Singapore airlines named “best cellar in the sky"

The winners of Business Traveller’s Cellars in the Sky Awards 2022 have been announced, sponsored by Whispering Angel. Now in its 37th year, Cellars in the Sky has been running since 1985, and celebrates the best business and first class wines served by airlines on their flights.

Following 2 years of route disruptions and restrictions on inflight services, the world has reopened and travel is back in full force. This also signalled the end of socially distanced tastings and the return to a normal judging process for our awards.

This year saw Singapore Airlines walk away with five Gold Medals, for Best Business Class Red, Best Business Class Cellar, Best Overall Cellar, Best Presented Business Class Wine List, and Best Presented First Class Wine List.

Meanwhile Qantas took Gold Medals for Best Business Class White, Best First Class White and Best First Class Cellar, Qatar Airways won Gold for Best First Class Fortified / Dessert Wine, British Airways took home a Gold Medal for Best First Class Red, and Oman Air won Gold for Best First Class Sparkling.

Relative minnow Air Tahiti Nui won Gold Medals for Best Business Class Sparkling and Best Business Class Rosé, and Oneworld took top spot for Best Alliance.

The judges were John Worontschak, Helen McGinn, Masters of Wine Peter McCombie and Sarah Abbott, and head judge Charles Metcalfe, founder of the International Wine Challenge.

The competition is open to any carrier that serves wine in business or first class on mid- or long-haul routes. Each airline is invited to enter two reds, two whites, a rosé, a sparkling, and a fortified or dessert wine from both cabins.

They can compete in as many categories as they like but to be eligible for the Best Overall Cellar award, they must enter at least one red, white and sparkling. For 2022, 22 airlines entered.

The full list of winners and shortlisted airlines
Winning reds
Best First Class Red

Gold
British Airways
Teusner The Riebke Barossa Valley Shiraz, 2019, Australia
Judges said: Delicious black fruit flavours, warm spices, and lovely, lingering saline finish.
Score: 94

Silver
Singapore Airlines
Clonakilla O’Riada Canberra Shiraz, 2019, Australia
Judges said: Very refined, supple juicy, elegant, classy and beautiful.
Score: 93.5

Bronze (joint)
Oman Air
Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru les Sorbets, 2017, Albert Bichot, France
Judges said: Refined aromatics build on the nose, supple tannins, spiced elegance and beautiful balance.

Qatar Airways
Two Hands Ares Barossa Valley Shiraz, 2014, Australia
Judges said: Soft and voluptuous yet elegant, extravagant nose, raisin and spice. Very ripe, jammy and powerful.
Score: 93

Best Business Class Red
Gold
Singapore Airlines
Teusner The Riebke Barossa Valley Shiraz, 2019, Australia
Judges said: Delicious black fruit flavours, warm spices, and lovely, lingering saline finish.
Score: 94

Silver
British Airways
Santa Rita, Medalla Real Gold Medal Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, 2017, Chile
Judges said: Bursting with plum, berry and chocolate flavours, lovely tannins and long finish.
Score: 93 points

Bronze
Iceland Air
M.Chapoutier Belleruche, Côtes-du-Rhône, 2020, France
Judges said: Delicate aromatics, nice fruit balance, silky tannins.
Score: 92.5 points

Winning whites
Best First Class White
Gold
Qantas
Tolpuddle Tasmania Chardonnay, 2018, Australia
Judges said: Toasty fresh oak, subtle depth and elegance, lovely length and delicate intensity.
Score: 95

Silver
Qantas
Penfolds Reserve Bin 18A Adelaide Hills Chardonnay, 2018, Australia
Judges said: Crisp oak, creamy, reductive tangy fresh, vibrant but not aggressive.
Score: 93

Bronze
Singapore Airlines
Domaine de Montille Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru “les Chalumeaux”, 2017, France
Judges said: Classy oak, delicate intensity, mouth-watering acidity.
Score: 92

Best Business Class White
Gold
Qantas
Penfolds Max’s Chardonnay 2018, Australia
Judges said: Stone fruits, faint wafts of citrus, floral notes with a hint of ginger, oak balanced giving a nutty nuance.
Score: 94

Silver
Aircalin
Crozes Hermitage Mule Blanche Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné, 2021, France
Judges said: Aromatic nose, white flowers, delicate woody note, well-rounded, fresh finish.
Score: 93.5

Bronze
Cathay Pacific
Nik Weis Saarfeilser Riesling GG, 2016, Mosel, Germany
Judges said: Full of character, complex, pronounced and refreshing.
Score: 93 points

Winning sparkling
Best First Class Sparkling
Gold
Oman Air
Champagne Charles Heidsieck, Blanc des Millénaires, 2007, France
Judges said: Creamy and complex, deeper gold-green hints, breezy aromatics.
Score: 97

Silver (joint)
Qantas and Singapore Airlines
Champagne Tattinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blanc, 2008, France
Judges said: Rich, complex, spice and citrus feel, dense yet elegant.
Score: 96

Bronze
British Airways
Champagne Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle NV, France
Judges said: Good development, nutty,some spice and oak, broad and rich.
Score: 95.5
Best Business Class Sparkling
Gold
Air Tahiti Nui
Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve NV, France
Judges said: Creamy and complex, vanilla, brioche, light and reductive on the palate.
Score: 95
Silver
Singapore Airlines
Champagne Piper-Heidsieck, 2014, France
Judges said: Sophisticated style, evolved, stony, salty, fresh acidity.
Score: 94
Bronze (joint)
EVA Air
Champagne Castelnau Brut Millésime 2006, France
Judges said: Deep gold, stony and yeasty, nice evolution, rich toasty style.
Finnair
Champagne Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut NV, France
Judges said: Toasty, nice personality, honeycomb with a hint of ginger.
Qantas
Champagne Jacquart Brut Mosaïque NV, France
Judges said: Elegant and creamy, green aromatics apple and pear, mineral finish with lemongrass.
Score: 91
Winning roses
Best First Class Rosé
(Note: Only silver and bronze awarded as the judges did not score any submitted rosés above 92, the benchmark for a gold award.)
Silver
Qatar Airways
Domaines Ott Château Romassan Bandol, 2020, France
Judges said: Pale pink colour, good depth, citrus with a hint of liquorice.
Score: 91
Bronze
American Airlines
Pebble Lane Pinot Noir Rosé, 2021, California
Judges said: Elegant and silky, well-balanced, intense, bright red fruits.
Score: 90
Best Business Class Rosé
Gold
Air Tahiti Nui
Château des Demoiselles – Côtes de Provence, 2021, France
Judges said: Vibrant, lively, savoury, hints of lavender and rosemary.
Score: 92
Silver
Qatar Airways
Château Beaulieu, Cuvée Alexandre Rosé Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, 2020, France
Judges said: Savoury, crisp, flavours of strawberry and redcurrants, nice acidity.
Score: 91
Bronze
Virgin Atlantic
Château de Montfrin La Tour Rosé, 2021, France
Judges said: Peach and strawberry aromas, crisp and light with good balance.
Score: 90
Winning fortified/dessert
First Class Fortified / Dessert Wine
Gold
Qatar Airways
Château Rieussec 1er Grand Cru Classé Sauternes, 2010, France
Judges said: Bouquet of ripe peach, nectarine and honey; hint of ginger, perfectly balanced acidity.
Score: 95
Silver
Qantas
Morris of Rutherglen Old Premium Rare Topaque, NV, Australia
Judges said: Treacle, raisin, nice bitterness, molasses, fig jam, smooth and balanced.
Score: 93.5
Bronze
American Airlines
Maynard’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port, NV, Portugal
Judges said: Advanced nose, nutty and tangy spice, caramel notes, clean oak flavour, appealing raisin fruit.
Score: 93
Best Business Class Fortified / Dessert Wine
Gold
Aircalin
Domaine La Sobilane, Rivesaltes, 1948, France
Judges said: Aromas of quince and oranges, flavours of nuts and dried fruits, smooth and balanced.
Score: 94.5
Silver
Qantas
Baileys of Glenrowan Founders series Classic Muscat, NV, Australia
Judges said: Clean and bright within treacle muscat lusciousness.
Score: 94
Bronze (joint)
Singapore Airlines
Morris Classic Liqueur Muscat NV, Australia
Judges said: Really sweet and sticky flavours, burnt sugar, tobacco, prunes and raisin.
TAP Air Portugal
Graham’s 10 Years Old Tawny Port, NV, Portugal
Judges said: Complex nutty aromas, rich mature fruit flavours.
Score: 93
Winning cellars
Best First Class Cellar
Gold – Qantas
Silver – Singapore Airlines
Bronze – Oman Air
Best Business Class Cellar
Gold – Singapore Airlines
Silver – Qantas
Bronze – Cathay Pacific
Best Overall Cellar
Gold – Singapore Airlines
Silver – Qantas
Bronze – Oman Air
Winning wine list
First Class Best-Presented Wine List
Gold – Singapore Airlines
Silver – Japan Airlines
Bronze – Korean Air
Business Class Best-Presented Wine List
Gold – Singapore Airlines
Silver – Jetblue
Bronze – Air Canada
Winning alliance
Best Alliance
Gold – Oneworld
Silver – Star Alliance
Bronze – Skyteam

-B