For 17 years Global Traveler has recognized airlines’ first- and business-class wine offerings with its annual Wines on the Wing wine competition. Airlines around the globe submit wines served on international and North American flights, and these submissions are judged in a blind tasting by a panel of wine experts. Over the years, American Airlines     has consistently found itself in the winners’ circle, notably being honored for Best North American First Class/Business Class Wines on the Wing every year from 2015 to 2019. This year it was named as having the Best International First-Class Wines on the Wing, repeating its win in 2019.

Now, wine novices and aficionados alike can enjoy wines selected by American Airlines’ master sommelier Bobby Stuckey and his team without ever leaving home, thanks to the newly announced Flagship Cellars wine club. In fact, one of the initial offerings, Drouhin Oregon’s 2015 Roserock Pinot Noir, was second on the list of GT‘s 2019 top International First Class red wines.

In 2019 AA reported opening 1,320,000 bottles annually on first- and business-class flights, a number which certainly dropped off dramatically in travel-restricted 2020. This new wine club, the first of its kind for any airline, presents American with the opportunity to get some of those bottles out of storage and into consumers’ hands, but there are plenty of benefits to those who sign up, too.

In addition to earning 2 points for every dollar spent on wine, AAdvantage members will get an initial 2,000-point bonus at sign-up. Memberships can be cancelled at any time without penalty, and every bottle is guaranteed; if you don’t like a wine, call within 45 days of receipt and you’ll receive a replacement. There’s plenty of flexibility in how much and what kinds of wine you can get. Not sure what you want and would appreciate a little direction from the experts? Sign up for a monthly subscription at $99.99 (no shipping) and receive three bottles (you can indicate a preference for red or white).

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You can also order 12-bottle “collections”: a mixed case you choose from a wide range of reds, whites, sparklers and ports ($200); or curated Champagnes and sparklers ($400) or a mixed case of reds and whites ($300).

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Again, there’s no shipping fee. Check out the options and wine lists at the Flagship Cellars website here. Note that availability may vary, depending on where you live.

This sounds like a great win/win situation all around. Even though it still may be some time before most of us can sit back and raise a glass in a first or business class cabin on an international flight, we can enjoy some of those wines right now without even having to walk out the door!

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor