Aug. 1, 2014, Yardley, Pa. – Global Traveler, the only AAM-audited magazine for business and luxury travelers, is releasing the results of its 10th annual Wines on the Wing Airline Wine Competition.

The competition, held May 19, took place at The Westin New York Grand Central for the second year in a row. Twenty-four expert judges participated in the blind tasting of airlines’ white, red and sparkling wines. The judges hailed from a wide range of specialties, including sommeliers, wine shop owners and winemakers. In total, 29 airlines participated, providing 126 samples for tasting.

Airlines are required to submit five different wines — two red wines, two white wines and one sparkling wine/Champagne — to be eligible for the Best Overall International Business Class Wines on the Wing award or the Best Overall International First Class Wines on the Wing. This year, the overall winners were Brussels Airlines (for the third consecutive year) and Asiana Airlines, respectively.

In the white wine category, Best International Business Class White Wine was Domaine Thomas Le Chant du Merle Sancerre, 2012, submitted by Brussels Airlines. For first class, the winner was British Airways, with Domaine d’Ardhuy Corton-Charlemagne 2009, Grand Cru.

The best business-class Champagne was TAM Airlines’ Drappier Carte d’Or, NV. The best first-class Champagne was British Airways’ Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle, NV. This year, the Best Sparkling Wine International First or Business Class winner was EL AL Israel Airlines’ Yarden Blanc de Blancs, 2007.

When it came to red wine, Brussels Airlines reigned supreme in the business-class category with Château A’Aurilhac 2006, Bordeaux. For first class, the winner is Jet Airways, with its Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 2009, Italy.

For the sixth consecutive year, Global Traveler awarded the Best North American Wines on the Wing. North American airlines submitted first-class and business-class wine samples, depending on their domestic flight offerings.

American Airlines took top honors in Best North American Wines on the Wing. The airline was also recognized for its sparkling wine, Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Caneros Brut, NY (first class); its Black Birch Mountain Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (first class); its The Climber Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (business class); and its Cline Syrah 2010 (first class). Delta Air Lines won recognition for its business-class red wine, Arrowood Cabarnet Sauvignon 2009.

For the fourth year, Global Traveler awarded the Best Alliance Wines on the Wing. The participating airlines were divided by their airline alliance. The overall points for each airline were tallied and averaged to determine the alliance with the highest total. Congratulations to Star Alliance.

Competition director Eunice Fried spent months preparing for the blind tasting. Fried, an accomplished wine journalist and respected wine expert, resides in New York City.

Global Traveler is the only U.S.-based publication to conduct such a survey in the United
States.

The top airlines in each category are:

BEST INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS WINES ON THE WING

1. Brussels Airlines
2. Etihad Airways
3. TAM
4. LAN Airlines
5. American Airlines

BEST INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS WINES ON THE WING

1. Asiana Airlines
2. All Nippon Airways
3. British Airways
4. American Airlines
5. TAM

BEST CHAMPAGNE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS

1. TAM
2. Hainan Airlines
3. Etihad Airways
4. Delta Air Lines
5. Brussels Airlines

BEST CHAMPAGNE INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS

1. British Airways
2. All Nippon Airways
3. Asiana Airlines
4. TAM
5. American Airlines/Etihad Airways (TIE)

BEST SPARKLING WINES INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS AND BUSINESS CLASS

1. EL AL Israel Airlines
2. EL AL Israel Airlines
3. China Airlines
4. TAP Air Portugal
5. South African Airways

BEST WHITE WINE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS

1. Brussels Airlines
2. LAN Airlines
3. airberlin
4. Hainan Airlines
5. China Airlines

BEST WHITE WINE INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS

1. British Airways
2. Asiana Airlines/TAM (TIE)
3. American Airlines
4. American Airlines
5. All Nippon Airways

BEST RED WINE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS

1. Brussels Airlines
2. Etihad Airways
3. Jet Airways
4. TAM
5. TAP Air Portugal

BEST RED WINE INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS

1. Jet Airways
2. Etihad Airways
3. China Airlines
4. China Airlines
5. All Nippon Airways

For more information on the competition, check out the August 2014 issue of Global Traveler or visit newgtsite.wpengine.com.

About Global Traveler/FXExpress Publications, Inc.
Global Traveler, the only AAM-audited U.S.-based magazine for the international business traveler, is a business travel and lifestyle publication with an AAM-audited paid circulation of 109,000+. FXExpress Publications, Inc., based in Yardley, Pa., is a privately held company publishing Global Traveler, eFlyer USA, eFlyer Asia and several annuals; and also operating www.globaltravelerusa.com and www.globaltravelerusa.com/blog. The Mandarin edition, China Global Traveler, can be found at china-globaltraveler.com.