Qatar Airways was among the biggest winners at an international awards ceremony celebrating the best airline carriers for their outstanding onboard wine offerings.
The Cellars in the Sky Awards, which has been running since 1985, highlights the best business and first class wines served by airlines on their flights. Business Traveller launched the awards in recognition of the growing demand from customers for a unique gastronomic experience at 40,000 feet.
At the recent 2024 awards ceremony, announced at ME London, Qantas and Qatar Airways won Gold medals in four categories.
Qatar Airways won Gold in the Business Class Best-Presented Wine List, First Class White, First Class Wine Cellar and Overall Wine Cellar categories.
Qatar Airways also won silver in: Best First Class Red Wine, Best-Presented First Class Wine List, and Best Business Class White Wine. The carrier also won Bronze for the First Class Champagne.
The Gold medal for Best First Class White highlighted the excellence of Qatar Airways’ Penfolds Reserve Bin 20A Chardonnay, 2020 from Adelaide Hills, Australia, offered in First Class since December 2024.
The Silver medals recognise the Elderton Command Shiraz, 2020 from the Barossa Valley, Australia, offered on the First Class menu and also the Gerard Bertrand Aigle Royal Chardonnay, 2020, from Limoux, Languedoc, France on the menu in Business Class.
Qatar Airways senior vice president of product development, Xia Cai, commented: “Qatar Airways is thrilled to have received this respected recognition by the judges. We are proud to have won eight accolades, including Best Overall Cellar, acknowledging our continued efforts in providing the very best onboard experience to our passengers.
“We know that travellers are increasingly looking to enjoy their favourite food and wine pairings, and possibly discover new, unique tastes, even at 40,000 feet. Qatar Airways takes great pride in constantly learning and evolving to cater to customer demand.”
In late 2024, Qatar Airways hired Anne Krebiehl to curate its wine offering and sourcing strategy, which includes working with wineries to find unique blends for the airline.
The Australian flag carrier, Qantas, triumphed in the Business Class White, Business Class Fortified / Dessert Wine, Business Class Wine Cellar and Best First Class Red categories.
Meanwhile, Korean Air won two Gold medals for Business Class Sparkling and Business Class Red for the Dandelion Vineyards Lionheart of the Barossa Shiraz, 2021, Barossa, South Australia.
Virgin Atlantic and British Airways triumphed in the categories for Business Class Rosé and First Class Rosé respectively.
Other Gold medal winners included Singapore Airlines (First Class Sparkling), Cathay Pacific (First Class Fortified / Dessert Wine), Japan Airlines (First Class Best-presented Wine List) and oneworld (Best Alliance).
A panel of expert judges convened at Haberdashers’ Hall in Smithfield, London, to select the best bottles served by airlines in business and first class in 2024. The judges were wine-maker John Worontschak, Masters of Wine Sam Caporn and Peter McCombie, and head judge Charles Metcalfe, founder of the International Wine Challenge.
The competition is open to any carrier that serves wine in business or first class on mid- or long-haul routes. Each airline is invited to enter two reds, two whites, a rosé, a sparkling, and a fortified or dessert wine from both cabins.
They can compete in as many categories as they like, but to be eligible for the Best Overall Cellar award, they must enter at least one red, white and sparkling. For 2024, a total of 32 airlines entered, which is the most since the pandemic.
WINNING CELLARS
Business Class Cellar
Gold – Qantas
Silver – Korean Air
Bronze (joint) – Aer Lingus, Virgin Atlantic
First Class Cellar
Gold – Qatar Airways
Silver – Qantas
Bronze – Singapore Airlines
Overall Class Cellar
Gold – Qatar Airways
Silver – Qantas
Bronze (joint) – Air France, Singapore Airlines
WINNING WINE LIST
Business Class Best-Presented Wine List
Gold – Qatar Airways
Silver – Lufthansa
Bronze – Air Canada
First Class Best-Presented Wine List
Gold – Japan Airlines
Silver – Qatar Airways
Bronze – Thai Airways
WINNING ALLIANCE
Gold – oneworld
Andy Probert is an independent journalist who writes about global travel news, airlines, airports, and business. His work has appeared globally on the BBC, and in many national newspapers and magazines.
