Emirates to Serve Exceptional Champagnes and Fine Wines Across Global Network in 2026

Emirates is set to introduce a new collection of exceptional Champagnes and fine wines across its global network in the coming months, giving customers in every cabin the opportunity to sample selections from one of the world's most extensive airline wine cellars. 

The latest collection includes Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017 and Château Mouton Rothschild 2003 in First Class, as well as Emirates' first English sparkling wine, Wiston Estate Brut NV, in Premium Economy. The selection brings together celebrated vineyards from France, Australia, Chile, South Africa and the UK.

Since 2006, Emirates has invested more than USD 1 billion in its wine programme, building a cellar that now holds around five million bottles in dedicated facilities in France. Many of the wines are purchased years in advance and carefully matured until they reach their optimum drinking window before being served onboard.

Because many wines are sourced in small parcels and through limited allocations, Emirates customers have access to rare and sought-after vintages that are not widely available elsewhere.

In First Class, Emirates is expected to introduce Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017 across its global network towards the end of the year. It is the latest expression of the Champagne house's iconic prestige cuvée. Produced from a year of striking contrasts in Champagne, the 2017 vintage combines richness and freshness, with aromas of wet stone, jasmine and candied citrus leading to a vibrant palate marked by precision, freshness and refined mineral character.

On African routes, First Class customers can currently enjoy Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2015 from Bouchard Père & Fils. Produced in Puligny-Montrachet, one of Burgundy's legendary Chardonnay terroirs, the wine is known for its power, precision and exceptional mineral tension.

The appellation is exceptionally small, while Grand Cru Burgundy is produced in limited quantities, making allocations highly restricted. The generous 2015 vintage offers ripe citrus, white peach, subtle spice and delicate toasted notes, alongside remarkable freshness and length.

On European routes, Emirates is currently serving Le Petit Cheval Blanc 2023 from Château Cheval Blanc in First Class. The rare white wine from one of Bordeaux's most prestigious estates is made primarily from Sauvignon Blanc, supported by Sémillon.

The 2023 vintage combines aromatic precision and freshness, with notes of bright citrus, white flowers, grapefruit and subtle mineral tension. While Château Cheval Blanc is renowned worldwide for its legendary red wine, its limited-production white cuvée remains a distinctive and highly sought-after expression of the estate.

First Class customers travelling to East Asia can currently discover Seña 2016, one of Chile's most iconic wines and a benchmark for premium Cabernet Sauvignon-led blends from the Aconcagua Valley. The wine highlights Chile's ability to produce world-class wines with elegance, depth and ageing potential. The 2016 vintage features black fruit, violet, tobacco and cedar, supported by fine tannins and a long, layered finish.

From late September, First Class customers travelling to Australasia will be served Penfolds RWT Shiraz 2015, one of Australia's benchmark expressions of Barossa Valley Shiraz. The wine features aromas of dark fruit, liquorice, mocha and spice, complemented by subtle savoury notes. Polished tannins provide structure, leading to a long and layered finish. With around a decade of maturity, the wine is already showing considerable depth and complexity.

From October, Emirates will serve Château Mouton Rothschild 2003 in First Class on UK routes, giving customers the opportunity to experience a mature First Growth Bordeaux with more than 20 years of development.

One of the great names of Pauillac and recognised as a First Growth under the historic 1855 Classification, the wine combines intense flavours of blackcurrant, blackberry and plum with cedar, tobacco and warm spice. Ripe tannins and a long, structured finish add to its depth and complexity.

From December, Vilafonté Series C 2016 will be available on select First Class routes, showcasing one of South Africa's highly regarded fine wines. The Cabernet Sauvignon-led Bordeaux-style blend combines black fruit, cedar and spice with polished tannins and a long, refined finish.

In Business Class, Emirates is currently serving La Dame de Montrose 2014 from Château Montrose on US routes. The second wine of one of Saint-Estèphe's great estates and a Second Growth in Bordeaux's 1855 Classification, the 2014 vintage offers blackcurrant, dark cherry, cedar and tobacco, with polished tannins and a long, savoury finish.

From late September, Business Class customers travelling on East Asia routes will be able to experience Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2024 from Domaine des Sénéchaux. The distinctive white wine comes from the Southern Rhône, where only around one in every 16 bottles produced in the appellation is white.

The 2024 vintage offers white flowers, citrus, pear and subtle spice, with a rounded texture and fresh mineral finish.

Emirates' Premium Economy selection will also feature wines from some of the world's renowned wine regions.

From October, customers will be served La Parde de Haut-Bailly 2014 from Château Haut-Bailly, one of the historic estates of Pessac-Léognan in Bordeaux. After around a decade of maturity, the wine offers blackcurrant, red plum, cherry, tobacco and cedar, supported by silky tannins, fresh acidity and a long, elegant finish.

From September, Premium Economy customers will also be served Chablis Premier Cru Jean-Marc Brocard 2024. Produced in Burgundy's distinctive Chablis region, where Chardonnay is renowned for purity, freshness and mineral precision, the wine features lemon, green apple and white flowers, followed by a fresh and refined palate with bright acidity, saline tension and a precise finish.

October will mark another milestone for Emirates, with Wiston Estate Brut NV becoming the airline's first English sparkling wine. It will be served exclusively in Premium Economy on UK routes.

Wiston Estate is a historic family-owned property in West Sussex, with vineyards planted on the chalk soils of the South Downs. Produced from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier using the traditional method, its Brut NV incorporates reserve wines and extended lees ageing to provide depth and complexity while retaining freshness and distinctive minerality.

The wine has earned significant international recognition, with Wiston Estate named WineGB Winery of the Year six times. Opening with green apple, freshly cut lemon and sourdough, the wine develops with a fine mousse and notes of candied citrus, butter and toast.

The introduction of Wiston Estate exclusively on UK routes celebrates British provenance and craftsmanship while giving Emirates customers the opportunity to discover one of England's benchmark sparkling wines.

Chandon 2021, now onboard as a global Emirates exclusive in Premium Economy, will also continue a partnership that has formed part of the cabin's wine offering since Premium Economy launched.

Produced in Victoria's Yarra Valley using the méthode traditionnelle and aged for four years, the wine balances vibrant fruit with brioche and almond meal, freshness and length. Minimal dosage preserves its clarity and regional expression.

In Economy Class, Emirates is introducing a new collection of approachable and characterful wines across its global network.

Domaine de la Baume Tautavel 2023, a Grenache-Syrah from Roussillon in southern France, offers ripe blackberry, blackcurrant and red plum, complemented by liquorice, pepper and Mediterranean herbs. Smooth tannins provide a fruit-driven finish.

From October, Emirates will introduce Château Pech-Latt Corbières 2024, made from traditional Corbières varieties including Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Mourvèdre. The wine offers ripe blackberry, blackcurrant and red fruit, complemented by spice and Mediterranean herbs, with a round and supple palate.

For white wine enthusiasts, Cuvée Sabourin Picpoul de Pinet 2024 brings the freshness of France's Mediterranean coast onboard. It combines bright lemon, green apple and white flowers with subtle mineral and saline notes. Crisp acidity and a clean, citrus-driven finish make it particularly suited to seafood and lighter dishes.

Completing the new Economy Class selection is Journey's End Weather Station Sauvignon Blanc 2025, produced by the family-owned Journey's End estate near Stellenbosch, South Africa. The vintage features green apple, citrus, grapefruit and kiwifruit, complemented by subtle saline minerality, lively acidity and a clean, refreshing finish.

Emirates applies stringent criteria when selecting wines that can perform both on the ground and at altitude. The airline considers factors including fruit character, acidity, tannin levels, oak influence and, crucially, maturity.

Many wines are acquired years before they are ready to serve and aged in professional facilities in France. Bordeaux wines destined for Business Class typically undergo a minimum of eight to 10 years of ageing, while those selected for First Class can mature for at least 12 to 15 years.

This long-term approach allows Emirates to secure limited parcels of sought-after vintages and serve customers wines at their peak, as part of the airline's Fly Better promise.