Delta Air Lines has announced updates to its business class wine program, meaning that Delta One passengers can look forward to a new selection of wines. As usual, Delta’s announcement would make you think that the airline is reinventing the wheel, and doing something that has never been done before.
Delta rolls out new business class wines, with Napa Valley focus
As of October 1, 2026, Delta One business class passengers can look forward to a new selection of wines onboard flights.
Let’s start with what I’d consider to be the best news. We know that Delta has been partnering with Taittinger, and that has been the standard champagne in Delta One business class on long haul flights. With this change, the airline will also start serving Taittinger on domestic Delta One flights, replacing the previous 2019 vintage cat urine that was on offer. Delta has historically just completely dropped the ball on its domestic Delta One wines, so this is excellent.
I imagine we’re seeing this change due to competitive dynamics in the industry, including that United has started marketing its premium transcon flights as Polaris business class, with upgraded lounge access and more.
Beyond that, Delta One wines are being completely overhauled. The airline claims it has evaluated 1,600 wines, and has narrowed that down to 13 wines from 11 winery partners. Delta is putting a big focus on Napa Valley here, as all the US wines will be from Napa Valley.
There will also be a selection of global wines, from France, Spain, and New Zealand.
One interesting angle here is that Delta included a panel of SkyMiles members in the curation of these wines, and they participated in blind tastings, to decide which they liked most. However, I can’t help but chuckle at how the press release points out how “wines that perform beautifully on the ground don’t always translate the same way in the air,” yet the taste test took place… on the ground.
Lol, Delta is so good at being a “lifestyle brand”
I really get a kick out of reading Delta press releases, and this one is no exception. As someone who sort of hates our BS culture of just exaggerating everything, this both amuses me and drives me up the wall.
But I get that Delta is successful at being a cool lifestyle brand, so the airline can’t just be like “hey guys, here’s some stuff you can drink that’s half decent.” Instead, of course, the airline has a press release with over 1,500 words about how life changing all of this is, and about how Delta flyers don’t just drink wine, they explore the globe with their taste buds, and all that jazz.
As far as Delta is concerned, this wine is “designed to resonate with seasoned enthusiasts and curious explorers,” and the airline’s wine program is “designed to remove the intimidation often associated with wine, replace it with curiosity.” Delta also claims that “wine has the power to tell stories in a uniquely personal way,” and the goal is to “make wine more approachable, more versatile, and deeply connected to the people, places and craftsmanship behind every bottle.”
Great, there’s no denying that wine is a huge industry that a lot of people are passionate about. But let’s be honest, when it comes to flying business class, most of us are just looking to have a few glasses of whatever is most drinkable so we can knock ourselves out and get a few hours of sleep on an overnight flight.
Here’s perhaps the wildest part of the announcement, though:
Delta’s industry-leading Sky Sommelier program, the first of its kind, ensures flight attendant leaders are expertly trained to deliver premium hospitality and elevate the wine experience onboard, for any customers who may have questions about the selections.
Sorry, Delta thinks it’s the first airline that has trained its flight attendants on wine? And Delta thinks its wine training program for flight attendants is industry leading? Does the world otherwise only consist of Frontier and Global Airlines, or what happened to Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and a countless number of other airlines that have long had flight attendants knowledgable on wine?
I’ve gotta say, this is one of the things that I really respect about American Airlines. When the airline announces updated wines, it’s just like “hey, here are some new wines you might like,” rather than all this mumbo jumbo. I think American might just be too honest of an airline to be a “lifestyle brand,” like Delta… and to me that’s appealing.
Bottom line
On October 1, 2026, Delta One business class will be getting new wines. Delta will start serving Taittinger champagne in Delta One on domestic flights, which is awesome. On top of that, we’ll see fully overhauled wines on international flights, with a focus on Napa Valley, France, Spain, and New Zealand.
What do you make of Delta’s new wine program?
I stopped reading at "PetitE Chablis". Come on...
This sounds like a good improvement, and bringing Taittinger to domestic Delta One is very welcome. I also smiled at Delta explaining that wines can taste very different at altitude while conducting the SkyMiles member tasting on the ground, though. I also agree about giving American some credit for the “here are some new wines” approach. Sometimes wine can just be wine.
After evaluating 1,600 wines, surely there must’ve been room in the budget for...
This sounds like a good improvement, and bringing Taittinger to domestic Delta One is very welcome. I also smiled at Delta explaining that wines can taste very different at altitude while conducting the SkyMiles member tasting on the ground, though. I also agree about giving American some credit for the “here are some new wines” approach. Sometimes wine can just be wine.
After evaluating 1,600 wines, surely there must’ve been room in the budget for a tasting flight, no?
Interesting - Silver Oak is not inexpensive and not usually that much is produced, although it’s probably their Alexander Valley rather than the Napa Valley, although sure they’re from the same region.
Still, 12 new wines - wonder what the spread of how they will cater them will be.
Probably 1 bottle of each for 42 business class passengers, then load up on cheaper stuff, so that: 1) they can say they offer it, and 2) so that they don't have to spend too much money on actually providing it to everyone... *insert corporate double-speak* "...while supplies last."
Reading DL's press releases causes the same effect as drinking.
I wonder when the alcohol obsession will go away, in particular with airport and airplane alcohol.
I fly on a plane to go somewhere, not drink fermented grapes. If I wanted to do that I'd go on a wine tour.
Gen Z and younger generations are increasingly drink less as well, so this will all eventually become background noise.
When the cost of living has doubled to tripled in a few years, people have less...
I wonder when the alcohol obsession will go away, in particular with airport and airplane alcohol.
I fly on a plane to go somewhere, not drink fermented grapes. If I wanted to do that I'd go on a wine tour.
Gen Z and younger generations are increasingly drink less as well, so this will all eventually become background noise.
When the cost of living has doubled to tripled in a few years, people have less disposable income to care about drinking an expensive bottle of fruit juice.
Umm, you buried the lede… “When the cost of living has doubled to tripled in a few years, people have less disposable income to care about…” travel, in-general, and business class, specifically, forget alcohol.
In my experience people give up alcohol last when they’re in a cost of living crisis.
Gen Z and younger are drinking less because they're switching to cheap weed.
Nah, they're addicted to Starbucks.
Should have included… ‘a nice Chianti’