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News story: Wine pro stocks bottles for frequent fliers

 
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Old Dec 17, 2005, 1:29 am
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News story: Wine pro stocks bottles for frequent fliers

He searches the world to stock American's cellars in the sky

In coach class, wine comes in plastics cups, poured from little screw-top bottles.

But for those holding premium tickets on American Airlines, in-flight wine service is intended to inspire.

The Fort Worth-based carrier maintains 15 different wine lists for passengers in first and business class, specially selected for various routes. At any given time, "we have more than 60 wines in service and another 60 queued," said Dr. Richard Vine, who has spent the last 20 years as American's wine consultant.

full article in Dallas Morning News
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Old Dec 17, 2005, 1:45 am
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What a great story! Even though I only drink my club soda, I've always thought it was hilarious that they had a wine expert named Dr. Vine. I remember thinking is he for real or what??

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Old Dec 17, 2005, 5:10 am
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That's a fun story.

(Welcome back, CharlesMD )
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Old Dec 17, 2005, 8:21 am
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Thanks for the link. Good read!

Now if they'd only do something about the Scotch whisky situation. Having nothing but Glenlivet is the single-malt equivalent of a wine list that has nothing on it but two-buck Chuck. Better than nothing, but they need a Dr. Barley to go along with their Dr. Vine!
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Old Dec 17, 2005, 3:31 pm
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Perhaps the best quote from the article:

If you're onboard American in business or first, you're going to get a very drinkable wine. That's not true for some of the other domestic carriers.
- Anthony Dias Blue, author of Anthony Dias Blue's Pocket Guide to Wine 2006 and Singapore Airlines' wine buyer for the last 16 years.
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Old Dec 17, 2005, 4:12 pm
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Rather Inopportune Time For Article....

It seems very odd that they choose this time to publish this article about wines on AA.......

Just 2 months ago AA did away with the Perrier-Jouet Cuvee Belle Epoque that's served in F (a decent, but not overly impressive selection, IMO, compared to CX's Krug Grand Cuvee) and quietly substituted 2-3 notches below quality selection of Pommery NV......

AA used to have one of the best wine lists in J as they use the same wines in F for J, but now sadly, it can only be said AA uses the same selections in J for F!

IMO, UA officially has better wine selections in F than AA on international routes.
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Old Dec 17, 2005, 4:16 pm
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FTCLU - still laughing my a*s off
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Old Dec 17, 2005, 11:00 pm
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Oye - GlenMorangie!

Originally Posted by Efrem
Thanks for the link. Good read!

Now if they'd only do something about the Scotch whisky situation. Having nothing but Glenlivet is the single-malt equivalent of a wine list that has nothing on it but two-buck Chuck. Better than nothing, but they need a Dr. Barley to go along with their Dr. Vine!

Yep - gotta agree there; big Glen Morangie fan here; got "turned on" to it on my 32nd birthday (at least a decade ago) :-), at a pub in Windsor, UK - and never went back to Chivas Regal.

Sad to say - I know of few airlines (at least one world carriers), that have carried GM on my flights.

(time for a GM and stogie now too!)
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Old Dec 18, 2005, 3:06 am
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Originally Posted by tismfu
Perhaps the best quote from the article:

If you're onboard American in business or first, you're going to get a very drinkable wine. That's not true for some of the other domestic carriers.
He forgot the part about it being served in a small shot-glass at 38 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Old Dec 18, 2005, 7:23 pm
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Originally Posted by jkc22
It seems very odd that they choose this time to publish this article about wines on AA.......

Just 2 months ago AA did away with the Perrier-Jouet Cuvee Belle Epoque that's served in........
.
Wha, wha, wha?? The "fleur" as Perrier-Jouet Belle is sometimes referred to, was a very welcome bottle whenever I flew internationally. Mrs. Pizza and I killed two bottles on the way to London last time. Most of the other wines are either shrek or very average. Very bAAd move.
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