The wine was dark, alluring and perfectly complex — incredibly good, the judges said — and it won All Nippon Airways the gold medal for the best red served in first class.
The latest Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky awards are out and the coveted gold for Best Overall Cellar went to Malaysia Airlines, which also scored the Gold for the Best Business Class Cellar.
Qatar and Air New Zealand jointly took silver in the business class category with Aer Lingus taking Bronze.
Qantas beat Cathay Pacific and All Nippon airways to take gold for the Best First Class Cellar.
READ: Air New Zealand unveils revolutionary economy sleep pods.
Thirty-five airlines entered the 2019 competition with a panel of internationally-renowned judges blind tasting more than 250 bottles in London in November to find the winners.
The competition is open to airlines that serve wine in business or first class on mid-or long-haul routes.
The gold-medal ANA First Class red — a Domaine David Duband, Nuit-Saint-Georges Les Pruliers 1er cru 2017 from Burgundy — scored 98 out of the possible 100 points.
Qantas won the best first-class white with a Shaw and Smith Lenswood Vineyard Chardonnay 2017 from the Adelaide Hills.
The best business class red went to Air New Zealand with the Brennan B2, 2016, Queenstown from Central Otago
An Australian white served by ANA, Stella Bella Skuttlebutt Sauvignon Semillon 2018 from Margaret River, won the best business class white.
The newly introduced Rose category saw American Airlines take gold in first class with a Château Gassier Le Pas du Moine Côtes de Provence Rosé 2018 from Sante-Victoire.
Air New Zealand picked up the business class gold for its Two Rivers Isle of Beauty Rosé 2018 from Marlborough.
Bubbly lovers should book a seat on Cathay Dragon to sample its gold medal Champagne Rare Millesimé 2002, Piper-Heidsieck.
Malaysia Airlines took out the business top spot with a Champagne Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2007.
Emirates proved the fortified wine champions of the world by taking gold in the first-class section with a South African Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2013 and in business with Dow’s Colheita Port 1992, Douro Valley from Portugal.
When it came to the best-presented wine list, Singapore Airlines took out both the first class and business class awards, while oneworld was judged to be the best airline alliance.
See the full list of wines HERE.
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