Cathay Pacific Wins For Red Wine

Cathay Pacific Wins Best In Business Class Award For New Zealand Red Wine

Cathay Pacific’s flair for selecting wines that tantalise the taste buds whilst onboard has once again been celebrated in the prestigious Cellars in the Sky Awards, which are organised annually by UK based Business Traveller magazine.

The awards, which recognise the best Business and First Class wines served by airlines worldwide, were presented in London yesterday (February 9, 2010).
For the second year running, the airline picked up the award for Best Red Wine in Business Class, this year for its choice of Spy Valley Pinot Noir Marlborough 2007. The winning New Zealand Pinot Noir, aged in French oak barrels, is medium bodied and has a fruit-driven style with soft tannins and a spicy oak flavour.

Cathay Pacific’s New Zealand wine consultant and prominent New Zealand wine writer, Vic Williams, was responsible for recommending the wine to the airline.

Williams described the wine as “screaming of ripe New World fruit, that contains a dash of Old World earthiness.”

He went on to say that the win demonstrated that New Zealand Pinot Noir was “right up there with the best in the world.”

Charles Grossrieder, Cathay Pacific’s Manager for Catering Services said the airline was delighted to receive the award, which he said, “Acknowledges the skill and dedication of our wine experts. We aim to provide passengers with a superior travel experience which includes offering the chance to sample some of the world’s finest wines and matching these perfectly with the unique flavours of our award-winning in flight cuisine. “

In addition to winning the Best Red Wine in Business Class award, Cathay Pacific was also awarded the Best Business Class Cellar award. Cathay Pacific’s haul helped Oneworld come out on top in the Best Alliance category.

At 37,000 feet the dryer air conditions in the cabin alter taste sensation and these very specific set of in flight air conditions impact on the taste of wine. Cathay Pacific’s excellence in choosing the best wines comes from its in depth knowledge and understanding of this and every care is taken to select wines with a big fruit flavour, mild tannins and a balanced acidity.

Cathay Pacific’s wines are selected from a range of wine-producing countries including, France, Italy, South Africa, Australia, the United States, New Zealand, Portugal, Argentina and Chile. The airline offers a selection of champagne, red, white and dessert wines in First and Business class.

ENDS

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