Emirates unveils wine list for 2024
An overview of Emirates' wine program
Emirates is introducing a selection of wines onboard global flights as part of the continuous investment in its passenger experience. The previous year’s investment into wine and champagne exceeded AED 186 million (US$50 million), the airline said in the December 7 press release. Emirates has an extensive wine cellar including dedicated facilities in France which house more than 6 million bottles of fine wine, some of which will continue ageing until 2037.
In the coming months, the selection will include fine white Burgundy wines, including prestigious Premier and Grand Crus wines like Montrachet 2011, Chevalier Montrachet 2013, and Corton Charlemagne 2014, as well as some red Burgundy wines, mainly Grand Crus like Échezeaux, Clos Vougeot, and Chambertin. Emirates already offers 36 varieties of French wines and champagnes onboard.
The airline is also planning to offer several First Growth (highest level of Bordeaux Classification of 1855) from Bordeaux onboard in the coming year. These wines come from the renowned estates of Château Mouton, Château Margaux, Château Haut-Brion, Château Cheval Blanc and Château d'Yquem. First Growth wines are from châteaux graded on their quality, price and reputation, as requested by Emperor Napoleon III.
Criteria for onboard wine selection
Emirates has stringent criteria for wine selection that include a detailed process of choosing wines known to excel both on the ground and at altitude and continually testing the results. Considerations such as fruit content, acidity, tannin levels and the influence of oak are key components of the airline’s selection process. The wine’s maturity also plays a factor in the selection since this impacts the tannin levels.
Many of the wines chosen by the airline are intended to be enjoyed after significant ageing. As such, the Emirates' cellar holds wines dating back to the 2003 vintage. Bordeaux wines for Business Class consumption undergo a minimum ageing period of eight to 10 years, while those for First Class are aged for a minimum of 12 to 15 years. All ageing occurs in professional facilities in France.
Emirates selects wines for onboard use after they complete the ageing process. As part of its Fly Better promise, Emirates wants passengers to taste the wines at their peak.
Wines for every cabin class
“Each of Emirates' four cabins features a distinct wine selection, which is updated every two weeks to ensure frequent flyers are always enjoying variety,” said the airline.
Passengers in Emirates’ Economy Class can choose between one red and one white wine, both high quality. Recent additions to the selection include ‘AOP Biodynamic’ wines from M. Chapoutier, Domaines Baron de Rothschild, a South African Sauvignon Blanc from sustainability champion, Gabb family and Antinori Santa Cristina red wine.
The AOP is a European Union (EU) standard comparable to the French AOC system, emphasizing the wines' geographical origin and specific production methods.
“Biodynamic winemaking emphasizes holistic, sustainable farming and minimal post-harvest intervention, creating wines known for their pronounced terroir expression,” Emirates said.
In Premium Economy, passengers can choose from sparkling vintage wine, premium red and premium white wine. The selection includes Château Lagarde 2011, Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc and Domaine Chandon 2016.
Travellers in Emirates’ Business and First Class enjoy a tailored wine selection across six regions: the UK and USA, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australasia and Asia.
“This approach allows [us] to offer wines closely aligned with the taste preferences of passengers from these regions, and allows travellers to sample outstanding wines from the regions they will be visiting,” the airline said.
Emirates also offers its passengers premium Port wines, including vintage Tawny Ports such as the 1979 Graham’s and the 1981 from Dow's.
The airline reports investing more than US$1 billion into its wine program since 2006. In 2022, Emirates also invested US$2 billion to further elevate the passenger experience. This initiative included retrofitting more than 120 aircraft with the latest interiors, implementing new fine dining menus, offering vegan dishes, developing a Movie Snacks menu, offering unlimited caviar in First Class and introducing a specialized hospitality training program for cabin crew.
