I searched and did not find a thread on this topic.
I travel a lot and have a fun time trying wines I would never order.
On a Delta JFK to SFO flight…
I started with a white Rioja that was putrid!
I switched to a 2019 Jordan Alexander Valley Cab - I have not had a Jordan in many, many years and really don’t drink much California Cab. It turns out to be a very nice wine. Not my style overall but more than drinkable. 13.8% abv balanced, not sweet, no over-the-top oak, in the end very nice . Tastes like California cab as it should. It was fun to try.
I have noticed that Delta has recently improved their wine program.
Best was when I was upgraded to 1st class on Air France. All the wines were excellent, but the Sauternes was 1990 d’Yquem. I was the only person awake in 1st class. I drained the bottle.
One of the best wine experiences I have had on a plane was my first trip to Austria on Austrian airlines! Only time I have ever been on plane with a Gruner and Riesling wine list!
In recent travel in sardine-class on Air Canada, Pruno felt like an appropriate pairing, given how close I was to shanking my space-encroaching neighbor.
I used to fly Biz class, now usually Premium Economy. I’m a 1M United Premier Exec, but when going to France I fly Air France for the food and wine (nonstop from Boston). I look for an opening to tell the stews that I import French wine to the U.S., hoping for wine upgrades, which I often get.
Funniest relatively recent event (~2 years):
Premium Economy is more room, but you’re getting economy wines.
On these flights, my usual procedure is to pound Champagne, then sleep.
My Economy Champagne was Devaux. I know and like the producer, this was surprisingly good.
They upgraded me to Charles Heidsieck.
I switched back, the Devaux was much better. I looked closely at the label and it wasn’t the basic Devaux, it was the ‘Couer des Bar’. If you haven’t had it, my condolences.
Emirates first is pouring Dom P2, currently 2006. They also had 09 Yquem, and some decent reds, I think they had a leoville Barton the last time I flew.
United has also improved their wine program on international flights recently. The champagne was always okay but the still wines seemed to get worse and worse. My last flight, I had a 2019 Guigal CdP, which isn’t really my style but it was fine.
Not sure how it is now, but I flew Mint to London the first year they started it, and I thought the food was very good. The drinks weren’t great, though.
Ok, I’ll bite. Lufthansa First Class last week. I tasted through everything but the Chilean wine.
The 11’ Beerenauslese was very good, had two glasses.
The GG I also had two glasses of.
Had 2 glasses of the 19 Pavie Macquin
The Grand Siècle champagne was outstanding.
I really liked the 21’ Cigalus Gerard Bertrand.
2014 Hess was firing.
The wine list was pretty awesome. Much better than anything I’ve ever seen. I did not take pics of the wines in the First Class Terminal before the flight.
BTW, forget the actual flight. The best wines are in the Emirates premium lounges in Dubai. Last time I had a business trip there the business class lounge was pouring Krug, Leoville Las Cases, and Jadon’s Clos St. Jacques. That’s just what I tried. There was a lot more excellent stuff.
UA Polaris has been improving their wine selection significantly recently. From what I can tell, they have the best selection for US carriers on international J.
Don’t have the budget for First Class, or an employer putting me on them, but;
I just love that you just can’t stop the French(Air France) from living their fullest, and therefore always pouring bubbles at their meal service in Economy. Love it.
Polaris lounge is currently pouring laurent perrier NV, shifted from Lanson black label earlier this year. Still wines in the lounge are pretty unmemorable.
Laurent Perrier NV on board UA Polaris as well, was Heidsieck blue top late last year.
Whites are meh, reds are decent, best pours recently have been 2017/2018 St Jean Cinq Cepages, 2019 Freemark Abbey, 2019 Guigal CDP.
Dessert wine has been 2015 Taylor Fladgate LBV for a year plus.
I was shocked to see the JAL First Class Lounge at Haneda had no champagne at all. Just a UK sparkler.
The problem with the Salon on JAL F is they only load one bottle, so if the cabin is full, you won’t get much. Same with ANA F, which was pouring Billecart Nicholas Francois last Dec. Only one bottle. And it was corked.
