MLL Wine
Aug 25, 2014, 11:45 am
#17
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Left
Programs: FT
Posts: 7,285
i would be VERY VERY surprised if anything available that was decent could come in around the sub 10 cost price point AC is clearly looking at with its selections.
maybe even less.
i would hazard a guess than the "local" selections chosen are possibly not even VQA and imported juice from South America.
I am always amazed at friends that drink plonk from BC and then find out it is actually chilie juice.
again, no way in hell is AC going to get anything decent into their lounges for what they are prepared to spend.
other than Drappier, wine is where AC in J and it's lounges does piss poor.
maybe even less.
i would hazard a guess than the "local" selections chosen are possibly not even VQA and imported juice from South America.
I am always amazed at friends that drink plonk from BC and then find out it is actually chilie juice.
again, no way in hell is AC going to get anything decent into their lounges for what they are prepared to spend.
other than Drappier, wine is where AC in J and it's lounges does piss poor.
Aug 25, 2014, 12:08 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
I'd estimate that AC spends less than $12 for most wines in int'l J (after excluding GST/HST and deducting a ~20% discount off retail prices, which seems reasonable), quite a bit less for wines in domestic J and considerably less for wines in the MLLs.
Aug 25, 2014, 4:17 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: NB, Canada
Programs: Fairmont, Amex MR, Marriott
Posts: 2,531
I would be extremely surprised if AC spent anything close to $10/bottle for the plonk in the MLLs.
I'd estimate that AC spends less than $12 for most wines in int'l J (after excluding GST/HST and deducting a ~20% discount off retail prices, which seems reasonable), quite a bit less for wines in domestic J and considerably less for wines in the MLLs.
I'd estimate that AC spends less than $12 for most wines in int'l J (after excluding GST/HST and deducting a ~20% discount off retail prices, which seems reasonable), quite a bit less for wines in domestic J and considerably less for wines in the MLLs.
Aug 25, 2014, 4:22 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
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Posts: 11,874
Quite possible. Since I'm no expert when it comes to the wine industry, I provided a conservative estimate; if the discount is greater it only strengthens my argument that AC should invest a few more $ when buying wines.
Aug 25, 2014, 4:22 pm
#21
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: NB, Canada
Programs: Fairmont, Amex MR, Marriott
Posts: 2,531
Not to be too much of a wine snob, but it may change your perspective.
I would host if anyone makes it to the wilds of New Brunswick!
Aug 25, 2014, 4:30 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
Just out of curiosity, have you ever tried a blind tasting comparing similarly priced Canadian wine with wine from other countries? For example, ever tried a blind tasting with mid-priced bordeaux ($40 to $80) compared to Canadian bordeaux-style blends from either Niagara or Okanagan? Or a similar blind tasting with good pinot with moderately priced burgundy?
Not to be too much of a wine snob, but it may change your perspective.
I would host if anyone makes it to the wilds of New Brunswick!
Not to be too much of a wine snob, but it may change your perspective.
I would host if anyone makes it to the wilds of New Brunswick!
2) Thanks. I shall send you a PM if I ever happen to come to NB.
While I may occasionally complain about the wines AC offers, I don't think of myself as a wine snob. I rarely spend more than $15-$20 for a bottle of wine (less when purchasing outside Canada) unless it's for a special occasion. Unfortunately AC tends to spend half as much, and it is rather noticeable IMO.
Aug 25, 2014, 5:01 pm
#23
Formerly known as tireman77
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 5,514
Just out of curiosity, have you ever tried a blind tasting comparing similarly priced Canadian wine with wine from other countries? For example, ever tried a blind tasting with mid-priced bordeaux ($40 to $80) compared to Canadian bordeaux-style blends from either Niagara or Okanagan? Or a similar blind tasting with good pinot with moderately priced burgundy?
Not to be too much of a wine snob, but it may change your perspective.
I would host if anyone makes it to the wilds of New Brunswick!
Not to be too much of a wine snob, but it may change your perspective.
I would host if anyone makes it to the wilds of New Brunswick!
I've had some very good wines from Canada, mostly whites, but they have been oddly expensive. Pinot noir in not in my wheelhouse personally. I also stay away from French wines, for reasons I cannot explain.
The reason I wouldn't like a 100% Canadian wine offering is that in the budget AC probably has for wine, the Canadian offerings will probably not be in the range of 'very good'. Many other countries offer remarkably good wines for reasonable prices and I'd prefer to have that to a mediocre Canadian offering.
Aug 25, 2014, 5:23 pm
#24
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YOW
Programs: TK*S, SPG Gold
Posts: 714
It would be nice if they were able to leverage enroute magazine to complement the food/beverage service in J (especially international).
A highlight of each trip I take is to read the magazine. It would be great if they could do something like run a segment on a specific winery or series of wineries, only to then run an in-flight feature showcasing wines from said wineries.
I think it would be really neat to sample different wines while reading about them in a magazine.
A highlight of each trip I take is to read the magazine. It would be great if they could do something like run a segment on a specific winery or series of wineries, only to then run an in-flight feature showcasing wines from said wineries.
I think it would be really neat to sample different wines while reading about them in a magazine.
Aug 26, 2014, 7:57 am
#26
Flying Blue Director
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: CDG/AMS
Posts: 1,864
While I understand our wine selection may not be to the taste of everyone, I just wanted to clarify that all of our MLLs in Canada offer at least one Canadian wine as part of its selection, which is a quarterly rotation depending on its availability. For 2014 we are highlighting wines from both Niagara, ON and Okanagan, BC.
Of course we can't have wines from all the Canadian wineries, but I think we have a good selection to complement our other wines from Australia, California, Italy, etc.
Of course we can't have wines from all the Canadian wineries, but I think we have a good selection to complement our other wines from Australia, California, Italy, etc.
Last edited by Ben Lipsey; Aug 26, 2014 at 12:00 pm
Aug 26, 2014, 10:08 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE 2MM
Posts: 16,649
Aug 26, 2014, 10:15 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YLW
Programs: AC- SE100 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, National Executive, Nexus/GE
Posts: 4,307
While I understand our wine selection may not be to the taste of everyone, I just wanted to clarify that all of our MLLs in Canada offer at least one Canadian wine as part of it’s selection which is a quarterly rotation depending on its availability. For 2014 we are highlighting wines from both Niagara, ON and Okanagan, BC.
Of course we can't have wines from all the Canadian wineries, but I think we have a good selection to complement our other wines from Australia, California, Italy, etc.
Of course we can't have wines from all the Canadian wineries, but I think we have a good selection to complement our other wines from Australia, California, Italy, etc.
^ For Air Canada supporting Canada's wine industry
Aug 26, 2014, 10:15 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE 2MM
Posts: 16,649
Just out of curiosity, have you ever tried a blind tasting comparing similarly priced Canadian wine with wine from other countries? For example, ever tried a blind tasting with mid-priced bordeaux ($40 to $80) compared to Canadian bordeaux-style blends from either Niagara or Okanagan? Or a similar blind tasting with good pinot with moderately priced burgundy?
Problem is that is not AC's price point. There are some very decent $10-15 wines to be had out there, trouble is that gets you to the lower end of VQA's in Canada. OK for light whites but Canada's reds can't compete at that price point.
I do get to YQM a couple of times a year.
Aug 26, 2014, 11:49 am
#30
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,609
It all depends on what the airline is willing to pay for.
Air NZ offers great NZ wines in their Koru Clubs.
Asiana even offers Inniskillin Ice Wine in their Asiana First Lounge in ICN if I recall correctly.
I think there is marketing opportunity here for an established producer if the cost sharing equation is appropriate.
Wolf's Blass Yellow Label Chardonnay in the YWG MLL this past two weeks. On sale in Vancouver for 15.99 a bottle. It was probably the most expensive wine that I have seen so far.
Air NZ offers great NZ wines in their Koru Clubs.
Asiana even offers Inniskillin Ice Wine in their Asiana First Lounge in ICN if I recall correctly.
I think there is marketing opportunity here for an established producer if the cost sharing equation is appropriate.
I would be extremely surprised if AC spent anything close to $10/bottle for the plonk in the MLLs.
I'd estimate that AC spends less than $12 for most wines in int'l J (after excluding GST/HST and deducting a ~20% discount off retail prices, which seems reasonable), quite a bit less for wines in domestic J and considerably less for wines in the MLLs.
I'd estimate that AC spends less than $12 for most wines in int'l J (after excluding GST/HST and deducting a ~20% discount off retail prices, which seems reasonable), quite a bit less for wines in domestic J and considerably less for wines in the MLLs.