Cheers to the Skies: Discover the Latest Upgrades in Airline Wine Lists

Passenger interest in sparkling wine and Champagne is on the rise, reflecting a growing trend in the beverage industry, as airlines adapt to various consumer preferences such as eco-consciousness and region-specific drink selections.

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Earlier this month, United Airlines announced the introduction of their latest wine selections from Maker Wine and Just Enough Wines.

These premium canned wines are now offered on all domestic flights across every cabin class, featuring a choice of four distinct varietals. Among the highlights are Just Enough Wines’ new rosé sourced from California’s Central Coast and Maker Wine’s exclusive brut bubbles available only through United.

“Our updated economy wine list is providing travelers with greater variety and improved quality,” stated Aaron McMillan, United’s managing director of hospitality programs. As reported by United, in 2024 alone, the airline has already served over 20 million glasses of wine across its network – approximately 1.5 times more than the servings of beer or spirits. McMillan attributed the “overwhelmingly positive response” to the introduction of rosé in United Polaris business class and the “ongoing fanfare for sparkling options” as catalysts for the new selections.

United Airlines now features four types of canned wines available across its cabins.

The airline’s expansion into bubbly highlights the persistent appetite for sparkling wine at cruising altitude, a preference that has been addressed by other airlines over the past year.

This month, Singapore Airlines debuted its latest dining menu, which complements the remarkable Champagne updates introduced earlier this year. In May, Singapore Airlines unveiled the Bollinger 2015 vintage La Grande Année Brut for its first class and suites cabins. This addition joined a rotation of four other Champagnes available to first class and suites passengers, a collection the airline calls “A Celebration of Champagne.”

In 2023, Singapore Airlines introduced an experience aimed at providing its premium customers with a selection of both grower and artisanal Champagnes. Among the featured labels are the prestigious Krug Grande Cuvées and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne.

In May, Emirates announced that first-class passengers on flights between Dubai and the UK or the Americas would enjoy complimentary Dom Pérignon Rosé 2008, served exclusively onboard their flights. Additionally, premium economy travelers were treated to another exclusive offering from Domaine Chandon 2017.

Also in May, Air France appointed renowned sommelier Xavier Thuizat, who is the head sommelier at Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel, to curate its wine and spirits selections across all cabins and lounges in its Paris airports. The airline serves over a million bottles of Champagne to its customers each year, making Champagne choices a vital component of Thuizat’s upcoming selections, set to be unveiled in spring 2025.

Cathay Pacific, known for offering Grand Cru Champagnes like Krug Vintage Champagne 2004 in their first-class cabin, expanded its premium list in March by adding still Chinese wines. This limited-time selection was part of their Discovery Series and included four wines from notable Chinese wineries: Grace Vineyards, Silver Heights, Xige Estate, and Domaine de Long Dai.

Cathay Pacific’s Discovery Series showcases a notable trend in the airline beverage industry, where airlines are focusing on educating travelers about their destinations while in-flight, supporting minority-owned brands, and promoting conscious consumerism.

This year, Alaska Air launched its inaugural co-branded beer in collaboration with the Seattle-based Fremont Brewing; the IPA is available for purchase in the main cabin and in select lounges.

“The ‘Cloud Cruiser’ represents a partnership between two cherished and well-established brands of the Pacific Northwest, culminating in a top-quality beverage that enhances our premium offerings,” stated Todd Traynor-Corey, managing director of guest products at Alaska Airlines.

In the previous year, Delta revamped its wine selections, introducing 17 new labels in stages, the latest additions featuring a Malbec from the female-led winery Susana Balbo and a Chardonnay from the Black-owned House of Brown released in July.

In a move towards greater sustainability, United has recently teamed up with Maker and Just Enough Wines, making a significant shift from traditional miniature plastic wine bottles to eco-friendly canned wines. This change is projected to eliminate approximately 4.7 million single-use plastic bottles annually, as reported by United. Additionally, both wine selections are crafted from grapes sourced from sustainability-certified vineyards.

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About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!