MilesBuzz! - "savoir-vivre". Airlines Wine Lists: a Test.

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
*Château Pichon-Baron 1988, France
*Cabernet Sauvignon 1990, Thelma Mountain, South Africa
2) Singapore Airlines
*Riesling Spätlese Wiltinger Scharzberg 1995, St. Urbanshof, Germany
*Château Cos-d'Estournel 1993, France
*La Fonte 1994, Terrabianca, Italy
3) Swissair
*Donnay 1997, Guido-Brivio, Switzerland (Ticino)
*Château Léoville-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 Iphöfer Domherr Spätlese 1997, Juliusspital, Germany
*Chardonnay 1995, Kendall-Jackson, USA
*Château Cantemerie 1994, France

BUSINESS
1) Thai
*Moët-Chandon Brut Impérial. Reims, France
*Château Thieuley, Cuvée Francis Courselle 1996, France
*Château Maucaillou 1993, France
2) British Airways
*Chardonnay 1993, Caliterra, Chile
*Zinfandel 1996, Bonny Doon, USA
*Château-Neuf-du-Pape 1994, Domaine du Père Pape, France
3) American Airlines
*Pommery Cuvée Madame Louise 1989, Reims France
*Riesling Spätlese 1997, Rudolf Müller, 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 Millénaires 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
*Cuvée 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
*Dôle 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 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
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. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
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! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

As Matt said EVERYTHING IN MODERATION!

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

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http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif CATMAN http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[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".

Mmmmmmm....

Definitely agree with all on Baileys. It's sometimes the only alcohol that I'll drink in 1st class (also the occasional glass of wine).

Jaws: What is "Quarente-trace"?



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Regards,
- Anna

What is 43? (Quarente Trace?) Hard stuff?

If you guys are going to introduce me to the "good stuff" then make sure you help get me back to my hotel room. I wouldn't want to end up someplace strange!

I read an article recently that ABSINTHE was making a comeback in London. I wonder if BA will start to offer in in First Class? Or is it more of a "Club World" kinda thing???

yes - the demand for Absinth is higher than the production. The reason behind this is simple: just forbid something and the demand rises ... (Absinth is forbidden in France and Switzerland, that's why the production is so big as never before - but please don't tell anybody .... PSSSSSST. Pernod / Ricard etc. are only pure castrated imitations ....).

a true story from Switzerland: when President Mitterand made one of his official state-visits to Switzerland, the fare-well-dinner with our than President Mr. Aubert from Neuchàtel (Newcastle), was held in Mr. Auberts favorite Restaurant in his hometown - and guess what they served with the desert: "la veuve verte" = Absinth. Some swiss-german puritans than tried to get our President fined ... (CNN didn't cover the following impeachment discussion, and the people just laughed, Mr. Aubert's party did increase their share of votes at the next elections).

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

Quarente-Trace "43" is an absolutely delicious Puerto Rican liquer. It can be found in most major liquor stores and is made to be sipped and enjoyed. WOW! I'm getting my taste buds ready now. All this talk has me in the "mood".

"43" is sooooooo gooooood that I doubt even BA has it in FC.

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

what happens to our CULTURE?!?:

go and have a look where and how your drinks are "produced/bottled" and may be some of you will "CONVERT" to wine/champagne or beer:

*visit the place were they "prepare/treat" your daily drinking water
*visit the laboratory-places where they prepare the sirup for Coke/Pepsi and how they add SUGAR and treated water
*tour the largest single brewery of the world (Coors, Golden, CO, USA), and look into the eyes of the brewmaster when he tastes untreated Rocky Mountain water, tries some corn and hops, and follows the brewing process
*accompany the 12 month-rythme of grapes and the work of a wine- (or champagne) producer.

And then compare and judge what you have seen/heard and let your feelings/heart/soul speak - (in moderation).

Funny that you should mention it, Rudi... I've just returned from a trip to the Bahamas, which included a visit to the Bacardi complex.

Well Bacardi's ok, but why can't I get a nice 18 year old Havana Club on any airline?

First, I skip the boarding drink. Why? Cause sometimes they have the nerve to serve it in PLASTIC! Once airbourn I start out with a Rum 'n Coke (day) or a Black Russian (evening). With my meal, I usually order a glass of Chateau Bilge Pump (Red). With my United Sundae from the cart, I pour a half mini of Amaretto over the top, making it a Blackbeard Sundae (anyone from the old days of United remember that?). I skip an after dinner drink and spend the rest of the flight swiggin H2O. Then I pray that no one has to test out those new heart de-fibrillators on me.

[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 03-11-99).]

somewhat OMNI:

PremEx - part of the reason why you can't get your Havana Club may be:
1) It is (mostly) still produced in Cuba, from whence it is exported to Europe and elsewhere
2) Bacardi owns the trademark in the US, and sell *their* (non-Cuba produced) product as Havana Club in the US.

There is no love lost between the Bacardi family and the powers that be in Cuba, and the trademark issues may make it murky enough for any international airline to avoid stocking Havana Club, regardless of its origin.

My flight drink plan:

Coca Cola reluctantly to start.

One beer (would prefer a Sam's but can't get it)

THen I swig a Second Coke and water before I land.

Maybe I need to graduate to the stronger stuff but my friends say the strong stuff makes me Chatty.

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:) CATMAN :)

Catman...Mai Tais on the way to the Party in Paradise! Betcha can't drink just one!

CatMan: didn't the training with "Side Cars" at Smith & Wollensky help, or is last august 98 to far away already to still feel some training effects?

Greetings from Freezing Cleveland!

How could I have forgotten about the "side Cars" Rudi? They were very good and very good training for "REAL' Drinks.

But my body needs more practice being that it's filled with PEPSI a lot of the time.

I think I'll practice tonight after work in Cleveland! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

And PremEx: only eight months to Mai Tais!


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:) CATMAN :)

ENJOY ! (the drink tonight and the 8 months waiting time).

Notice that all airlines except three served at least one wine produced in their own country.

The three that did not: Thai, Singapore and BA.

Maybe they're not trying hard enough http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

arturo lik tiquela wiff werm. arturo bin miny times to wher we mak tiquela, arturo bet rudy knot bin ther or rudy probly knot lik tiquela.

hsilbiger: BA do serve British (English) wines on many of their routes, in fact they are by far the largest buyer of British wines.

However the British climate is not exctly designed for wine cultivation and therefore the quality can be somewhat "fluid". I would say there British wines are more novelty than quality. So no entering them in comparative tastings!




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Nick

but the British and the Japanese own some major (and some of the bests) wine-estates in & around Bordeaux France.

arturo: en Mexico vamos a beber "Tequila Reserva de Jose Cuervo" y "Tequila Suza Commemorativo", les dos con "Sangrita" en los restaurantes: "Cafe de Tacuba", "San Angel Inn" y "Hacienda de los Morales".

The same family that owns the San Angel Inn in Mexico City, operates it's namesake at the Mexico pavillion at EPCOT at Walt Disney World. Killer traditional margaritas! And that Mole Poblano!! To die for! It's perpetually nighttime there which makes it especially great for lunch. Live maharichis! Ole!

si, lic. rudy. arturo gled yu bin ther an lik it. arturo now kno yu vry seesined afixinado. arturo lik wine, two.