In a move that has surprised many in the Australian wine community but which has been broadly hailed as “visionary” Qantas has done away with its long standing wine panels in favour of a new arrangement with Neil Perry’s Rockpool Group.
Under the new deal, announced this week in Sydney, a “Sommeliers and Mixologists” group made up entirely of the Rockpool Group’s senior wine and bar staff, will conduct the regular tastings and decision making about which wines will make the cut on First and Business Class wine lists and in the First Class lounges.
The three person Qantas Wine Selection Panel – of which WA Wine maker Vanya Cullen was a long serving member – have done a “marvellous job” according to Perry who adds responsibility for wine selection and buying to his already close food and food delivery links with Qantas.
Although there’s been some backlash at the decision (mostly protesting the perceived hegemony of the Rockpool Group, the demise of the wine maker panels and the concern that small winemakers will now not get a look in) the wine selection process will be far more reaching and far more in tune with the Qantas food program which has been looked after by Rockpool Group for nearly two decades.
The new team, The Qantas Rockpool Sommeliers will blind taste, review and select from 1,200 Australian wines and Champagnes over four days each year and provide tasting notes for the International First and Domestic Business cabins. They also provide recommendations for wine in the lounges and for the first time, Rockpool mixologists will create monthly cocktails.
The Rockpool wine team will feature16 highly experienced sommeliers and mixologists. Among the group is Head of Sommeliers Australia, David Lawler and one of only two Master Sommeliers in Australia, Sebastian Crowther, as well as Head Bartenders of Rockpool restaurants around the country.
Rockpool boss Neil Perry said his team’s expertise in wine and mixology will offer the very best restaurant experience in the sky to Qantas passengers.
“Rockpool has worked with Qantas for over 18 years to design menus and we are thrilled to be working more closely to select beverages for the airline. We are committed to continue providing the finest Champagnes and the boldest wines from across Australia and deliver a restaurant experience on the ground and in the air,” said Mr Perry.
“The Rockpool Group has some of the most awarded and industry recognised sommeliers and mixologists in the country, and they work with customers dining in the restaurant every day, so they will be able to offer valuable insight into customer preferences and wine trends.”
Perry says training will be a big thing. “Rockpool Sommeliers will also be part of the Qantas Advanced Sommelier in the Sky training program for cabin crew. More than 150 cabin crew are currently trained as on-board sommeliers and more will be joining this elite group in 2015.”
Although presumably not their intent, the amalgamation of Qantas’s $15 million p/a wine purchases and the Rockpool Group’s annual $8 million wine buy, makes Qantas/Rockpool the third largest wine buyer in the country after major supermarkets, Woolworths and Coles.
The Qantas Rockpool Sommeliers will hold its first Qantas wine tasting in July.
