Email
Print
ShareThere was a wise man who once said something about how the journey is more important than the destination. I never quite grasped the meaning of this till I had travelled long-haul business class.
Qantas was perhaps the first airline to have instituted the business class on board. I say 'perhaps' in the remote possibility that someone knows differently, but as far as my research allows, back in 1979 they pioneered this mode of travel, uprooting a lot of their regular seats to fit in a few of the larger reclining ones. The food and wine quotient too was upped. Others initially laughed but soon followed suit. The rest, as they say, is history.
Recently I flew to Sydney with Qantas and was very impressed with the wines they were serving. An extensive wine list with plenty of top-of-the-range houses and I, as a dedicated sommelier, had to work my way through all of them. Sure the crew thought I had a severe drinking problem but they politely complied. Later on, I slept like a baby for the rest of the flight.
How such airlines choose their wines is a very intricate process. A team of tasters come together and try many wines before they are passed. The list is extensive, depending on where a flight is headed and how much stock is needed for a return trip. Finally, there are enough options so that people on-board are never left high and dry (literally!).
When choosing a wine for a flight carrier, three things have to be kept in mind:
- The constant vibrations in-flight, no matter how subtle, can affect a wine's taste.
- The air is dry and being sucked out and exchanged constantly, as a result the wine may not reflect the same aromas as on ground.
- The alcohol shouldn't be too much as drinking at 39,000ft takes getting high to an all new (faster) level.
But the team at Qantas comprises some of the top wine experts and they had quite a few worthy brands in their kitty. Here are my personal picks.
Petaluma: This house is a favourite not only of the people who drink it, but also of the people who serve it. Conversing with the on-board service folks brought out this unique fact; they had found that every time they stocked Petaluma on-board, it was the first to run out.
Henschke: One of the most celebrated boutique houses; each wine that comes out from their stable is worth writing an ode to. They have the power to redefine anyone's perception of how Aussie wines should be. The wines are a must-try.
Penfolds Port: It is one large wine house but that doesn't distract from their quality and consistency. Everyone knows Penfolds wines; there is a certain familiarity of taste and style that puts us at ease.
Apart from this, I am guaranteed a good sip on board several other airlines -- Etihaad, Virgin, Singapore, Cathay are the most prominent names. Air France and Alitalia serve trash. Apart from Australia and South Africa I can't think of another airline from a wine-producing nation that serves good wine. Even Air India manages to redeem itself by not serving Indian plonk -- a sensible choice.
But Qantas gave me a memorable time. The destination was great (in spite of all the turmoil at the moment) but I think it was the getting there that added to the anticipation of arriving in style.
The writer is a sommelier
