Cheers! Qantas uncorks top wine honours
LONDON – – Judges at an international wine-tasting competition have selected oneworld as the best alliance for the wines served in-flight by its member airlines.
The latest Cellars in the Sky Awards, run by Business Traveller magazine, in association with the International Wine Challenge, saw oneworld’s member airlines take six of the 12 first prizes up for grabs, along with 24 runners-up awards.
Airlines in the Star alliance achieved three first prizes and 11 runners-up placings, while SkyTeam members took one first prize and six runners-up positions.
A panel of five leading experts blind-tasted more than 220 wines served on long haul flights by 34 airlines from around the world.
Qantas took four of the top prizes – for Best First Class Cellar; Best Red Wine served in First Class, won by its Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2005; Best Fortified or Sweet Wine served in First Class, won by its Morris of Rutherglen Old Premium Liqueur Tokay; and Best Presented Wine List.
Cathay Pacific made two trips to the winners’ podium – for Best Business Class Wine Cellar and Best Red Wine served in Business Class, for its Spy Valley Pinot Noir Marlborough 2007.
Oneworld member airlines took four of the top five places for Best First Class Cellar – with American Airlines, British Airways and Cathay Pacific runners-up behind Qantas. The only other airline on the shortlist was Qatar, which is not a member of any of the global airline alliances.
Oneworld members also accounted for four of the top five places for Best Business Class Cellar – with LAN and again American Airlines and British Airways runners up, this time behind Cathay Pacific.
Unaligned Qatar was again the only other airline on the shortlist.
Ian Jarrett
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