Air France has appointed sommelier Xavier Thuizat as its new Head Sommelier. He will sign the French flag carrier’s future wine, champagne and spirits list in all cabin classes and the lounges at its Paris airports. Burgundy-born Thuizat will also be putting together a new range of French beers.
Thuizat is taking over from Paolo Basso, world’s best sommelier in 2013, who has been producing the wine and Champagne list for the Air France since 2014. The new appointee is currently in charge of wine and spirits at the 124-room Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel, overlooking the Place de la Concorde in Paris.
Meilleur Sommelier de France in 2022, Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2023 and recent winner of the Michelin Guide’s Grand Prix de la Sommellerie 2024, Thuizat is renowned for the quality and relevance of his wine selections. To create a new offering, he and the Air France teams will organise blind tastings in all of France’s wine-growing regions to identify exceptional wines for enjoyment onboard or at airport lounges.
With Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône Valley, Languedoc-Roussillon, the Loire Valley and Alsace, France’s finest wine regions will feature on the new Air France wine list, signed by the sommelier.
“I would like to thank Paolo Basso, who for 10 years has been committed to promoting the finest wines from France’s vineyards for all our customers, in our lounges and onboard our aircraft. I am delighted to welcome Xavier Thuizat who, I am sure, will continue in this role with just as much talent and passion,” said Fabien Pelous, Air France’s SVP Customer Experience.
In all its travel cabins, including Economy, and in its airport lounges, Air France offers a wide range of fine wines, Champagnes and spirits promoting French vineyards and châteaux. Every year, over a million bottles of Champagne and over 8 million bottles of wine are served to Air France customers.
