Twenty years in, the airline wine list has become a genuine competitive battleground — and the results of Global Traveler's 2026 Wines on the Wing competition prove just how much thought carriers now pour into the pour. For beverage buyers and hospitality operators, the takeaway is clear: in premium travel, wine is no longer an amenity. It's a brand statement.
Held May 17 at The Ned NoMad in New York City, the blind tasting marked the 20th iteration of the survey, judged by winemakers, sommeliers, wine shop owners and other wine industry executives. Global Traveler remains the only U.S.-based publication to conduct such a survey stateside.
British Airways and Korean Air Lead First and Business Class
To be eligible for the overall international awards, airlines had to submit five wines — two reds, two whites and one sparkling/Champagne. This year, British Airways took Top International First-Class Wines on the Wing, while Korean Air claimed Top International Business-Class Wines on the Wing.
British Airways didn't stop there. The carrier swept both red-wine crowns, winning Top Red Wine International First Class with Alta Mora, Contrada Guardiola Etna Rosso 2020 (Sicily, Italy) and Top Red Wine International Business Class with Château de La Liquíere, Faugéres 2023 (Languedoc, France).
Standout Whites and Sparklers
- Top White Wine International First Class: Qatar Airways — Leeuwin Estate Art Series Margaret River Chardonnay 2021
- Top White Wine International Business Class: Air Tahiti Nui — Lionel Osmin & Cie 'Clos Cancaillü' Le Dernier Carré Jurançon 2015
- Top Sparkling Wine International First Class: Cathay Pacific Airways — Krug Vintage, Champagne, France 2004
- Top Sparkling Wine International Business Class: Cathay Pacific Airways — Taittinger Brut Reserve, Champagne, NV
Premium Economy: No Overall Winner, but Strong Individual Pours
Airlines also submitted wines served in international premium economy. Because no airline submitted a complete set of two reds, two whites and one sparkling/Champagne, there is no overall winner in this category. Individual honors, however, went to:
- Top Sparkling Wine: Cathay Pacific Airways — Astoria Lounge Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superior DOC Extra Dry, Italy
- Top Red Wine: Cathay Pacific Airways — Katnook Estate Shiraz Cabernet, Coonawarra, South Australia, 2024
- Top White Wine: Air Tahiti Nui — Château de Montguéret Le Petit Saint Louis Saumur Blanc, 2024
American Airlines Sweeps North America
For the 15th year, Global Traveler awarded Top North America Premium Class Wines on the Wing to carriers flying between two North American points. American Airlines not only took the overall title but swept the entire category:
- Top Sparkling Wine: Champagne Vollereaux Brut Réserve, Champagne, AOC, France
- Top Red Wine: High Heavens Vintners "Roaming Elk Red Blend," Columbia Valley, USA 2021
- Top White Wine: Pfaffl "Vom Haus" Grüner Veltliner Niederösterreich, Austria, 2025
For the 12th year, the survey also named Best Alliance Wines on the Wing, grouping participating airlines by alliance and averaging their overall points. The winner: SkyTeam.
Directing the survey is Tom Gannon, a world-renowned wine expert who trained through the American Sommelier, served as sommelier at Rothmann's Steakhouse in Midtown for nine years, and later joined Spire Collection, the luxury portfolio of Jackson Family Wines. He splits his time between Nashville and New York City.
Why It Matters
For beverage directors, procurement leaders and hospitality operators, Wines on the Wing is more than an airline story — it's a live case study in how a premium wine program drives perceived value. Carriers are pouring producers like Krug, Taittinger and Leeuwin Estate not because they have to, but because a credible, well-curated list signals quality across the entire guest experience.
Several practical lessons carry straight over to restaurants, hotels, lounges and institutional foodservice:
- Curation beats quantity. Five well-chosen wines earned airlines top honors. A tight, intentional by-the-glass or by-the-flight list often outperforms a sprawling one.
- Region and story sell. Sicilian Etna, Faugéres, Margaret River, Jurançon — winning lists lean into distinctive appellations that give staff and guests something to talk about.
- Tier your program. The gap between first, business and premium economy mirrors the tiered pricing operators use to match wine quality to spend and occasion.
- Third-party validation is marketing gold. An award-winning pour is a merchandising hook worth featuring on menus and in promotions.
The through-line for the food and beverage industry: guests increasingly judge the whole experience by the details, and wine is one of the most visible. A thoughtfully built list — even a small one — earns loyalty and justifies premium pricing.
Want more on how awards and buyer-driven recognition are reshaping the beverage industry? See our coverage of the PR%F Awards, the beverage competition judged only by buyers, and how Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace host Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026. Full results are in the August issue of Global Traveler or at globaltravelerusa.com.
Which airline wine program has impressed you most — and how are you elevating your own list? Weigh in with a comment below.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” for founding American Wholesale Floral. Politz is also the founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
