Discerning travelers flying Emirates First Class are invited to indulge in an extraordinary wine journey. For a select period, the airline is pouring a curated range of rare vintages from its renowned Burgundy cellars—some aged for up to 15 years. These exclusive pours are available only on specific First Class routes, reflecting their exceptional scarcity and prestige.
This season, the Emirates Vintage Collection features four legendary wines: Château Cheval Blanc 2004, Château Haut-Brion 2004, Château Mouton Rothschild 2001, and Château Margaux 1998. Each bottle has been expertly cellared to reach its peak expression, ensuring an unparalleled tasting experience at 40,000 feet.
Since 2006, Emirates has strategically acquired wines for long-term maturation, often securing allocations 'en primeur' directly from the world's most esteemed estates. The Vintage Collection represents the pinnacle of Emirates’ wine program, underscoring the airline’s commitment to offering an authentic, world-class inflight experience.
This direct sourcing approach has enabled Emirates to forge privileged partnerships with elite vineyards, allowing its team to hand-select and reserve vintages that are rarely seen even in Michelin-starred restaurants.
Joost Heymeijer, Senior Vice President of Inflight Catering at Emirates, shared: “We collaborate directly with the châteaux, personally selecting these exceptional vintages and aging them in Burgundy until they reach optimal maturity for our guests.”
“Every aspect of the Emirates Vintage Collection has been meticulously crafted,” Heymeijer continued. “From advanced sommelier training for our cabin crew to bespoke glassware and expertly designed wine-pairing menus, we ensure our guests enjoy a wine experience that rivals the world’s leading gastronomic destinations.”
The Emirates Vintage Collection debuted on a flagship Paris-bound flight, where guests were treated to Château Cheval Blanc 2004 and a surprise onboard wine masterclass led by Arnaud de Laforcade, the estate’s Commercial Director, in the Emirates A380 Onboard Lounge.
To complement these iconic wines, Emirates’ culinary team has developed tailored dishes inspired by the destinations served. For instance, on flights to and from Dublin, Château Cheval Blanc 2004 is paired with Irish grass-fed beef fillet, potato dauphinoise, creamed leek and spinach, baby carrots, and a shallot jus. On Geneva-bound services, the same wine accompanies seared venison with thyme jus, blanched kohlrabi, baby carrots, and broccolini.
The four vintages are being rotated throughout the year across routes in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Australasia, giving First Class guests the unique opportunity to savor these rare finds in the skies.
In the past year alone, Emirates invested over $60 million in fine wines and champagnes from France, reaffirming its position as a leading wine buyer among global airlines.
Emirates’ cellars now house more than 5 million bottles, with some treasures not scheduled for service until at least 2027. As the Emirates Vintage Collection continues to evolve, travelers can look forward to even more remarkable discoveries as future vintages reach their prime.