Best Business Class Red
Best Business Class Cellar
Most Original Business Class Cellar
UK Business Traveller magazine announced today that Air New Zealand had won three of the 18 available awards in its annual Cellars in the Sky competition, which gather some of the finest wines offered in business and first class on long-haul flights. This was the most awarded to any one airline in this year's competition.
Air New Zealand submitted three wines, along with its complete Business Premier wine list for July to December 2006 and 52-page onboard wine booklet, for consideration by judges. To highlight the Kiwi origin, the wines were displayed in kete bags adorned with feathers.
The airline was awarded the Best Business Class Red for Escarpment Martinborough Pinot Noir 2004. The other New Zealand wines presented by the airline were Konrad Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2005 and Cottage Block Marlborough Noble Riesling 2002, along with Veuve Cliquot NV Yellow Label and Taylors Late Bottled Vintage 2000. This selection, along with the full business class wine list, also resulted in Air New Zealand being awarded Best Business Class Cellar and Most Original Business Class Cellar.
Air New Zealand Group General Manager International Airline Ed Sims said today that 35 airlines took part in Cellars in the Sky, the most since the competition began in 1985.
"This is the first time Air New Zealand has won the two overall Business Class awards and the second year running that we've won the Business Class Red award. This international recognition is fantastic and reinforces what we and our customers knew all along - that New Zealand wines really are show-stoppers."
Air New Zealand dedicates significant time and effort to the food and wine served on its long-haul routes in an effort to showcase the very best of New Zealand to the world. Its in-flight selection comes from all over the country, ensuring a representation of styles for customers.
"In selecting these wines, twice a year we contact every wine producer in New Zealand and invite them to submit wines. These are then blind tasted by our experienced panel of wine consultants and the selections made for our customers' enjoyment," says Mr Sims.
UK Business Traveller runs the Cellars in the Sky competition in association with Wine & Spirit magazine. Tastings for this year's competition took place over two days at the Hyatt Regency hotel in London and were carried out by London-based New Zealand Master of Wine Peter McCombie, Top UK wine writer Tim Atkin and co-chairmen of the International Wine Challenge Derek Smedley MW and Charles Metcalfe.
ENDS
Issued by Air New Zealand Public Affairs
For more information or images:
Corporate Communications Manager
Air New Zealand
Tel 09 336 3179
021 628 129
tracey.palmer@airnz.co.nz
For more information on the Escarpment Martinborough Pinot Noir 2004 please contact :
Editor's note:
For the past 20 years, Air New Zealand has helped take distinctive New Zealand wines like our iconic Sauvignon Blanc to the rest of the world, while proudly sponsoring the country's premier annual wine competition, the Air New Zealand Wine Awards.
Air New Zealand this year launched a wine scholarship as part of its Inspiring New Zealanders scholarship programme and was the Platinum Sponsor for Pinot Noir 2007.
NOTE: The content of all Air New Zealand media releases are accurate at the time of issue, as stated at the top of each release. For updates on any changes, please contact Air New Zealand.
Air New Zealand is proud to be a member of Star Alliance. The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognised by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award, Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Adria Airways, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Blue1, bmi, Continental Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI, United and US Airways. Aegean Airlines, Air India, Brussels Airlines and TAM have been announced as future members. Overall, the Star Alliance network offers 19,500 daily flights to 1,071 airports in 171 countries.
For more information about Air New Zealand visit www.airnewzealand.com and for more information about Star Alliance visit www.staralliance.com.
