TOASTING OUR WINNERS
Our Cellars in the Sky wine awards were announced at a glittering ceremony at the Langham London
Reporting from our Cellars in the Sky in-flight wine awards
On February 24 we announced the winners of our Cellars in the Sky in-flight wine awards at a suitably sparkling ceremony at the Langham London hotel (pictured left). Airline representatives joined wine critics and producers in tasting the finest bottles served in first and business class last year. The evening was kindly sponsored by Champagne Duval-Leroy, which treated guests to its vintage Femme de Champagne and its Brut Reserve at a reception in the property’s Portland Foyer. Some 35 airlines entered the 2019 competition, with our expert panel conducting blind tastings of 250 bottles at the end of November (see our report in last month’s issue).
During the reception, attendees – some of whom had flown in from across the world for the occasion – caught up with their counterparts from other airlines while speculating on the evening’s results, before making their way downstairs to the fittingly named Grand Ballroom to discover if their predictions had been correct.
Business Traveller’s editorial director, Tom Otley, addressed the gathering and introduced head judge Charles Metcalfe, co-chair of the International Wine Challenge, who announced the winners. Among the victors were Malaysia Airlines, which scooped the Gold Medals for Best Overall Cellar and Best Business Class Cellar, and Qantas, which won the Gold Medal for Best First Class Cellar.
Attendees were then invited to taste the winning wines, while canapés, including beef tartare and scallops, were served. Perhaps in an attempt to escape the dreary weather, guests were particularly drawn to the winning rosés, a new category for 2019 that saw American Airlines take home the Gold Medal for first class and Air New Zealand for business class. For the full list of winners see businesstraveller.com/awards.