The 2016 BA Champagne & Wine thread
Sep 17, 2016, 2:11 pm
#286
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There are almost always South African wines on the South African flights. A few months ago, we were surprised to see Chocolate Block in CW. It was actually a talking point both on our flight out and our flight back, amongst passengers and cabin crew alike.
Sep 17, 2016, 3:05 pm
#287
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 319
I shall look forward to my next trip to South Africa
Sep 18, 2016, 11:10 pm
#288
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Advance apologies if recently posted here or on another wine thread.
The BA wine list included with the CW menu on BA155 LHR-CAI last night stated - 'As a global airline British Airways prides itself on finding interesting and attractive wines from all corners of the world. We aim to offer a choice of wines that give a balance of styles, grape varieties and countries ...'
So much for 'all corners of the world' and 'balance of ... countries'. Of the five wines on the wine list three (i.e. 60%) were from one country - Spain.
Whatever happened to the likes of Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, USA, etc?
The BA wine list included with the CW menu on BA155 LHR-CAI last night stated - 'As a global airline British Airways prides itself on finding interesting and attractive wines from all corners of the world. We aim to offer a choice of wines that give a balance of styles, grape varieties and countries ...'
So much for 'all corners of the world' and 'balance of ... countries'. Of the five wines on the wine list three (i.e. 60%) were from one country - Spain.
Whatever happened to the likes of Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, USA, etc?
Sep 18, 2016, 11:53 pm
#289
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I agree with Phil the Flyer that 3 Spanish wines out of 5 choices is definitely odd.
Sep 19, 2016, 4:17 am
#290
Join Date: May 2006
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Indeed, the Rosé is MUCH better than the Castelnau Rosé. The Mrs. liked the Henriot quite a bit, but after a sniff of the Castlenau, turned it away. Of course, I'm comparing an on the ground Henriot in a proper glass to the Castelnau in CW.
BTW, I noticed that the champagnes had changed in F (at least SEA-LHR). There was a vintage Duval-LeRoy, and the Rosé was a Jaquart IIRC.
BTW, I noticed that the champagnes had changed in F (at least SEA-LHR). There was a vintage Duval-LeRoy, and the Rosé was a Jaquart IIRC.
Sep 19, 2016, 8:34 am
#291
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Yes and Spain has a historically large population of Arabs. Some of these choices are obvious and some aren't.
Sep 19, 2016, 10:42 am
#292
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Helvetia
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Sep 19, 2016, 10:54 am
#293
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Sep 23, 2016, 12:54 pm
#294
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: London
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It's been some time since I've been in T5 GF in the evening and pleasantly surprised with the wines. Best of the whites is the 2012 Maison Dampt Valmour, Chablis Grand Cru and the reds is the 2009 Chateau Fonplegade Grand Cru Classe.
Oct 5, 2016, 12:13 pm
#295
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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In response to a query in the CCR menu thread, this is the current wine offering. However the CCR wine list changes very regularly, so you cannot take this line up for granted. (No technical questions please, this is way outside my field of expertise!).
Oct 14, 2016, 2:39 am
#296
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
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Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
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not wine, but you lot will know
[I'm one who's actually done the whole 'abandoning BA' thing, but flying next week on an avios booking.]
Do they still have takeaway coffee cups in the GC lounges?
thx
Do they still have takeaway coffee cups in the GC lounges?
thx
Oct 14, 2016, 2:59 am
#297
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,015
I'd love to know the method behind selecting the wines in the CCR and indeed the other T5 lounges.
Is it case (no pun intended) of the staff randomly picking bottles from the cellar each day and taking them through to the lounges. Or is there the equivalent of a sommelier who lists what wines should go where/when and who keeps an eye on things?
Taking cws's photo above of a recent CCR selection, there are 3 French Burgundies out of the 4 whites. Now that shouldn't be anything to complain about, but I'd have thought BA would be keen to provide a bit of diversity and choice especially in their No.1 lounge in the network.
I'm not having a moan - I'd happily plough through all the wines pictured above - but I'm interested to hear whether there is any method to what they put in front of customers.
Is it case (no pun intended) of the staff randomly picking bottles from the cellar each day and taking them through to the lounges. Or is there the equivalent of a sommelier who lists what wines should go where/when and who keeps an eye on things?
Taking cws's photo above of a recent CCR selection, there are 3 French Burgundies out of the 4 whites. Now that shouldn't be anything to complain about, but I'd have thought BA would be keen to provide a bit of diversity and choice especially in their No.1 lounge in the network.
I'm not having a moan - I'd happily plough through all the wines pictured above - but I'm interested to hear whether there is any method to what they put in front of customers.
Oct 14, 2016, 5:05 am
#298
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Singapore
Programs: BA Gold. KrisFlyer Gold
Posts: 732
I'd love to know the method behind selecting the wines in the CCR and indeed the other T5 lounges.
Is it case (no pun intended) of the staff randomly picking bottles from the cellar each day and taking them through to the lounges. Or is there the equivalent of a sommelier who lists what wines should go where/when and who keeps an eye on things?
Taking cws's photo above of a recent CCR selection, there are 3 French Burgundies out of the 4 whites. Now that shouldn't be anything to complain about, but I'd have thought BA would be keen to provide a bit of diversity and choice especially in their No.1 lounge in the network.
I'm not having a moan - I'd happily plough through all the wines pictured above - but I'm interested to hear whether there is any method to what they put in front of customers.
Is it case (no pun intended) of the staff randomly picking bottles from the cellar each day and taking them through to the lounges. Or is there the equivalent of a sommelier who lists what wines should go where/when and who keeps an eye on things?
Taking cws's photo above of a recent CCR selection, there are 3 French Burgundies out of the 4 whites. Now that shouldn't be anything to complain about, but I'd have thought BA would be keen to provide a bit of diversity and choice especially in their No.1 lounge in the network.
I'm not having a moan - I'd happily plough through all the wines pictured above - but I'm interested to hear whether there is any method to what they put in front of customers.
I find this very intriguing too. My sense is that there are different bottles set aside for the CCR, GF and GC, but that's it a total free for all when it comes to selecting within these categories. As you say, it leads to some bizarre choices. It's not uncommon, certainly in GF, to see 3 bottles of the same grape, or even of the same region. Less common in the CCR, where there looks to be a greater degree of oversight.
I've also noticed that the GF wine selection can occasionally be superior to that on offer in the CCR - as it was on Wednesday when GF was offering 3 white burgundies (the usual Premier Cru Chablis, the same Meurseault as was being poured in the CCR, and an outrageously good Chassagne-Montrachet).
That excellent BA wine selection video that was posted on here not so long back suggested that the GF wines were bin end selections from the First cabin. That certainly seems to be the case. Not sure if the CCR supply is sourced otherwise.
Oct 14, 2016, 5:21 pm
#299
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: On the underground
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Posts: 462
Do you think BA lay down some wines? Would they buy a huge supply early and leave them a few years?
Oct 14, 2016, 6:00 pm
#300
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Here he is talking about how he chooses which wines go in the lounges. Comments about "bin ends" should probably be read with the usual British irony.