I was a flattered participant at a Zurich wine-card (and the real stuff: the Wines) TEST of 11 major airlines (only 11 airlines with a certain importance for the Swiss/Zurich market were considered for the test).

The test is published today (feb-27) in the "Tages-Anzeiger" Zurich (in german).

Airlines tested: Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Swissair, Thai Airways.

All three service-classes have been tested seperately.

The Results:

FIRST CLASS
1) British Airways
*Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 1992, Jean-Marc Brocard, France
*Ch�teau Pichon-Baron 1988, France
*Cabernet Sauvignon 1990, Thelma Mountain, South Africa
2) Singapore Airlines
*Riesling Sp�tlese Wiltinger Scharzberg 1995, St. Urbanshof, Germany
*Ch�teau Cos-d'Estournel 1993, France
*La Fonte 1994, Terrabianca, Italy
3) Swissair
*Donnay 1997, Guido-Brivio, Switzerland (Ticino)
*Ch�teau L�oville-Barton 1989, France
*Cabernet/Shiraz 1996, Penfolds, Australia
4) American Airlines
*Chardonnay 1996, Zaca Mesa, USA
*Cabernet Sauvignon 1995, Merryvale, USA
*Corton Grand Cru 1994, Albert Bichot
5) Lufthansa
*Riesling x Sylvaner Iph�fer Domherr Sp�tlese 1997, Juliusspital, Germany
*Chardonnay 1995, Kendall-Jackson, USA
*Ch�teau Cantemerie 1994, France

BUSINESS
1) Thai
*Mo�t-Chandon Brut Imp�rial. Reims, France
*Ch�teau Thieuley, Cuv�e Francis Courselle 1996, France
*Ch�teau Maucaillou 1993, France
2) British Airways
*Chardonnay 1993, Caliterra, Chile
*Zinfandel 1996, Bonny Doon, USA
*Ch�teau-Neuf-du-Pape 1994, Domaine du P�re Pape, France
3) American Airlines
*Pommery Cuv�e Madame Louise 1989, Reims France
*Riesling Sp�tlese 1997, Rudolf M�ller, Germany
*Pinot Noir 1995, Carneros Creek, USA
4) Sout African Airways
*Chardonnay 1997, Simonsig, South Africa
*Sauvignon Blanc 1998, Mulderbosch, South Africa
*Pinotage 1997, Kanonkop, Sout Africa
5) Singapore Airlines
*Blanc des Mill�naires 1985, Heidsieck, France
*Chianti Rufina Nippozano 1995, Frescobaldi, Italy
"Taylor's Late Bottled Vintage 1992, Portugal

ENONOMY
1) South African Airways
*Riesling 1998, Hartenberg, South Africa
*Carbenet Sauvignon 1996, Jordan, South Africa
*Shiraz 1997, Klein Constantina, South Africa
2) Qantas
*Riesling 1997, Jacob's Creek, Australia
*Chardonnay 1997, Queen Adelaide, Australia
*Shiraz Bin 50, Lindemans, Australia
3) British Airways
*Cuv�e Heritage 1996, Sichel, France
*Chardonnay Sundial 1996, Fetzer, USA
*Cabernet Sauvignon Valley Oaks 1996, Fetzer, USA
4) Singapore Airlines
*Charles Heidsieck, Brut Reserve 1994, Reims, France
*French Fortant de Chardonnay, 1996, France
*Virginie Merlot, Vins du Pays 1996, France
5) Swissair
*Bourgogne La Vigne 1996, France
*Beaujolais 1997, France
*D�le du Valais, Switzerland

but please take into account:
*we tested on the ground (no miles for me!), champagnes & wines taste different in the air (air pressure influences the bubbles in the champagne)
*"DE GUSTIBUS NON DISPUTANTE" ("don't fight over taste").

the article (in german, but without the above exact individual rankings) can be found on

http://www.tages-anzeiger.ch/990227/175392.HTM

Thanks Rudi, a great post.

My cup runneth over
MF

Rudi,

Thanks for the list. I will see if my local wine store stocks some of the ones that interest me.

I printed this e-mail and will have to check my local wine store: Morrell's on Madison (near Smith & Wollensky's who is a client of the store.)

It made me thirsty for a good wine. But I'll have to settle for PEPSI!




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CATMAN

Rudi, your disclaimer is important. Wines do taste quite different at 30K feet. And any frequent traveler knows to stay away from alcohol on long haul flights, right?

stimpy:
YES about the taste at that altitude,
a half NO: I am talking of wine and champagne in moderate portions and not the Hard stuff.

... and coffee (coffein) and tea (teein) are not doing you any better (dehydration).

I drink only water on long flights. Even a glass of wine makes getting over jet lag more difficult for me.

Short flights on the other hand were made for drinking bourbon.

I always like to have a good slug of alcohol early on in the flight - it is the only way I can get to sleep.

My 'recipe' for a perfect nights sleep on a plane:

- A glass of water the minute you sit down.
- Half a bottle of dry white wine within the first 45 minutes of the flight.
- Another half bottle during dinner.
- A glass of good heavy port after dinner.
- Another glass of water, straight after that.
- Then watch a bit of video, whilst sipping a series of four large Bailey's.
- ZZZZZzzzzzzz slide into sleep.

It never fails with me.

However, I do need some water on stand-by for when I wake up.

Then avoid all that healthy light stuff for breakfast, go for something your stomach can get to work on.

That is important, if you eat well in the morning the digestion of your food slows you down and by mid-day/early evening you are back on track.

This recipe has ensured I never have trouble with jet-lag. Of course my doctor does not approve, but what is new there?

I can feel a book coming on "The unhealthy way to avoid travel fatigue".
MF

PLEASE don't start demonizing drinking and flying!!! Where else can you catch a nice buzz on two beers!?!?!

As with anything (except flyertalk!) Moderation is the watchword!

I'll drink to that. (Since I'm home, all I can toast is with a PEPSI.)

But for me it depends:

Business trips: NO ALCOHOL. No COFFEE. Nothing except a reluctant Coca COla (unless I'm on American which has a CHOICE!)
COming back: If I go to work the next day: same routine as above. If I'm going home to a day off, a beer or other beverage with more
kick!
Short Haul: maybe a beer but generally the reluctant COCA COLA.
Long HAUL: Going to London as I see everyone enjoying wine and beer and Baileys I had to settle for COCA COLA> See, I must keep a clear head when I"m working.

But When it's leasure time: I'm a different kind of Cat. That's why I ask my buddy PremEx to make sure I make it to the HIlton in one piece for the Party in Paradise, in case I partake of one too many stronger brews!

As Matt said EVERYTHING IN MODERATION!

(FOUR BAILEYS MERRY??? Aren't Baileys strong, never had one!)

------------------
CATMAN

[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 03-02-99).]

What Merry said except the first half bottle of wine for me is a Bacardi a coke that I mix. (better ratio that way)

TransAtlantic flights for me involve lots of water prior to boarding, one Gin & Tonic (my mix, HATE when they hand you a glass of tonic and a mini-bottle), then two glasses of wine (white, reds tend to dehydrate me fast although I prefer them), then a glass of water after dinner followed by ZZZZZzzzz. Skip that whimpy b-fast stuff, coffee about 40 minute prior to arrival, then off for a hot shower, a big breakfast at my destination and away I go...

I'll drink to the Bailey's, on the rocks, straight-up, straight from the bottle and with coffee. After that, a salud to Merry (with a proper introduction, of course).

Catman, we gotta get you indoctrinated to the real good stuff. Even Yaz and Eddie would like Bailey's. After that you must try some "Quarente-trace".