Singapore Airlines to serve rare Red Burgundy in upscale flights

Starting 1 August, SIA first class and suites passengers may enjoy six highly acclaimed “Grand Cru” Red Burgundy labels.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) announced on Thursday that it will be featuring six of the most acclaimed “Grand Cru” Red Burgundy labels in its wine selection available to Suites and First Class customers starting 1 August 2010. With the introduction, customers on each flight will be able to look forward to a “Grand Cru” Red Burgundy label in addition to the current wine selection, the SIA report said.

SIA serves approximately 2.1 million bottles of wine on board every year, across all classes. It will be the only airline to offer the said labels on board.

Red Burgundy is a red wine label said to be originating from the French region of Bourgogne and made predominantly with the popular Pinot Noir grape variety. Possessing a reputation for being challenging to cultivate, these Pinot Noir grapes are grown around the world, but those from the region of Bourgogne produce some of the finest wines in the world.

The six labels to be offered by the Airline are classified as “Grand Cru”, a classification that designates a vineyard known for its excellent reputation in producing wine.

“We are very pleased to enhance our current wine selection on board, which also includes the popular and renowned Red Bordeaux labels, with the prestigious “Grand Cru” Red Burgundy labels. We are also delighted to be able to obtain six different labels to meet the volume required for all our flights and we hope our customers, both wine connoisseurs and non-wine connoisseurs alike, will take the opportunity to try these the next time they fly with us,” said Singapore Airlines’ Senior Vice-President Product and Services, Mr Yap Kim Wah.

Steven Spurrier, one of the Airline’s three wine consultants, said, “As with our second growth Bordeauxs, the reputation and quality of the Grand Cru Burgundies are pretty much as good as we can get. All six labels would be five stars, without question.”

Singapore Airlines’ Suites and First Class customers can also choose from an international selection of beer and liqueurs, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. This is in addition to the Airline’s exquisite list of champagne of Dom Pérignon 2000 and Krug Grande Cuvée, and selection of top-quality wines including pourings from France, Italy, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, as well as port wine from Portugal.

Singapore Airlines’ wines are selected by three world-renowned wine experts -- Michael Hill-Smith, Australia's first Master of Wine; Jeannie Cho Lee, the first AsianMaster of Wine; and Steven Spurrier, a leading authority and author on wine.