Years ago British Airways used to employ the famous wine expert Jancis Robinson as their wine consultant. Since she left there has not been someone with the same expertise or high profile. At one point before Covid, it reached a low point when a bog standard Villa Maria was served in First. Thankfully things have moved on and I still always enjoy the Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle. Having great wine doesn’t need to cost huge amounts of money. There are many slightly more unknown wine varieties such as a Gruner Veltliner that don’t cost that much but are still fantastic wines. It just needs a bit of courage to offer wines that some people may be less familiar with.
Personally, I think that the wines on BA now are decent enough but feel they could be doing more. So I was very pleased to hear that British Airways has appointed a full-time Master of Wine, Tim Jackson MW, to improve the wines for premium customers both on the ground and in the air. Tim Jackson MW is one of only 415 Masters of Wine (MWs) in the world today and has previously written for Jancis Robinson’s website.
British Airways’ Master of Wine will play a vital role in selecting and tasting potential new wines, curating menu descriptions, developing the airline’s wider drinks strategy and sourcing a diverse range of wines worldwide.
As well as selecting fine wines and sparkling options, the Master of Wine will also lead the selection of the airline’s drinks portfolio across its lounges and on board. This includes championing the best of British beers, promoting classic gins and rolling out innovative non-alcoholic alternatives. A large part of the role will also include a sustained focus on taking into consideration differences in flavours, as well as taste and structure changes of beverages at altitude.
Sajida Ismail, Director of Onboard Experience at British Airways, said: “We are really excited to have Tim at British Airways. His knowledge and expertise play an integral role in our efforts to continue to deliver the premium experience that our customers look for when they fly with us and offer products that our colleagues are proud to serve.
“Going forward, we also have lots of exciting plans that will champion new drink offerings and celebrate the global network that we fly to.”
Tim Jackson, British Airways’ Master of Wine said: “I’m delighted to be the first person to take this position at British Airways. As an avid traveller, I have sampled wine from all corners of the globe, ranging from California to Chile, so I hope my love for travel, together with my experience and knowledge of beverages, will make a positive difference to the premium experience we offer our customers.”
In First, the airline has rolled out a special Bordeaux selection for the festive season, celebrating the 2010 vintage from both sides of Bordeaux comprising Château Haut-Batailley (I had this on my recent flight and it was one of the best I have had in BA First recently) and Clos de l’Oratoire. Customers can enjoy either of these wines in December.
From January 2023, British Airways will also be introducing a wine-selection strategy in First and Club World, showcasing different destinations across the airline’s network that produce premium wines. The airline will spotlight one destination at a time, to celebrate where the wines come from and the global network that the airline flies to. This builds on British Airways’ continued plans to bring a wide range of wines from around the world for its customers.
Cape Town in South Africa will be the airline’s first focus, with new wine offerings including Radford Dale’s Renaissance Chenin Blanc from old vines in Stellenbosch, as well as Andrea and Chris Mullineux’s benchmark Swartland Syrah from South Africa’s Winery of the Year. I’m flying at the end of January (to Cape Town funnily enough) so I’m looking forward to seeing if they are in place by then.
British Airways stated,
This appointment forms part of the airline’s wider commitment to continue to upgrade its product proposition for its customers. British Airways implemented an improved service across its First, World Traveller Plus, World Traveller and Club Europe cabins earlier this year and recently relaunched its Club World brasserie-style dining experience, with new seasonal menus championing the best of British cuisine.
I’d like to see an improvement in the Club champagne, particularly Club Europe. What would you like to see change onboard with this new appointment? Let us know in the comments below.
12 comments
I see they have returned to the dreaded Castelno in Cub Europe. A dreadful excuse for Champagne, but if the price is right……!
Interesting it might be for all drinks – championing the best of British beers -. Could mean we could get a decent beer rather than continuing to pursue that novelty brew dog beers.
Hopefully they will stop the need to request champagne in the lounge at T5 and have to skulk by the kitchens to wait for it! It doesn’t matter what they are offering if you still have to go through this less than premium experience!
The Dog Point is a good start but why not in Club too? I buy it for £14.95 from the Wine Society.
All most of us want is decent champagne when we have paid £2500 for a Club return ticket and some lighter reds such as pinot noir. And yes introduce less common wines such as Gruner, Albarino and Arneis for white and less alcoholic reds such as Dolcetto and Cabernet Franc from the Loire.
I saw the video about him on BA’s Instagram yesterday. I was mainly impressed someone was prepared to publicly accept responsibility for what they serve. I also noted his favourite wine was Chateauneuf Du Pape which alas I’ve not seen in F or CW on my flights with BA this year. His recommendation from the current CW wine list was the Chardonnay…. Unfortunately neither the video nor accompanying text in BAs post made clear he was a new appointment so if that’s the case then apologises as a couple of BA frequent flyers had a good laugh at this last night!
He has been there for a few months now.
I don’t drink alcohol so would love to see some non alcoholic cocktails and drinks I could drink..without orange or cranberry juice in as I can’t drink those either! There are lots of us that down;’t drink for many reasons so come on BA be a leader!
Hopefully they will appoint a Master of finding stands and a Master of getting bags off aircraft too! Rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic springs to mind!
And a Master of Getting Flights Away on Time – he says having had a 27 hour delay to a Joburg flight on Friday. Absolute shambles
Currently BA is serving the Teusner Riebke Shiraz in First, a wine that very recently, they used to put in Business. The exact same wine. Crazy And, it is a very similar point to why is the Dog Point not in Club as someone mentioned earlier? Is this not a massive downgrade for wines in First? Someone also highlighted that the Riebke is also on Singapore business class too.
In first wines should be special, a quality premium chardonnay. It does not have to be Burgundy, although that would be nice. Premium SA Chenin Blanc. Aged bordeaux and aged Syrah/shiraz blends. A proper vintage port or I frecently had on Qantas First class the Penfolds Grandfather Rare Tawny. Superb.
In Club World, Albarino and Greco di Tufo, Fiano and Gavi can be good value and good qua;ity. for reds Rioja, Argentian Malbecs and Tuscan blends can also be good value and quality.
The wine and champagne selections are decent enough BUT BA always run out of champagne on flights to Caribbean; so kindly get supply right first.
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