The Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky Awards have been running since 1985, with a record number of 36 airlines taking part this year. Blind tastings took place over two days on November 4 and 5 at the Grosvenor House, London, with five judges independently scoring. The judges included:
• Charles Metcalfe, TV wine presenter and co-chairman of the
International Wine Challenge;
• Sam Harrop, Master of Wine and winemaking consultant;
• Derek Smedley, Master of Wine for more than 40 years,
consultant and co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge;
• Peter McCombie, Master of Wine, accredited tutor for the Wine and
Spirit Education Trust and consultant; and
• John Worontschak, leading winemaker and wine business development
consultant.
Business Class Sparkling
1. Qatar Airways – Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle 1996;
2. Etihad – Henriot Blanc Souverain;
3. and
4. (JOINT) British Airways, Qantas and Singapore Airlines –
Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve AND LAN – Louis Roederer Brut Premier; and
5. Jet Airways – Dom Pérignon 2002.
First Class Sparkling
1. Qantas – Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1999;
2. United Airlines – Henriot Brut Millésimé 1996;
3. (JOINT) Qatar Airways, All Nippon Airways and Cathay Pacific –
Krug Grande Cuvée;
4. Thai Airways – Bollinger 1999; and
5. Malaysia Airlines and Jet Airways – Dom Pérignon 2002.
Participating Airlines:
Aer Lingus, Aegean Airlines, Air Astana, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Alitalia, American Airlines, All Nippon Airlines, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, El Al, Etihad, Emirates, Finnair, Gulf Air, Iberia, Jet Airways, Kenya Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Korean Air, LAN, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, South African Airways, TAM, Thai Airways and United Airlines.
Liz Palmer