The EK Wine Thread
#226




Join Date: May 2000
Location: HFA
Posts: 1,801
I had the Margaux on DXB-SIN last week. It's a decent wine
I asked the flight attendant to open it and pour to a decanter, which she did willingly. She then brought the decanter about an hour later, and from that minute on did't stop asking if I wanted more
I asked the flight attendant to open it and pour to a decanter, which she did willingly. She then brought the decanter about an hour later, and from that minute on did't stop asking if I wanted more
#227
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 17
Chateau Margaux in Lounge
1998 Chateau Margaux still in the A Concourse FCL as of 18 July. I asked the servers in the Dining Area what red wines were available and they pulled out 3 or 4 reds, including the Margaux,
#228


Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: London
Posts: 860
It looks like theyve already run out of some of the top bottles of the Vintage Collection (...or have run out of money). Lists are being amended on a number of routes, for example the Cheval Blanc has now been pulled from the UK/EI routes (which were showing it up until a few days ago).
Other downgrades are also evident. For example, on SA routes the Hartenberg Gravel Hill shiraz has now been swapped with The Stork, which in my view is a lesser wine. Also, the phenomenal Chateau dYquem has been pulled from the Asian routes that used to feature it.
Still an excellent wine selection overall, but some of these gems will be missed and its a little disappointing to see these last second downgrades (which happened in my case as late as 48 hours before he flight). Well, I guess this disappointment is what happens when you spoil your passengers and then pull the goodies!
Other downgrades are also evident. For example, on SA routes the Hartenberg Gravel Hill shiraz has now been swapped with The Stork, which in my view is a lesser wine. Also, the phenomenal Chateau dYquem has been pulled from the Asian routes that used to feature it.
Still an excellent wine selection overall, but some of these gems will be missed and its a little disappointing to see these last second downgrades (which happened in my case as late as 48 hours before he flight). Well, I guess this disappointment is what happens when you spoil your passengers and then pull the goodies!
#229


Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,933
It looks like theyve already run out of some of the top bottles of the Vintage Collection (...or have run out of money). Lists are being amended on a number of routes, for example the Cheval Blanc has now been pulled from the UK/EI routes (which were showing it up until a few days ago).
Other downgrades are also evident. For example, on SA routes the Hartenberg Gravel Hill shiraz has now been swapped with The Stork, which in my view is a lesser wine. Also, the phenomenal Chateau dYquem has been pulled from the Asian routes that used to feature it.
Still an excellent wine selection overall, but some of these gems will be missed and its a little disappointing to see these last second downgrades (which happened in my case as late as 48 hours before he flight). Well, I guess this disappointment is what happens when you spoil your passengers and then pull the goodies!
Other downgrades are also evident. For example, on SA routes the Hartenberg Gravel Hill shiraz has now been swapped with The Stork, which in my view is a lesser wine. Also, the phenomenal Chateau dYquem has been pulled from the Asian routes that used to feature it.
Still an excellent wine selection overall, but some of these gems will be missed and its a little disappointing to see these last second downgrades (which happened in my case as late as 48 hours before he flight). Well, I guess this disappointment is what happens when you spoil your passengers and then pull the goodies!
#230


Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: London
Posts: 860
Not my point. It had never happened to me to see wines downgraded just 3 or 4 days prior to departure (ie: better wines published online and then downgraded just before departure). And on several flights. I guess I might be one of the few noticing, but wine is my passion so I keep an eye.
And this is not just limited to what they called the vintage collection. I flagged the Hartenberg ones, but also the Chateau dYquem and have just had the Vega Sicilia disappear on the SA runs (no notice, it showed online but not featured in the onboard wine list and not loaded).
Hopefully just a coincidence, but the online wine lists used to be consistent at T-7 and this no longer seems to be the case.
And this is not just limited to what they called the vintage collection. I flagged the Hartenberg ones, but also the Chateau dYquem and have just had the Vega Sicilia disappear on the SA runs (no notice, it showed online but not featured in the onboard wine list and not loaded).
Hopefully just a coincidence, but the online wine lists used to be consistent at T-7 and this no longer seems to be the case.
#231




Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,791
#232


Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: London
Posts: 860
As stated in my prior post the wine selection is still phenomenal overall. But as this thread is about wine on EK, I thought it was worth pointing out that there is a recent unusual series of last minute changes, which in my experience hadnt happened before. Online lists have always been extremely accurate in my experience at the T-14 and T-7 mark. As a datapoint, I may have had one odd change from that point in time on probably a couple of sectors in 2 years. Whereas in the last 8 sectors over about 3 weeks I counted several changes. It makes it a little pointless to publish very specific wine lists for each flight, but as said it might be an odd occurrence and perhaps they are just going through a series of short term changes.
#233


Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,933
They produce one list a month - thats it. Some wine may not be available onboard if it runs out which IME happened once with penfolds grange. They do however love running out of Dom Prignon.
#234


Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: London
Posts: 860
I have to say that in all my recent sectors Ive been able to enjoy a free-flow amount of Dom P2 (bar the flights where it was not featured from the onset) which is simply a phenomenal drop for an airline to serve. So, kudos to EK for featuring it on their selection (on a surprisingly large amount of routes) AND for loading multiple bottles per flight.
#235


Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,933
I dont mean to disagree for the sake of it, but I saw the lists published online changing more frequently that once a month (which I kind of like, it keeps me interested and as a past-time I like to log onto the website and check). But maybe I have been checking in between months. In any case, I love the fact that the airline is publishing the wine lists, even with the swaps!
I have to say that in all my recent sectors Ive been able to enjoy a free-flow amount of Dom P2 (bar the flights where it was not featured from the onset) which is simply a phenomenal drop for an airline to serve. So, kudos to EK for featuring it on their selection (on a surprisingly large amount of routes) AND for loading multiple bottles per flight.
#236




Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Dubai
Programs: EK Gold
Posts: 213
#239
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,068
#240


Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: EK Gold, AF Plat
Posts: 374
I was looking up the wine list for my F flight from DXB-JFK later this month. The red wine listing was a bit overwhelming. Nothing looked even close to the Margaux they had earlier this year or even any of the reds from last year. The wines seem much better to LAX and SFO. How accurate are the wine lists on EK's website?

