Qantas praised for 'best cellars in the sky'

Qantas has again been lauded for its on-board wine selection at the annual Cellars in the Sky Award ceremony, held February 3 in London.

The Australian flag-carrier, which took four awards last year, won a total of six at this year's airline wine tasting event, including Best First Class White, First Class Red and First Class Sparkling, as well as Best Business Class Cellar, Best First Class Cellar and Consistency of Wines Across Business and First Class.

Business Traveller's Cellars in the Sky competition has been running since 1985 to determine the highest quality fine wines available in Business and First Class on board the world's flights.

Qantas's parent alliance Oneworld won Best Airline Alliance for the second year running, adding to its other prestigious gong from Global Traveler's Wines on the Wing Awards.

Best Business Class Red went to Air New Zealand, while Best Business Class White was awarded to American Airlines and Best Business Class Sparkling was awarded to Qatar Airways.

Lufthansa was awarded as the airline with the Most Improved Business Class Cellar and All Nippon Airways won Most Improved First Class Cellar.

The jury, which was composed of British celebrity wine taster Charles Metcalfe and four other wine critics, judged entries from 36 airlines to choose the winners.

The Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky winners

Business Class White - American Airlines (Wegeler Bernkasteler Doktor Riesling 2007, Bernkastel, Mosel, Germany)
Business Class Red - Air New Zealand (Matariki Syrah 2007, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand)
Business Class Sparkling - Qatar Airways (Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle 1996, Champagne, France)
Business Class Fortified and Sweet - Qatar Airways and All Nippon Airways (Taylor's 20-Year-Old Tawny Port, Douro, Portugal)

First Class White - Qantas (Peter Lehmann Wigan Eden Valley Riesling 2004, Barossa, Australia)
First Class Red - Qantas (Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2006, Canberra, Australia)
First Class Sparkling - Qantas (Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1999, Champagne, France)
First Class Fortified - Qatar Airways (Domaine Weinbach Clos des Capucins Furstentum Grand Cru Vendanges Tardives Gewurztraminer 2005, Alsace, France)

Best Business Class Cellar
1. Qantas
2. Air New Zealand
3. Qatar Airways
4. Malaysia Airlines
5. American Airlines

Best First Class Cellar
1. Qantas
2. Qatar Airways
3. All Nippon Airways
4. Cathay Pacific
5. Thai Airways

Data from Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky Awards
Website: http://www.businesstraveller.com/