British Airways will become the first airline to feature prestige cuvée English sparkling wines onboard when they are introduced on March 30.
The new collection of English sparkling wines and champagnes will feature, on a rotational basis, in its First and Club World (Business class) cabins across all long-haul flights.
From March 30, passengers travelling in First class can taste ‘1086 by Nyetimber Rose 2014’, and ‘1086 Nyetimber 2014’ from October. The 1086 is the first English prestige cuvée to be released.
Gusbourne’s prestige cuvée, ‘Fifty One Degree North 2016’, which is made from fruit grown in Kent and Sussex, will feature in First class from July.
A wine from Sugrue South Downs will be available from January 2026. English sparkling wines are currently on offer in British Airways’ Club World cabin, with several additions on a rotational basis.
The Digby Fine English’s Brut NV will also be introduced, followed by Gusbourne’s 2019 Vintage Rosé from July. From October, Club World flyers will be able to sample Hattingley Valley’s Blanc de Noirs, which was made exclusively for the airline.
Passengers can look forward to Roebuck Estates’ Reserve Brut 2020 from January 2026 and Digby’s Leandeer Pink Brut NV from April 2026.
From March 30, Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle champagne will also return to First class. It will be followed by prestige cuvée Lanson NOBLE Champagne 2008 from July and Bollinger Grande Année from October, as well as Rare Champagne and Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Millénaires in January 2026.
Those travelling in First class from New York can also enjoy Veuve Clicquot’s La Grande Dame 2015.
More than 1,300 British Airways cabin crew have completed the airline’s First Service specialist training programme that features a bespoke wine masterclass crafted by its Master of Wine.
Calum Laming, Chief Customer Officer at British Airways, said: “We have selected the highest quality of wines with our passengers’ expectations in mind and more than a thousand of our incredible colleagues have undergone specialist training to deliver our award-winning wines through world-class service, every time they fly with us.”
Eric Heerema, Owner and Chief Executive Officer at Nyetimber, added: “It is fantastic to see our ‘1086 by Nyetimber’ sparkling wines available in British Airways’ First cabin.
“We are seeing fantastic growth for Nyetimber sparkling wines in travel retail and this exciting listing with British Airways solidifies our presence and expansion in this area of the market.”
