Global Traveler, the only AAM-audited magazine for luxury business and leisure travelers, releases the results of its 17th annual Wines on the Wing Airline Wine Competition.

The competition, held Sept. 29, took place at Odd Logic Brewery in Bristol, Pennsylvania. Judges participated in a blind tasting of airlines’ white, red and sparkling wines.

Airlines are required to submit five different wines — two red wines, two white wines and one sparkling wine/Champagne — to be eligible for the overall Best International First-Class Wines on the Wing award or Best International Business-Class Wines on the Wing award. This year, the winner for Best International First-Class Wines on the Wing was American Airlines, and the winner for Best International Business-Class Wines on the Wing was LATAM Airlines.

In the white wine category, Best International First-Class White Wine was Pascal Jolivet Sancerre Les Caillottes 2018 Loire Valley, submitted by American Airlines. For business class, the winner was LATAM with Viña Aquitania Sol del Sol Sauvignon Blanc 2017 Traiguen, Malleco Valley, Chile.

The best first-class Champagne was All Nippon Airways’ Champagne Billecart-Salmon 2008 Champagne. The best business-class Champagne was American Airlines’ Cattier Brut Icône Champagne, NV.

When it came to red wine, American Airlines reigned supreme in the first-class category withWhitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Napa Valley. Icelandair took the No. 1 business-class spot with Quinta do Crasto Superior Syrah 2015, Douro Valley.

For the 12th 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.

Aeromexico was named Best North American Wines on the Wing, and also won for its Champagne, Jacquart Brut Champagne, NV, and its white wine, Duckhorn Wine Company Decoy Chardonnay 2017 Sonoma County. American Airlines won Best North American Red Wine with Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir 2016 Dundee Hills, Oregon.

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

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 FIRST-CLASS WINES ON THE WING
American Airlines

BEST INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS-CLASS WINES ON THE WING
LATAM Airlines

BEST CHAMPAGNE INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS
All Nippon Airways

BEST CHAMPAGNE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS
American Airlines

BEST WHITE WINE INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS
American Airlines

BEST WHITE WINE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS
LATAM Airlines

BEST RED WINE INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS
American Airlines

BEST RED WINE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS
Icelandair

BEST NORTH AMERICAN WINES ON THE WING
Aeromexico

BEST NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPAGNE/SPARKLING WINE
Aeromexico

BEST NORTH AMERICAN RED WINE
American Airlines

BEST NORTH AMERICAN WHITE WINE
Aeromexico

BEST ALLIANCE WINES ON THE WING
oneworld

For more information on the competition, check out the December issue of Global Traveler or visit globaltravelerusa.com. The winners will be feted during a virtual ceremony on globaltravelerusa.com on Dec. 14, 3. p.m. EST.

About Global Traveler
With nearly 550,000 readers, Global Traveler connects brands with U.S.-based frequent, affluent travelers. According to MediaMark Research (Gfk MRI), GT readers have an average net worth of $2 million and 50 percent are CEOs and owners of companies. Our readers average nine domestic flights per year and 93 percent travel internationally on a regular basis (11 round-trips in the last three years), mostly in first and business class. More than 55 percent stay in 4- and 5-star hotels, at an average 60 nights per year. Special editions — Leisure Lifestyle Edition, Global City Guidebook and Class Act Guide — complement 12 monthly issues. Each year, Global Traveler awards the GT Tested Reader Survey awards, the Leisure Lifestyle Awards. and the Wines on the Wing awards (business- and first-class wine survey).

About FXExpress Publications, Inc.
FXExpress Publications, Inc., based in Yardley, Pa., is a privately held company publishing Global Traveler, globaltravelerusa.com, FX Excursions, eFlyer USA and several annuals. WhereverFamily LLC publishes whereverfamily.com and its related brands, and Trazee Travel, LLC publishes trazeetravel.com.