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The Cellars in the Sky Awards honours airline wines in business and first class
A total of 33 airlines entered their premium offering wines for a blind testing
Awards were handed out in 14 categories including best red, white and sparkling
American Airlines claimed a 'highly commended' for its overall cellar

Published: 11:31 EST, 19 February 2019 | Updated: 12:00 EST, 19 February 2019

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Qantas has been named as the airline offering the best on-board wines in first and business class overall.

The Australian flag carrier scooped six accolades at the annual Cellars in the Sky Awards, which included the coveted title of best overall wine list for 2018.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific was runner-up while third place was shared by Qatar Airways and All Nippon Airways. American Airlines claimed a 'highly commended' for its overall cellar and British Airways scooped the award for having the best business class wine list.

Qantas scooped six accolades at the annual Cellars in the Sky Awards, which included the coveted title of having the best overall wine list for 2018

British Airways scooped the award for having the best business class wine list. Pictured is a BA Club Europe cabin

Sajida Ismail, British Airways' Head of Inflight Product, said: 'We pride ourselves on providing our customers with high quality wines and champagnes, so we are delighted to have won the Gold medal for the Best Business Class Cellar.'

The Cellars in the Sky Awards are organised by Business Traveller and 33 airlines entered their premium offering wines for testing.

In December, four independent judges spent two days blind taste testing and scoring the wines at London's Grosvenor Hotel.

They then decided on winners for 14 categories that included awards for reds, whites, sparkling wines and fortified wines.

As well as scooping the award for best wine cellar, Qantas also took top spots in categories including best first class white, best first class sparkling, best first class cellar, best presented first class wine list and best business class fortified/dessert wine.

Cathay Pacific won two awards for best first class sparkling (shared with Qantas and Air France), and best business class red.

The best first class red category was won by Malaysia Airlines and best first class fortified/dessert wine went to All Nippon Airlines.

For the The Cellars in the Sky Awards, 33 airlines entered their premium offering wines in business and first for testing

The award for best business class sparkling wine was won by Qatar Airways.

The best business class white category was won by JetBlue, a US low-cost airline.

The Cellars in the Sky Awards is now in its 33rd year, having been running since 1985.

FULL WINNERS FROM THE CELLAR IN THE SKIES AWARDS 2018

BEST FIRST CLASS RED

Gold Medal: Malaysia Airlines – Joseph Drouhin Côte de Beaune 2015, Burgundy, France

Silver Medal: American Airlines – Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2016, Sonoma County, US

Bronze Medal (joint): ANA – Château Léoville Barton 2012, Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France; Qatar Airways – Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 2009, Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France

BEST FIRST CLASS WHITE

Gold Medal: Qantas – Penfolds Reserve Bin 15A Chardonnay 2015, Adelaide Hills, Australia

Silver Medal: Qantas – Flametree SRS Wallcliffe Chardonnay 2016, Margaret River, Australia

Bronze Medal (joint): Cathay Dragon – Lamblin and Fils Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaumes, 2016, France; Malaysia Airlines – Palliser Estate Chardonnay 2016, Martinborough, New Zealand

BEST FIRST CLASS SPARKLING

Gold Medal (joint): Air France, Cathay Pacific, Qantas –Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2006, Franc

Silver Medal (joint): ANA, Qatar Airways – Champagne Krug 2004, France; Singapore Airlines – Dom Pérignon 2006, Champagne, France

Bronze Medal: Oman Air –Champagne Louis Roederer Cristal, Brut, 2009, France

BEST FIRST CLASS FORTIFIED/DESSERT WINE

Gold Medal: ANA – Barbeito Madeira Malvasia 20 year old, Portugal

Silver Medal: Cathay Pacific – Warre's Otima Single Year Tawny Colheita Port 2006, Portugal

Bronze Medal: Qantas – Morris of Rutherglen Wines Old Premium Rare Liqueur Muscat, Australia

BEST-PRESENTED FIRST CLASS WINE LIST

Gold Medal: Qantas

Highly Commended: ANA

BEST FIRST CLASS CELLAR

Gold Medal: Qantas

Silver Medal: ANA

Bronze Medal: Cathay Pacific

BEST BUSINESS CLASS RED

Gold Medal: Cathay Pacific – Elderton

Shiraz 2015, Barossa Valley, Australia

Silver Medal: Air New Zealand – Lowburn Ferry Home Block Pinot Noir 2014, Central Otago, New Zealand

Bronze Medal: Air Italy – Olianas Perdixi 2016, Gergei, Sardinia, Italy

BEST BUSINESS CLASS WHITE

Gold Medal: Jetblue – Sandhi Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay 2015, California, US

Silver Medal: Aer Lingus – De Bortoli La Bohème Act One Riesling, 2016, Yarra Valley, Australia

Bronze Medal: Oman Air – Pascal Jolivet Sancerre Montagu 2016, France

BEST BUSINESS CLASS SPARKLING

Gold Medal: Qatar Airways – Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, Blanc de Blancs 2006, France

Silver Medal: EVA Air – Delamotte Blanc de Blancs 2007, Champagne, France

Bronze Medal: Malaysia Airlines – Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, Blanc de Blancs 2007, France

BEST BUSINESS CLASS FORTIFIED/ DESSERT WINE

Gold Medal: Qantas – Baileys of Glenrowan Founder Series Classic Muscat, Victoria, Australia

Silver Medal: Air New Zealand – Forrest Botrytised Riesling 2016, Wairau Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

Bronze Medal (joint): Oman Air – Château Guiraud 1er Grand Cru Classé en 1855, 2014, Sauternes-Barsac, France; Aeroflot – Grahams 10 Year Old Tawny Port, NV, Porto Duro, Portugal

BEST BUSINESS CLASS CELLAR

Gold Medal: British Airways

Silver Medal: Qatar Airways

Bronze Medal: Jetblue

BEST-PRESENTED BUSINESS CLASS WINE LIST

Gold Medal: EVA Air

BEST AIRLINE ALLIANCE - Oneworld

BEST OVERALL CELLAR

Gold Medal: Qantas

Silver Medal: Cathay Pacific

Bronze Medal: ANA, Qatar Airways

Highly Commended: American Airlines

The participating airlines were: Aegean, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aircalin, Air Canada, Air France, Air Italy, Air New Zealand, Air Tahiti Nui, American Airlines, All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Dragon, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, EVA Air, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, Iberia, Icelandair, Japan Airlines, Jet Blue, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Sri Lankan Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, and Virgin Atlantic.