Some very interesting choices here. I’m a big fan of Sauvignon Blanc on airplanes as the strong gooseberry, melon, and cut grass flavors of the wine (it tastes better than it sounds – trust me!) have often stayed strong at altitude. Languedoc is in the southernmost region of France and therefore generally produces much more…
Continue reading: Wine Review: American First Class Dallas to Madrid
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Is there a "part 2" to this flight review that includes elements beyond the typical wine list found on AA long hauls? Nice post and review of the choices available.
@travelmore $14 is a bit low and I think the author is right that AA just picks wines they get good prices on more than anything else, but at the same time, price isn't always the best marker of quality. The Asian airlines are most guilty of this as almost everything outside the Krug or Dom is just basic overpriced Bordeauxs or Burgundies that look fancy on a wine list and that I would never pay for on the ground and taste even worse up in the air.
Don't they serve a different champagne pre-departure on the ground? I was on MIA - MAD in 1st this year and the pre departure champagne was so bad I didn't even bother to ask for another glass while inflight. But later I learned that what you get inflight for some reason is not the same as on the ground.
@FE1 — I can't speak to AA's practices, but DL pours relatively inexpensive sparkling wine (e.g., Segura Viudas Brut Reserva) while on the ground, reserving the proper champagne (invariably Jacquart Brut Mosaique) for Delta ONE in-flight service.
This is a remarkable contribution to the blog. The guy who was whining about the Seattle Olive Eight or whatever was just annoying and using the blog as his own complaint platform to get an outcome for himself. This has substance I find interesting... Ive been clicking on OMAAT a bunch of times the last few days just to see when Andrew's next installment is.
I sincerely thought the AA would have even inferior quality of wines but I've tried some of them and they're not so bad.
Thank you Andrew M. for this very informative wine trip report. It should become a regular feature here on One Mile At A Time.
@Caleb I did try the Port. I'm not really that knowledgeable about Port so I didn't review it but I did really like their offering.
@bobtrial @Martin - glad you like it! Hopefully added something a little bit unique.
@DaninMCI next installment is about Cathay. Stay tuned for tomorrow.
@FE1 As far as I know, AA only boards one champagne. You might have noticed the effects of altitude on wine taste though!
Not presenting the bottle and pouring at your seat is poor service. I hope that is not the standard for First Class and you just had a lazy crew.
I just took AA36 last week and AA37 on the return yesterday from Madrid in FC and I found the wine selection underwhelming. I researched all of the offerings and the average rating was an 85 to an 89. There was not a 90+ point wine on the list that I could find. Further, in my opinion, serving wines that cost between $14.00 and $29.00 in FC on an international flight is just another sign of what AA thinks of its best passengers. Sorry, Andrew, I respectfully disagree.