Emirates Airlines boasts the most elite wine list in the skies, Bloomberg reports. The company recently spent over 500 million dollars on a “Fort-Knox style” temperature controlled facility in Burgundy to house all of their latest and greatest wine purchases, only pulling them for service when the time is right. As Bloomberg reports, the airline has added more room in their aircrafts for larger glasses, resulting in bigger pours for flying customers. Red, white, and sparkling alike are all served in larger vessels, with red wines being decanted into individual carafes as opposed to being served in bottles. The airline is also seeking to adjust humidity and air pressure conditions in the cabin for more a more pristine wine drinking environment.
So how does the airline have such an insane wine program? By purchasing early and intelligently. Emirates stocks up on high end producers during reportedly great vintages; for example, Bloomberg reports that the airline purchased 2,000 cases of Chevalier-Montrachet and Echezeaux wines from Burgundy in 2015; that’s equal to 10 percent of the total wine production of the Corton-Charlemagne region. Ornellaia, Stag’s Leap, and Dom Perignon are also staples on the flight; in fact, the airline is one of the largest buyers of Dom Perignon in the world. Wines of Bordeaux compose the largest portion of the Emirates list, with Chateau d’Yquem being a favorite amongst fliers.
All this doesn’t negate the fact that passengers in transit through the UAE under the influence of alcohol can be arrested. Non-Muslim residents must have a liquor license to drink alcohol in the Emirates, since Muslims are forbidden from drinking. Alcoholic drinks are served in licensed hotels and clubs, but being under the influence of alcohol in public is a punishable offense, so drink wisely!
