No Champagne on 787?
Apr 19, 2015, 2:15 am
#1
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No Champagne on 787?
I just watched a video trip report on youtube and the menu shown in the video actually said that champagne is not available on the 787.
Is this really the case?
Any reason why VS decided not to serve champagne on the 787?
Is this really the case?
Any reason why VS decided not to serve champagne on the 787?
Apr 19, 2015, 2:52 am
#2
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They swapped the Champagne for an English sparkling wine. Here's the advertising blurb on VS's site.
To accompany Lorraine’s amazing food and making a special appearance on board for the first time is Virgin Atlantic’s new sparkling wine from English winery Hambledon Vineyard. Proudly grown and produced in Hampshire, Meon Hill Grand Reserve has been specifically selected to compliment the cabin pressure and humidity of the 787 cabin and has been found to stay bubbly for longer. The new sparkling wine will be launched on Birthday Girl and will be available exclusively on the 787 aircraft.
Apr 19, 2015, 5:47 am
#4
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What trip report is this? Can you provide a link?
I've not seen anyone mention this in any of the v-flyer TRs relating to the 787 and I'm sure it would have been - they like their champers almost as much as FT BA posters!
I've not seen anyone mention this in any of the v-flyer TRs relating to the 787 and I'm sure it would have been - they like their champers almost as much as FT BA posters!
Apr 19, 2015, 6:55 am
#5
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It is true, allegedly it's a 'special' for the 787. Now I'm not knocking English sparkling wine, but the one onboard isn't champagne standard.
Apr 19, 2015, 2:53 pm
#7
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Do bear in mind that English sparkling wines are consistently beating French champagnes in blind tastings and are frequently more expensive.
Just because it's called Champagne doesn't mean it's good....
Just because it's called Champagne doesn't mean it's good....
Apr 20, 2015, 12:38 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 124
The Meonhill vineyard is situated on my father's farm, just south of Winchester. Whilst I wouldn't call it "proper lush" I can assure you that it's of at least as good quality as, say, Pol Roger NV. (the vineyard currently only produces NV).
The biggest issue with Champagne and other sparkling Methode traditionelle wines is the length of time they're on lees during the second fermentation. This is what gives them the autolytical taste (yeasty), and it's what most buyers look for. The requirement for Champagne is a minimum of 18 months on lees. I believe that the current Meonhill is the 2010/2011 blend (there was no harvest in 2012). so you're looking at 3/4 years on lees.
My father sold his 50% share because, at 80 he felt that he needed to concentrate on his other, more long term businesses. The purchaser was a local vineyard.
As for the champagne label, well I'm not sure that a vinery that makes say 2,500,000 bottles a year (Moet & Chandon), whilst producing consistency, will give you anything memorable.
May 14, 2015, 11:57 am
#10
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May 15, 2015, 4:14 am
#12
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