The FINANCIAL -- Judges at a
leading international wine-tasting competition have raised their
glasses to the oneworld alliance and many of its member airlines once
again.
According to the oneworld, they have for the third year running selected oneworld as the Best Alliance for the wines served in-flight by its member airlines in the latest Cellars in the Sky Awards, run by Business Traveller magazine, in association with the International Wine Challenge.
oneworld's members flew high in the Cellars in the Sky airline award categories, taking first prizes in 10 of the 15 categories, along with 13 runners-up placings. Airlines in the Star alliance achieved just two first prizes and five runners-up placings, while SkyTeam members achieved two first positions and two runners-up.
It is the 27th year that Cellars in the Sky Awards have been presented. A panel of five leading experts blind-tasted hundreds of wines served on longhaul flights by a 32 airlines from around the world.
oneworld's Australian partner Qantas collected all the main prizes on offer for airlines - Best Business Class Cellar, Best First Class Cellar, Most Consistent Wines and Best Wine List Presentation.
It also took the awards for Best Business Class Red, for its Australian Mount Langi Ghiran Cliff Edge Shiraz 2008 and Best First Class Sparkling (Champagne Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 1999. Qantas received five second placings as well - for Business Class White, Business Class Sparkling, Business Class Fortified and Sweet, First Class White and First Class Fortified and Sweet.
Cathay Pacific took two top honours - as the Most Improved Business Class Cellar and for First Class Fortified and Sweet, for its Ramos Pinto Quinta de Ervamoira 10-year-old Tawny Port. It also took a second placing for First Class Sparkling and a third placing for overall Consistency of Wines.
LAN was awarded first prize for its Business Class Sparkling, for its Champagne Louis Roederer Brut Premier.
British Airways took a second and third placing for First Class Red and a third place for First Class Fortified and Sweet.
Member elect Malaysia Airlines took a third place for Business Class White, and third placings for First Class White and First Class Sparkling.
The awards were presented last night by television wine presenter and Co-Chairman of the International Wine Challenge Charles Metcalfe at a ceremony in London.
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