Meliá Hotels International, headquartered in Spain, operates 350 hotels across 40 countries and only recently opened its first U.S. property: INNSIDE New York Nomad, which debuted in March. The hotel occupies 20 floors and offers 300 guestrooms in a bright, open design palette of earth tones and neutrals. Amenities include a wellness suite, two meeting rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, and Impero Caffé, where acclaimed chef Scott Conant presents Italian bistro cuisine.
It was at INNSIDE New York Nomad that Global Traveler hosted its 12th annual Wines on the Wing International Airline Wine Competition, an event that evaluates wines served in international first- and business-class cabins. A third, smaller category considered wines served on first- and business-class flights that both begin and end in North America. To judge the entries, Global Traveler assembled a panel of 26 respected wine professionals — importers, retailers, winemakers, restaurant wine directors and sommeliers, educators, consultants and writers — who tasted the wines currently offered by participating airlines.
All wines were presented in numbered, code-marked glasses so judges knew only the wine type, and when relevant, vintage. No bottles or labels were shown. This blind-tasting approach ensured that scoring was based solely on the wine in the glass, eliminating bias from branding or presentation.
The results revealed many standout offerings. Singapore Airlines claimed first place in both the International First Class and International Business Class categories. Its business-class selections achieved the highest score recorded in the competition’s 12-year history, and individual Singapore Airlines wines populated numerous Top Wines lists.
Singapore’s success stems from a rigorous curation process: an international wine panel led by experts Jeannie Cho Lee, Michael Hill Smith and Oz Clarke taste more than 1,000 wines annually before narrowing down selections. The airline’s cellar features rare and premium bottles, including Grand Cru Burgundy and two prestige Champagne cuvées — Dom Pérignon and Krug Grand Cuvée. “Our cellar is the result of extensive collaboration with the talented members of our international wine panel, a team that keeps us up to date in selecting many of the finest wines and Champagnes but also keeps us current on wine trends and developments,” said Sek Eng Lee, regional vice president Americas for Singapore Airlines. Singapore Airlines invests heavily in its in-flight wine program, spending $16.5 million annually and serving roughly 194,000 bottles of Champagne each year.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) also performed strongly, finishing second among International First Class airlines and third overall among International Business Class entries, with many of its wines placing in the top five of their categories.
American Airlines emerged as another major winner. It featured in both the Top International First Class and Top International Business Class listings and took top honors in the North American category, sweeping Best North American Champagne/Sparkling Wine, Best North American White Wine and Best North American Red Wine.
American’s wine program is managed collaboratively by wine consultant Ken Chase and Intervine, a Napa-based airline wine program management firm. Together they taste nearly 10,000 wines annually to refine the airline’s list. A management committee conducts semiannual tastings of their selections. American Airlines serves approximately two million bottles of wine to passengers each year.
Emirates also scored high marks, appearing among top airlines for both International First Class and International Business Class. Its François Villard Condrieu de Poncins 2014 was the highest-scoring white wine in the International First Class category. Joost Heymeijer, senior vice president of catering at Emirates, emphasized the airline’s commitment to passenger experience and long-term planning, noting that Emirates invested significantly in wine last year — more than $140 million — with many purchases intended to be cellared for seven to ten years to match the airline’s expanding route network.
Delta Air Lines ranked second among the highest-scoring carriers in International Business Class, and its Business Class Champagne and Chardonnay were among the top-scoring wines in their respective categories.
Of the airlines participating in Global Traveler’s 12th competition, 15 belonged to one of the three major alliances: Star Alliance, oneworld and SkyTeam. Star Alliance members posted the highest average scores; representative carriers included Air Canada, All Nippon Airways, Brussels Airlines, Singapore Airlines and TAP Portugal.
As Ernest Hemingway famously observed, “wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things in the world.” The wines presented by global airlines provided the judges with an afternoon that was civilized, natural, and enlightening.
JUDGING PROCESS
Airlines operating long-haul international first-class and/or business-class service were invited to submit two white wines, two red wines and one Champagne or other sparkling wine currently listed on their wine lists. The same submission rules applied to the North American category for airlines with first-class and/or business-class service. Wine lists were also requested as part of the entry.
Submitted wines were coded and grouped into flights according to type — for example, all New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc entries were served together, as were all California Zinfandels. Judges tasted wines in code-marked glasses and were told only the type of wine and, when appropriate, the vintage. If a wine appeared flawed, a reserve bottle was opened. Professional assistants poured the samples while Global Traveler staff monitored the tasting.
Each wine was scored on a modified Davis 20-point scale. Judges’ individual scores were averaged for each wine, and those averaged scores were totaled for each airline’s submissions. Awards were given to individual wines with the highest scores and to airlines with the highest combined totals.
JUDGES
MANOS ANGELAKIS — Managing editor/publisher and senior wine and food writer for Luxury Web Magazine and wine and food columnist for Epoch Times, with expertise in Greek, Catalan and Chilean wines.
CESAR BAEZA — Enologist and wine industry consultant, trained in Chile, France, Spain and California; former wine master and co-owner of Brotherhood Winery in New York.
RORY CALLAHAN — Co-founder of the International Wine Center and president of Wine & Food Associates; attended UC Davis School of Viticulture and has commercial winemaking experience.
SCOTT CARNEY, M.S. — Dean of wine studies at the International Culinary Center.
MOLLY CHOI — Executive vice president of sales and marketing at Cape Classics, responsible for marketing more than 20 South African wine estates.
LISA DONNESON — Proprietor of Bouké and Bouquet Wines on Long Island; Wine and Spirits Education Trust graduate and member of industry organizations.
JOHN FANNING — General manager of The Lambs Club, New York, with extensive restaurant wine director experience.
FRED FERRETTI — Wine and food writer and former New York Times reporter and Gourmet columnist.
DAVID FRIESER — President of Beekman Liquors, frequent wine lecturer with over 30 years in the trade.
CODY GOLDSTEIN — Wine and food director and founder of Muddling Memories, a bar consulting firm.
CURTIS GREEN — President and founder of TenFolks Enterprises, focused on wine education and marketing for African American audiences.
FRANK JOHNSON — Chairman and CEO of Frank Johnson Selections, with nearly four decades in the wine business.
KAREN KING — Sales manager at Winebow and former wine director and educator in prominent New York restaurants and culinary schools.
HARRIET LEMBECK — President of the Wine and Spirits Program and author of multiple editions of Grossman’s Guide to Wine, Beer and Spirits.
MICHAEL MANUPPELLI — Certified Sommelier and former sommelier at The River Café in Brooklyn.
GILLES MARTIN — Winemaker and director of operations at Sparkling Pointe winery on Long Island, trained in France and experienced with prominent estates.
DAVID MILLIGAN — President of David Milligan Selections with more than 40 years representing fine French producers.
KATHERINE MOORE, FWS — General manager of Union Square Wine & Spirits in Manhattan.
JOHANNES NECKERMANN — Wine consultant and former sommelier at Champagne Taittinger with experience in wine retail and teaching.
LIZ PALMER — Wine journalist with bylines in major publications and author of The Ultimate Guide to Champagne.
JUDY RUNDEL — Longtime staff member at Heights Chateau wine shop, involved in buying, Wine of the Month Club coordination and education.
ARNO SCHMIDT — Veteran executive chef with a long hospitality career organizing wine and food events at top hotels.
CHARLES SCICOLONE — Wine and food editor, blogger, consultant and wine educator focused on Italian and Italian-American cuisine and wine.
WILLIAM SHORT — Regional manager for Dreyfus, Ashby & Co., with a long tenure in fine-wine sales and a background in education.
TIM SOMERS — Wine and spirits professional with 28 years’ experience and a background in winery start-ups and training at Pernod Ricard.
ERIC WHITE — Manager of The Winery in Manhattan and wine consultant with more than two decades in the industry.
TOP FIVE INTERNATIONAL FIRST-CLASS WINES ON THE WING 1. Singapore Airlines 2. All Nippon Airways 3. American Airlines 4. British Airways 5. Emirates
TOP FIVE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS-CLASS WINES ON THE WING 1. Singapore Airlines 2. Delta Air Lines 3. All Nippon Airways 4. Brussels Airlines 5. Emirates
TOP FIVE CHAMPAGNES INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS 1. Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle, Grande Cuvée, NV (British Airways) tie Dom Pérignon 2006 (Singapore Airlines) 2. Krug Grande Cuvée, NV (All Nippon Airways) 3. Dom Pérignon Rosé 2003 (Emirates) 4. Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle, Grande Cuvée, NV (American Airlines)
TOP FIVE CHAMPAGNES INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS 1. Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve, NV (Singapore Airlines) 2. Pol Roger Extra Cuvée de Réserve, NV (Delta Air Lines) 3. Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, NV (Emirates) 4. Jean Pernet Tradition, NV (Aer Lingus) 5. Canard-Duchêne, Cuvée Léonie, NV (All Nippon Airways)
TOP FIVE WHITE WINES INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS 1. François Villard Condrieu de Poncins 2014 (Emirates) 2. Domaine René Lequin-Colin Clos Devant Chassagne-Montrachet 2014 (American Airlines) 3. Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling 2013, Mosel, Germany (All Nippon Airways) 4. Vincent Girardin Chassagne-Montrachet Le Cailleret 2011 (British Airways) 5. Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2014, New Zealand (Singapore Airlines)
TOP FIVE WHITE WINES INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS 1. Paulo Laureano Reserva 2014, Alentejo, Portugal (TAP Portugal) 2. Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Australia (Fiji Airways) 3. Matahiwi Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2015, New Zealand (All Nippon Airways) 4. Stuhlmuller Vineyards Chardonnay 2013, Sonoma, California (Delta Air Lines) 5. Devil’s Lair, The Hidden Cave Chardonnay 2014, Australia (Singapore Airlines)
TOP FIVE RED WINES INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS 1. Monte Zovo Amarone della Valpolicella 2012, Italy (American Airlines) 2. Crasto Reserva 2012, Douro, Portugal (All Nippon Airways) 3. Château de Beaucastel 2007, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France (Emirates) 4. La Follette Pinot Noir 2012, Sonoma, California (British Airways) 5. Clonakilla O’Riada Shiraz 2013, Australia (Singapore Airlines)
TOP FIVE RED WINES INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS 1. Domaine de la Présidente, Cairanne 2013, Côtes du Rhône, France (American Airlines) 2. Churchill’s Estates Grande Reserva 2011, Douro, Portugal (TAP Portugal) 3. Crasto 2014, Douro, Portugal (Brussels Airlines) 4. Portia Ebeia Roble 2014, Ribera del Duero, Spain (Air Canada) 5. Ferraton-Père & Fils La Matinière Crozes-Hermitage 2011, France (Singapore Airlines)
TOP NORTH AMERICAN FIRST CLASS/BUSINESS CLASS WINES ON THE WING 1. American Airlines 2. Delta Air Lines 3. JetBlue
TOP NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPAGNE/SPARKLING WINE Lanson Black Label Champagne, NV (American Airlines)
TOP NORTH AMERICAN WHITE WINE Bouchard Aîné & Fils 2014, Vieilles Vignes, Burgundy, France (American Airlines)
TOP NORTH AMERICAN RED WINE Viñalba Malbec Reserva 2013, Argentina (American Airlines)
TOP AIRLINE ALLIANCE Star Alliance represented by Air Canada, All Nippon Airways, Brussels Airlines, Singapore Airlines and TAP Portugal