Emirates’ champagne selection just got more exclusive, without the airline actually changing anything…
In this post:
Emirates’ exclusivity with three champagne brands
Emirates has formally announced that it’s the only commercial airline in the world to be serving Moet & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Dom Perignon onboard. These agreements are in place until 2024, so the airline has these exclusive bragging rights for quite some time.
For those wondering how this breaks down:
- Dom Perignon is served in first class across all routes globally; at times the airline even serves exclusive vintages and plenitudes, like the airline having recently served the 2003 P2 vintage
- Veuve Clicquot is served in business class on routes to the Americas and Europe
- Moet & Chandon is served in business class on routes to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific, including Australasia; the Emirates Business Lounge Dubai even has a special Moet & Chandon bar
- Moet & Chandon is also available for purchase in economy
You’ve gotta love that Emirates is essentially framing this in the context of a worldwide champagne shortage, promising to keep passengers well hydrated:
Despite the well-documented world shortage of champagne, due to harsh weather and a reduced harvest in 2021, pandemic supply chain issues, and an explosion in demand for champagne globally, Emirates passengers remain well-served onboard with the finest selection of bubbles available, ready to toast the festive season, special occasions, and the hope and promise of a new year.
Emirates takes a unique approach to procuring wine. The airline has invested over $1 billion in its wine program over the past 16 years, and that largely involves buying wines and champagnes at the earliest opportunity, and then allowing them to mature.
This is an interesting arrangement
Serving great champagne in first & business class is awesome to begin with, but having exclusive bragging rights with three great brands is even cooler.
It’s interesting to see Emirates make this announcement, given that in November 2022, Singapore Airlines had to drop Dom Perignon in first class. As we learned at the time, this was because of Emirates’ exclusive agreement. What we didn’t know at the time is that a similar agreement exists for business class champagnes.
Ultimately I suspect Emirates was able to negotiate this exclusively both due to the volume of champagne it purchases (Emirates’ first & business class footprint is much bigger than that of many other airlines), plus the carrier investing in champagne many years in advance.
However, after reviewing my list of the airlines serving the best champagne, I am curious if Emirates’ claims here are actually correct. Emirates claims to be the only commercial, international airline “officially” serving these types of champagne onboard.
Last I checked, Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2006 (which is much more premium than the Veuve Clicquot that Emirates serves) is available in EVA Air business class. Either that recently changed, or Emirates is making this claim based on the specific type of Veuve Clicquot it serves.
Furthermore, the same champagne is available in the Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Lounge and Air France La Premiere Lounge. However, Emirates did claim to be the only airline serving those champagnes “onboard,” so I guess that doesn’t preclude any airlines from serving that champagne on the ground.
Does anyone know if EVA Air has stopped serving Veuve Clicquot, or…?
Bottom line
Through 2024, Emirates has the exclusive bragging rights to be the only airline serving Moet & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Dom Perignon onboard. That’s the same champagne Emirates has served for quite some time, but the airline now has more exclusivity surrounding it, which is interesting.
What do you make of Emirates’ champagne claims?
Lots of "it's not that great" here, but who's serving top-level champagne in business class? Maybe Emirates with Moet & Chandon? Qatar and Etihad serve mid-range, Cathay Pacific serves Billecart-Salmon Brut ($60). Even Air France serve the same range of champagnes.
AFAIK, nobody goes over the top in J with champagne. As long as it's "solid" that's good enough for me.
I’m currently on Eva J YYZ-TPE (Dec 24), and looks like they have already stopped serving La Grande Dame even though it’s still on their wine menu. Replaced with the 2006 Duval-Leroy 'Clos des Bouveries' Extra Brut instead.
From on EVA Air a week ago both into and ex-TPE. As of mid-December, they're still serving Veuve Clicquot onboard, including the very enjoyable La Grande Dame 2006. Not sure if they're exhausting remaining inventory, but I'll be flying them again soon early next year and will give an update!
I’m flying from SFO to TPE next week on EVA and the online menu says they’re serving 2006 Duval-Leroy Clos Des Bouveries. That’s unfortunate…I was definitely hoping they’d have La Grande Dame.
Point of order: Veuve Cliquot is not “great Champagne.” Within the bounds of Champagne, it’s not even good Champagne.
Even the Qatar Airways lounge in Singapore changed their brut champagne from Veuve Cliquot to Taittinger now!
The rose is still the same (Bollinger)
Hi Bruno...is Taittinger more exclusive than Veuve Cliquot?
I find Quatter Airlines yet still many better!
Flew round trip ORD-TPE-ORD on EVA in November. On the outbound flight we were served Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame. I noticed the menu stated that VC La Grande Dame Rose was served only on New York and Paris routes.
On the return flight, to my great surprise, we were served VC La Grande Dame Rose 2006, which retails upwards of $350 pre-tax.
And you enjoyed the taste and flavour or only the price?
Will this challenge Delta to finally do better than Andre?
The brand they serve is not the reason I choose an airline.
One thing champagne connoisseurs seem to agree on (I am not one) is that judging champagne above the clouds by the same standards of on-ground champagne is silly.
It is true for every wine (and food) but with champagne quality having a driect relationship to air pressure and air humidity, many of the very high end champagnes, which are spectacular at the lounge, end up being not all that great in the skies. By...
One thing champagne connoisseurs seem to agree on (I am not one) is that judging champagne above the clouds by the same standards of on-ground champagne is silly.
It is true for every wine (and food) but with champagne quality having a driect relationship to air pressure and air humidity, many of the very high end champagnes, which are spectacular at the lounge, end up being not all that great in the skies. By the same token, some simpler, younger champagnes (and even heaven forbid sparking wine) shine when consumed at 30,000 feet
One thing that non connoisseurs seem to agree on is judging champagne based on price tag. A $250 Korbel must be better than a $100 Moet.
Meanwhile American has secured the finest $5 champagne money can buy.
Delta tops every airline, they've literally canned their "sparkling wine"
I had a '21 bottle Evian water in Economy on Jetstar and the plastic tones were a perfect finish to my raisin Danish. I felt bad for those who had been stuck with a '23 Dasani. Obviously Jetstar has aligned with an exclusive french dealer to aquire this brand and a much classier approach than the filtered tap water that is Dasani.
How'd you get a future vintage? This isn't American cars we're talking about.
Jetstar now fly through time?
Due to timezone differences, Australia is already in 2023
I sense a great deal between Emirates and LVMH here with good prices per bottle for Emirates.
Flying TPE-BNE just over a month ago was Grande Dame 06. Perhaps they're just running out the reserves. Not that I really fly Eva much, but it's a shame given how I think La Grande Dame is pretty good day wine.
** 2008
'08 is a better vintage, too.
Makes complete sense as it is an exclusive with one company, LVMH, which happens to be controlled by the world's richest person, Bernard Arnault.
I had Alexandra Rosé at QR J a few days ago. Superb champagne. IMHO much better that VC, MC, DP.
I'm glad that Emirates will serve these bland champagnes on an exclusive basis, so that QR (and JL, NH) can continue to serve the really good stuff.
One week ago on TPE-YVR EVA was serving Duval-Leroy Clos Des Bouveries 2006.
I can confirm EVA stopped serving Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2006 and its rose version for BR88 CDG-TPE business class. They are using Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle now.
As someone who doesn't fly Emirates I think this is great news. These champagne brands are all big names, but not really that special. Quite happy that the other airlines will be forced to look for alternatives. Would much rather a lessor known better quality champagne, but obviously Emirates is a very flashy airline, so using very flashy brands makes sense.
I could not agree more. There are so many boutique producers, that use Grand Crus only. They might not scale to the business class volumes or large airlaines, but would be great for first or smaller airlines.
On Eva last november and serving Veuve Clicquot La Grand Dame 2008 that was lovely as usual, as all top notch service and food on Eva Air
If Emirates is serving 2005 Chateau D'Yquem then I'm booking Emirates flights in 2023. It's the perfect way to end a superb meal. Or if the meal is just average then it's an even better way to end the meal :)
I was on EVA a few weeks ago and they served Veuve Clicquot LA Grand Dame 2008.
I redeemed MXP - JFK this past Saturday and I can confirm that Emirates is still serving the 2003 P2 in First. What an incredible experience, I feel so lucky to have tried it. The P2 was quite different than the 2012 vintage, which I also recently tasted-- for me the P2 was still fresh, but with strong notes of walnut and cashews. It was a fantastic experience and surprising, given that TBH the 2012...
I redeemed MXP - JFK this past Saturday and I can confirm that Emirates is still serving the 2003 P2 in First. What an incredible experience, I feel so lucky to have tried it. The P2 was quite different than the 2012 vintage, which I also recently tasted-- for me the P2 was still fresh, but with strong notes of walnut and cashews. It was a fantastic experience and surprising, given that TBH the 2012 Dom was not to my personal tastes (I know it's a very high quality wine enjoyed by many, just not to my own preferences).
In addition to the P2, I was delighted to also be able to try 2005 Chateau D'Yquem (also an LVMH brand) which typically sells for about the same price as the P2 (another amazing investment by Emirates). For me, the standout of the experience was Graham's 1979 vintage port, a smaller price tag, but still an outstanding experience.
Overall, I definitely feel I got my 85k miles' worth :)
@ Kay_Elemeno -- AWESOME! Thanks for sharing, happy you had a great experience.
Thanks, Ben. I owe you a huge debt of gratitude. I've been working up to this for years thanks to your help. It was amazing.
Very much agree on the 2005 Chateau D'Yquem, I had P2 on a flight SEA-DXB - which was outstanding as it gave me time to go through 7 bottles of P2 :D that I (obviously) enjoyed but the Chateau D'Yquem was also a standout.
Kay- was the 2012 you tasted also in the air or was it "on the ground?". I've heard some say that wine flavor profiles are different at altitude- thoughts?
I tasted the 2012 on the ground. I attended this year's La Fête du Champagne by bidding Marriott points. HIGHLY recommend if you're a Champagne nerd. It was an amazing opportunity to taste practically all of the big brands of Champagne, but an even better opportunity to taste smaller, grower champagnes. The best part is that most of the brands have the winemakers in attendance so you can get a really personalized experience.