BA serves Bolney English fizz in first class

Britsh Airways has added an English sparkling wine to its first class menu for the first time, listing Bolney Wine Estates’ vintage blanc de blancs as its guest sparkling wine for six months from February.

Bolney’s blanc de blancs will be served in BA first class for six months from February

The English sparkler, produced by the West Sussex estate, will join Laurent Perrier Grande Siecle and Jacquart Mosaique Rose NV on the airline’s Champagne and sparkling wine menu.

“It is such a privilege that it will be sampled by British as well as international flyers,” said Sam Linter, managing director and winemaker at Bolney Wine Estate. “We feel this partnership shows the strength of the English wine industry and we are very much looking forward to continuing our relationship with British Airways.”

The Bolney Wine Estate Blanc de Blancs, made from 100% Chardonnay, is the second wine from the West Sussex based winery to be served on British Airways flights. It follows the Bolney Estate Pinot Gris that was introduced on the wine menu for first class customers in 2015.

The fizz will be served alongside dishes such as the Loch Fyne Kinglas smoked salmon with tartar sauce, watercress panna cotta and Oscietra caviar.

“This is the first time we have offered an English Sparkling white wine on board and we think our customers are going to love it,” said Colin Talbot, British Airways’ head of catering. “All of our wines are blind tasted by experts to ensure we serve the very best and this English Sparkling Wine came out on top.”

Last year British Airways’ First class customers consumed more than 160,000 bottles of champagne, 133,000 bottles of red wine and 150,000 of white wine on board flights.