DAC Hundspoint 2015,
Niedersterreich, Austria
Icelandair – St Clair Family Estate Vicar’s Choice Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Marlborough, New Zealand
Malaysia Airlines – Wairau River Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Wairau Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand
BEST BUSINESS CLASS SPARKLING
Gold Medal: EVA Air – Champagne de Castelnau Blanc de Blancs Millésime 2007, France
Silver Medal: British Airways – Champagne de Castelnau Brut Reserve, NV, France
Bronze Medal (joint): Air Canada – Drappier Carte D’or, NV, Champagne, France
LATAM – Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Premier, NV, Reims, France
BEST BUSINESS CLASS FORTIFIED/SWEET
Gold Medal: Qatar Airways – Gran Cruz Colheita Port 1992, Douro, Portugal
Silver Medal: Delta Air Lines – Cálem 10 Year Old Tawny Port, Porto, Portugal
Bronze Medal: Austrian Airlines – Kracher Beerenauslese Cuvée 2013, Neusiedlersee, Burgenland, Austria
Highly commended:
Air France – Graham’s 10 Year Old Tawny, Douro, Portugal
BEST BUSINESS CLASS CELLAR
Gold Medal: EVA Air
Silver Medal: British Airways
Bronze Medal: Cathay Pacific
BEST-PRESENTED BUSINESS CLASS WINE LIST
Qatar Airways
BEST airline alliance
Oneworld
BEST OVERALL CELLAR
Gold Medal: British Airways
Silver Medal: Qantas
Bronze Medal: Qatar Airways
