From the hills to the skies: the journey behind our new inflight wines

We’re committed to sourcing the very best wines from around the world for our inflight cellar, but having a direct hand in creating the final blend is a rare and exciting opportunity.

Developed through our close partnership with Vinarchy (formerly Accolade Wines), our new selection of bespoke wine blends will be available exclusively to our Economy class passengers – and we can’t wait for you to try them. 

“This collaboration allows us to elevate the quality and experience of our inflight wines for our Economy passengers,” says Ronald Khoo, Cathay’s Wine, Spirits & Beverage Manager. “The difference is in the details and in this case, we have worked with Vinarchy’s Group Premium Winemaker Craig Stansborough to ensure that the details – balancing the right blend of wines together – are the main focus.”

Finding the perfect blend is a meticulous process. Throughout our partnership with Vinarchy, which dates back to 2023, we’ve gone through multiple rounds of samples and tastings to land upon the right end product. This time, however, our quest for excellence took us further – to South Australia, where Vinarchy is headquartered. 

South Australia is one of the great wine regions of the world, with 18 unique wine districts. From the cool climates of the Adelaide Hills to the sun-kissed plains of the Barossa Valley, each area is shaped by a distinct climate, terrain and soil. 

In Coonawarra, you’ll find some of the country’s best Terra Rossa vineyards, where red soil over limestone and a Mediterranean climate yield vibrant yet sophisticated fruit flavours – like those of Katnook Estate . For our tasting and blending session, we met with Stansborough to learn more about these wines.

“This is something we rarely do,” says Stansborough. “To blend with Cathay Pacific, and Ronald, who has in-depth knowledge of the end customer experience, truly adds another dimension to the process. 

“When we are in the tasting room, our aim is to blend the best wines possible from what is available. In this case, understanding how wines look and taste different in the flight is critical. Without this collaborative experience, and the mutual respect for each other’s expertise, I don’t think we would have achieved what we did.” 

In the expert hands of Stansborough and professional input from Khoo, science, art and instinct came together to create two exclusive blends.  

The Chardonnay went through a painstaking process of refinement, with citrus elements from cool-climate wines added bit by bit. The result is an impressive varietal fruit flavour with pleasant mouthfeel and a crisp finish.  

As for the Shiraz-Cabernet, special attention was paid to the structure – too much and the result would be overpowering in the air; too little and the wine would lose some of its flavour.  

“We try our best to find wines that are fruit-driven, as they’re great with altitude, but balance is the real key,” says Khoo. “This has all the fruit intensity that we like but we wanted to include more complexity – balancing texture and a wider flavour profile. 

“It was a bit like a chef at work, adding and subtracting different components to achieve the right balance.” 

Our close collaboration with Vinarchy has paid off. We’re thrilled to be able to serve our Economy passengers truly exceptional wines for a wonderful experience in the sky. After all, memorable journeys deserve memorable pours. Look out for these exclusive gems on our inflight wine menu during your next flight with us.

Beyond Economy 

In addition to upgrading our wines for Economy passengers, our partnership with Vinarchy has helped us expand our selection of South Australian wines in other cabins. We’re delighted to serve fine wines from the world-renowned Grant Burge winery in our First class and Business cabins.

First class: Grant Burge Meshach 2014 

A triple trophy winner at the 2024 Cathay Hong Kong Wine and Spirit Competition , the acclaimed Grant Burge Meshach is a bold yet beautifully balanced wine. It stands as the winery’s flagship Shiraz, crafted from near-century-old vines in South Australia's Barossa Valley. Layered with notes of blackberry, coffee and dark chocolate with firm tannins, this wine offers impressive intensity and depth.  

Business: Grant Burge Filsell 2021 

Perfect for pairing with red meats or lightly spiced vegetables, this complex, full-bodied red wine comprises notes of star anise, juniper and hazelnut liquor, with subtler hints of dark cherry and chocolate espresso. Its dense tannins coat the mouth with each sip, while its mouthful evolves from a plush, velvety start to a silky smooth finish, carrying deep flavours throughout.