All Nippon Airways (ANA) has scooped not one but two coveted prizes in Business Traveller’s annual Cellar in the Sky airline wine awards.
The winners of Business Traveller’s annual airline wine awards were announced on Monday 19 February, 2018, revealing that All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest and only 5-star airline, snatched not one but two of the prestigious industry wine awards this year.
While Singapore Airlines took home the top spot of Best Overall Cellar, winning in a total of three categories, Japan’s only 5-star carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) won the Gold Medal for Best Presented First Class Wine List as well as the Gold Medal for Best Presented Business Class Wine List.
Meanwhile, ANA’s fellow Japanese airline, Japan’s flagship carrier Japan Airlines (JAL) took the Silver Medal for Best Presented First Class Wine List, reinforcing the ability of Japan’s two biggest carriers to offer the best access to quality wine cellars for premium travellers during their journeys in the sky, whether between Japan and the UK or elsewhere on their global routes.
To determine the winners, Business Traveller contacted more than 75 airlines in summer 2017, with 32 ultimately entering in the hope of winning recognition for their onboard wine cellars. Blind tastings took place at the Hilton London Tower Bridge in December, where a panel of four expert judges independently scored each of the wines. The judges were all co-chairpeople of the International Wine Challenge, leaving their expert knowledgement and judgement in no doubt.
Participating airlines included European, Asian and other airlines from all over the world, including several airlines that operate flights between the UK and Japan, such as Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, and KLM, in addition to All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines.
The awards, which recognise the best business and first class wines served by airlines worldwide in the previous year, have been running since 1985 and entered their thirty-second year in 2017.
