APRIL 2020 businesstraveller.comO
n 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, beforemaking 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 listof
winners see businesstraveller.com/awards.BT^62
TOASTING OUR WINNERS
Our Cellars in the Sky wine awards were announced
WORDS HANNAH BRANDLER at a glittering ceremony at the Langham London