Several airlines have enjoyed a bouquet of awards at this year’s 40th anniversary of The Cellars in the Sky Awards, which celebrated the best carriers for their outstanding onboard wine and beverage offerings.
The awards were launched in 1985 by leading travel publication Business Traveller to recognise airlines that excel in wine and beverage selection and premium inflight experiences for First and Business Class passengers.
“For four decades, Cellars in the Sky has recognised excellence in airline wine and beverage programmes, shining a spotlight on the airlines, suppliers and individuals who continue to raise standards for travellers around the world,” commented Michael Keating, CEO of Ink, owner of Business Traveller.
The awards are among the aviation industry’s most respected wine competitions, with all wines judged blind by an independent panel of international experts. This year’s judging panel included wine specialists Charles Metcalfe, Sam Caporn MW, Peter McCombie MW and John Worontschak, alongside industry consultant Kelly Stevenson.
Here’s a virtual clink of glasses to the brightest and best airlines:
Malaysia Airlines
The carrier received recognition across seven categories at this year’s awards:
Gold: Business Class Lounge Wine Cellar
Gold: Business Class Lounge Red Wine – Château Larteau, Bordeaux Supérieur 2022
Silver: Business Class Lounge White & Rosé Wine – Domaine Tholomies La Chapelle 2024
Silver: Business Class Lounge Red Wine – Oxford Landing Shiraz 2024
Bronze: Business Class White Wine – Vavasour Chardonnay 2023
Bronze: First Class Lounge Sparkling Wine – Champagne Philippe Gonet Brut Reserve
Bronze: Business Class Lounge White & Rosé Wine – Howard Park Sauvignon Blanc 2025
Among the Gold-winning selections, Château Larteau Bordeaux Supérieur 2022 stood out for its depth, balance and refined character. Produced in France’s Bordeaux, the wine was praised by the judges for its complexity, savoury notes and rich flavours of black fruit.
THAI Airways
THAI Airways demonstrated its world-class standards by winning the Gold Award: Drinks Innovation: Overall Business Class Inflight Drinks Programme. This recognises airlines that have developed a comprehensive and outstanding Business Class beverage programme.
Judges were also impressed by THAI’s Asian Rice Wine Programme. The airline designed it around three exceptional rice wines from Asia, placing Sato, Thailand’s traditional rice wine at its core. By presenting it alongside internationally recognised rice wines such as Japanese Sake and Korean Makgeolli, passengers can discover Thai rice wine within a wider Asian context.
The carrier also won two silver awards for Inflight, First Class Fortified Wine and Inflight, Business Class Dessert Wine.
Qatar, Qantas, and Singapore
The Best Sparkling Wine Served in First Class was jointly claimed by Qatar Airways, Qantas, and Singapore Airlines for the Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 2013.
Qantas also won gold and silver in the Best white wine in First Class category with its Flametree S.R.S. Wallcliffe Chardonnay 2023 and Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay 2024, respectively. It also won the First-Class Fortified Wine category and named winner for the Best Airline Lounge Drinks Program and for the Signature Drink, thanks to the Maybe Sammy Australian Jasmine Negroni.
In categories for innovation and the overall quality of beverage programmes, Qatar and Qantas jointly won the Best First Class beverage menu on board. Qatar also won for the Best wine list served in First Class, while Qantas was named Best First-Class Wine Cellar in the Sky.
Best of the Rest
The best red wine served in First Class was won by Lufthansa with the Kaiserberg Herbolzheim Pinot Noir 2020. In the First Class Rosé Wine category, British Airways won gold for its Château d’Esclans Les Clans Côtes de Provence Rosé 2022.
In Business Class, EVA Air scooped the best sparkling wine category with the Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle. In the "Drinks Innovation – Wellness, No & Low" category, EVA Air's selection of Oddbird Blanc de Blancs, a non-alcoholic sparkling wine from Sweden, earned Gold.
Among the red wines served in Business Class, United Airlines won with The Mascot Cabernet Sauvignon 2019. United also won a silver medal with the VIK 2021. Cathay Pacific won several awards in lounges, including Best Red Wine in a First Class Lounge with the Grant Burge Meshach and the award for the First Class Lounge Wine Cellar.
WINNING CELLARS
Inflight: First Class Sparkling Wine
GOLD - Qatar Airways, Qantas, Singapore Airlines
Inflight: First Class White Wine
GOLD – Qantas
Inflight: First Class Rosé Wine
GOLD - British Airways
Inflight: First Class Red Wine
GOLD – Lufthansa
Inflight: First Class Fortified Wine
GOLD - Qantas
Inflight: First Class Dessert Wine
GOLD - Korean Air
Inflight: Business Class Sparkling Wine
GOLD - EVA Air
Inflight: Business Class White Wine
GOLD – Qantas
Inflight: Business Class Red Wine
GOLD - United Airlines
Inflight: Business Class Rosé Wine
GOLD – Alaska Airlines
Inflight: Business Class Fortified Wine
GOLD – Lufthansa
Inflight: Business Class Dessert Wine
GOLD - Virgin Atlantic
Ground: First Class Lounge Sparkling Wine
GOLD - Singapore Airlines
Ground: First Class Lounge White & Rosé Wine
GOLD - Singapore Airlines
Ground: First Class Lounge Red Wine
GOLD - Cathay Pacific
Ground: First Class Lounge Dessert & Fortified Wine
GOLD – Qantas
Ground: Business Class Lounge White and Rosé Wine
GOLD - Cathay Pacific
Ground: Business Class Lounge Red Wine
GOLD - Cathay Pacific
Drinks Innovation: First Class Wine Cellar in the Sky
GOLD – Qantas
Drinks Innovation: First Class Best Presented Wine List
GOLD – Qatar Airways
Drinks Innovation: Business Class Wine Cellar in the Sky
GOLD – Qatar
Drinks Innovation: Business Class Best Presented Wine List
GOLD – Lufthansa
Drinks Innovation: First Class Lounge Wine Cellar
GOLD – Cathay Pacific
Drinks Innovation: Business Class Lounge Wine Cellar
GOLD – Malaysia Airlines
Drinks Innovation: Independent Lounge Wine Cellar
GOLD – Aspire Lounges
Drinks Innovation: Best Alliance
GOLD – Oneworld
Drinks Innovation: Overall First Class Inflight Drinks Programme
GOLD – Qatar Airways, Qantas
Drinks Innovation: Overall Business Class Inflight Drinks Programme
GOLD – THAI Airways
Drinks Innovation: Best Airline Lounge Drinks Programme
GOLD – Qantas
Drinks Innovation: Signature Drink
GOLD – Qantas
Drinks Innovation: Wellness, No & Low
GOLD – EVA Air
Drinks Innovation: Bespoke Drinks Partnership
GOLD - United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic
Andy Probert is a British-born, Cyprus-based journalist who covers aviation, hotels, travel, and various topics for publications worldwide.
