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Business Traveller: Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky Awards 2007(M2 PressWIRE Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) RDATE:05022008 The results of the Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky Awards 2007 in association with Wine and Spirit magazine will be announced at 3.30pm on Tuesday February 5, at the Business Travel Show at Earls Court Two. For over two decades Business Traveller, the premier magazine for business travellers, has held annual Cellars in the Sky Awards. Once again, this year it has teamed up with renowned magazine Wine and Spirit, organisers of the International Wine Challenge. The awards are for the best airline wines served on long-haul flights in business class and first class. Over the course of two days in November, blind tastings were held at the Radisson SAS Portman Hotel in London. There were four judges: Charles Metcalfe, wine expert, author, and co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge; Tim Atkin, master of wine (MW), wine columnist for the Observer, and author and co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge; Joanna Simon, author and wine columnist for The Sunday Times; and Anthony Rose, wine columnist for The Independent. Charles Metcalfe said of this year's awards: "This year's competition came up with some great individual winning wines, and showed that an increasing number of carriers have realised that a good wine-offering is one of the important points of difference between them and their rivals. "We work hard for two days to select the best of the best. Cellars in the Sky rewards airlines which are making the effort to provide their business and first class customers with imaginatively and carefully chosen wines which will enhance their in-flight experience." Joanna Simon said: "It's an extremely well-run competition, which I think is very useful for the airlines. I was very impressed by the standard of wines being offered and there was a real understanding of the kind of wines which worked well in the air." This year, 26 airlines entered a selection of their wines, and after a two-day blind tasting organised by Wine and Spirit magazine and the International Wine Challenge, the winners of the following categories (as shown attached) were chosen. Business Class Best Business Class White Wine Best Business Class Red Wine Best Business Class Sparkling Wine Best Business Class Fortified or Sweet Wine First Class Best First Class White Wine Best First Class Red Wine Best First Class Sparkling Wine Best First Class Fortified or Sweet Wine The Cellars Best Business Class Wine Cellar Best First Class Wine Cellar This year two special awards will also be presented: Consistency of Wines across Business and First Class Most Informative Wine List After a brief presentation of the awards by Charles Metcalfe, co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge, there will be a chance to visit the Business Traveller stand 811 at the Business Travel Show to sample some of the winning wines. The winning airlines, along with those placed in the top five positions in each category, are shown overleaf. Please note this information is embargoed until 4pm on February 5, 2008. For all press enquiries contact: About Business Traveller Business Travelleris the world's leading business travel publication, with over four million copies per annum globally. It is published independently in the UK, US, Germany, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, China, Spain, Hungary, Denmark and Africa. About Wine and Spirit and the International Wine Challenge Wine and Spiritis the UK's leading drinks magazine. The International Wine Challenge is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and has developed to become the world's most comprehensive blind wine-tasting. In 2007, the challenge comprised more than 350 judges, including 41 masters of wine, and tasting and re-tasting of more than 9,000 wines from 35 countries - figures which make it the largest blind wine-tasting competition in the world. Cellars in the Sky: Results 2007 BUSINESS CLASS BEST WHITE 1. Air France Gerard Bertrand Domaine de Cigalus 2005, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2. Eva Air Christoffel Erben Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese 2003, Mosel, Germany 3. (Joint) Air New Zealand Fromm La Strada Riesling 2005, Marlborough, New Zealand Korean Air Montana Marlborough Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand 4. El Al Tishbi Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Carmel Mountains, Israel 5. KLM Ermita Veracruz Verdejo 2006, Ruedo, Spain BEST RED 1. Air New Zealand Martinborough Vineyard Pinot Noir 2005, Wairarapa, New Zealand 2. Air France Gerard Bertrand Domaine de Cigalus 2002, Languedoc, France 3. TAM Brazilian Airlines Jacob's Creek Shiraz Reserve 2004, Australia 4. South African Airways Longridge Pinotage 2004, Stellenbosch, South Africa 5. Eva Air Chateau Beaumont Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux 2003, France BEST SPARKLING 1. (JOINT) Singapore Airlines and Qantas Charles Heidsieck, MEC 2003 NV, France 2. Lufthansa Duval-Leroy Fleur de Champagne Brut NV, Champagne, France 3. (Joint) Kenya Airways / Korean Air / Japan Airlines Piper Heidsieck NV, France United Airlines Pol Roger NV, France 4. Emirates Taittinger Brut Reserve, France 5. (Joint) British Airways / KLM/ Asiana Airlines Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, MEC 2004 NV, France BEST FORTIFIED OR SWEET 1. American Airlines La Plaza Vieja, Medium Golden, Emilio Lustau, Spain 2. (Joint) Qatar Airways Taylor's 20-Year-Old Tawny Port, Portugal Singapore Airlines Dow's Late Bottled Port 2001, Portugal 3. Lufthansa Niepoort Late Bottled Vintage 2003, Portugal 4. (Joint) Gulf Air Noble One 2004, De Bortoli, Australia Emirates Warre's Late Bottled Vintage Port 2001, Portugal Korean Air Inniskillin Vidal Icewine 2004, Canada 5. British Airways Warre's Late Bottled Vintage Port 1999, Portugal FIRST CLASS BEST WHITE 1. El Al Blanc du Castel, Jerusalem Haut Judee, Chardonnay 'C' 2005, Castel Winery, Israel 2. (Joint) Emirates Cesconi Olivar 2006, Pressano, Dolomiti, Italy Qantas Hardys Eileen Hardy Chardonnay 2005, Australia 3. British Airways Sancerre Edmond 2003, Alphonse Mellot, Loire Valley, France 4 (Joint) Qatar Airways Jules Taylor Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2005, Marlborough, New Zealand American Airlines Wairau River Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, 2006, New Zealand Qantas Penfolds Reserve Bin 05A Chardonnay, 2005, Australia 5 (Joint) Lufthansa Kiedrich Grafenberg 2005, Rheingau, Germany Asiana Airlines Maison Champy Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2004, Burgundy, France Japan Airlines Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2004, France BEST RED 1. Qatar Airways Knappstein Shiraz 2001, Clare Valley, Australia 2. Lufthansa Sartori Amarone Corte Bra 2003, Valpolicella, Italy 3. (Joint) Asiana Airlines Mortier Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2004, France Qantas Lusatia Park 'Phi' Pinot Noir, 2005 Yarra Valley, Australia 4. Singapore Airlines Castello di Brolio Chianti 2001, Tuscany, Italy 5. (Joint) El Al Golan Heights Merlot Yarden 2002, Israel Asiana Airlines Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2004, Bordeaux, France BEST SPARKLING 1. Lufthansa Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1997, France 2 (Joint) Qantas / British Airways Charles Heidsieck Blancs des Millenaires, 1995, France 3. (Joint) United Airlines Pommery Grand Cru 1998, France Singapore Airlines / Emirates Dom Perignon 1999, France 4. (Joint) TAM Brazilian Airlines Drappier La Grande Sendree Vintage 2000, Aube, France Air France Henriot Cuvee des Enchanteleurs 1995, France 5. American Airlines Pommery Brut, NV, France BEST FORTIFIED OR SWEET 1. Qatar Airways Domaine Weinbach Clos Capucins Gewurztraminer, France 2. Qantas Morris Old Premium Liqueur Muscat NV, Australia 3. Japan Airlines Graham's Tawny Port 30-Year-Old, Portugal 4. Asiana Airlines Port Sandeman 20-Year-Old Tawny Porto, Portugal 5. (Joint) Gulf Air Noble One 2004, De Bortoli, Australia Lufthansa Westhofener Bergkloster 2006, Germany OVERALL AWARDS BEST BUSINESS CLASS CELLAR Winner: American Airlines Runners Up: Air France and Air New Zealand BEST FIRST CLASS CELLAR Winner:Qantas Runners up: Lufthansaand Asiana Airlines CONSISTENCY OF WINES ACROSS BUSINESS AND FIRST CLASS Winner:Qantas Runners Up:Qatar Airways, British Airways, Lufthansa, Asiana Airlines MOST INFORMATIVE WINE LIST Winner:Air New Zealand CONTACT: Tom Otley, Editor-in-chief, Business Traveller Tel: +44 (0)7958 719001 Julian Gregor, Managing Director, Business Traveller Tel: +44 (0)7970 207724 Mark Caswell, Online Editor, Business Traveller Tel: +44 (0)20 7647 6353 Felicity Cousins, Features Editor, Business Traveller Tel: +44 (0)20 7647 6355 ((M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [email protected])). Copyright ? 2008 M2 Communications Ltd. |