Qantas Sommeliers offering wine tasting - Economy included!

[awkwardpaws]

Qantas Is Offering Wine Tastings... In Economy! - One Mile at a Time

Has anyone encountered these Qantas sommeliers on board, and being offered these 'formalised' wine tastings? Seems pretty nifty by Qantas

Also - agree with Lucky, can imagine the economy experience can be a bit awkward..

 

[blackcat20]

Not even when travell in first two weeks ago...

 

[RooFlyer]

Never heard of it. Never seen it in action.

 

[njba]

Well done! A fun idea and a good way to pass the time.

 

[chelzmalee]

I've got SYD-JFK in October, hope it'll be fully operational then. Then I can pass the time with fun

 

[yohy?!]

a nice bit of churnalism by the QF PR team methinks:

the concept of QF having sommeliers is something that gets a run every few years (probably when the marketing surveys show falling impressions of onboard F&B), obviously the reality of staffing levels on board means that being able to provide wine tasting is unrealistic except in First

 

[drewbles]

I can see the economy one..
"This sir, is the 2016 Jacobs Creek Chardonay... it tastes exactly the same as the 2016 Jacobs Creek Shiraz, except it's white!"

The article says it's 'upon request' and time permitting. It would depend on having an actual Sommelier on the staff too (I know the F/J staff are trained in wine, but not sure if they actually have all the certifications).

 

[Flying Fox]

I can see the economy one..
"This sir, is the 2016 Jacobs Creek Chardonay... it tastes exactly the same as the 2016 Jacobs Creek Shiraz, except it's white!"

Similarly, I thought that QF Y only had two wines - Red or White?

 

[CaptJCool]

They ought be able to crowd-source booking requests via Q entertainment system.....

Csnt imagine asking the trolley dolly. I hear you do sommelier tastings can I get one of them please

 

[drewbles]

Similarly, I thought that QF Y only had two wines - Red or White?

AA Domestic F took the cake. On a longer segment I was offered wine. I asked what the red was and was shown the bottle. It said "Washington Estate Red Wine". I asked if I could look at the bottle, which was handed to me to look at. The label on the back said absolutely zip about the type of grape it was. It had an address of the distributor and that's about it.

I had a glass as there was nothing else (the white wine was similarly just 'white wine'). It was not good.

 

[kermatu]

I'd have regarded this as something even half genuine had it been sold as - for example - specifically for Premium Economy on particular routes - to give a degree of certainty it actually happens.

Otherwise it is just spin as mentioned above, and rife to accusations of over-promising /under-delivering; and consistent inconsistency.

 

[drewbles]

I'd have regarded this as something even half genuine had it been sold as - for example - specifically for Premium Economy on particular routes - to give a degree of certainty it actually happens.

Otherwise it is just spin as mentioned above, and rife to accusations of over-promising /under-delivering; and consistent inconsistency.

It's Schlappig. I don't read anything he writes and think it's unbiased or very accurate. I trust the photos though but that's about it.

 

[jojen]

I just had a look at the YouTube link provided. Anyone that has Jeremie on their flight is very fortunate. We were lucky to have him on QF9 last year. He is passionate about wine and went out of his way to let us have a great experience in J with tasting the wines on offer and did bring us a special bottle from F to enjoy. I did find it rather strange that he was also working in the Y cabin when he has such great talent.

A pity he is based in London and does not fly from HND. Last week on QF26 the CSM announced that there was a sommelier on board. We were in J and did not see him at all. The FA serving us was not very interested in showing us what wine was available. When we both asked to taste a certain wine it seemed a great effort .We both felt that all the crew wanted to do was get the meal finished so they could have a rest.

If a wine tasting is going to provided to Y passengers I really feel that Qantas need to improve the service offered to J passengers.

 

[blackcat20]

It's Schlappig. I don't read anything he writes and think it's unbiased or very accurate. I trust the photos though but that's about it.

Its not actually his story; he's picked it up from Aussie blog Wine Wankers. https://winewankers.com/2016/07/11/...-free-wine-tastings-during-long-haul-flights/

 

[boomy]

What a great idea! I know about QF F sommelier programme but well done on them for offering the experience to Y pax as well.

 

[juddles]

Although the notion of airborne wine tastings sounds fun in theory, I just don't believe it.

I have gone through something of a bodily rejection of all airline food - too much flying. So now it is only simple things I like. Instead of a "trained sommelier" , all I ask is that someone (even if they don't know what wine is), can serve me a decent size glass of a medium+ red, any varietal, with some nice bread and premium butter. And quickly.

 

[Daver6]

AA Domestic F took the cake. On a longer segment I was offered wine. I asked what the red was and was shown the bottle. It said "Washington Estate Red Wine". I asked if I could look at the bottle, which was handed to me to look at. The label on the back said absolutely zip about the type of grape it was. It had an address of the distributor and that's about it.

I had a glass as there was nothing else (the white wine was similarly just 'white wine'). It was not good.

Its called a blind tasting. Were you able to pick the variety or blend?

 

[juddles]

Its called a blind tasting. Were you able to pick the variety or blend?

Two comments - the first is that to subject a long-haul pax to a blind tasting is a tad unfair - everyone is off par in those flights

Second, re labelling, lots of countries do NOT label their wine with the specific varietals. That is a very Aussie thing. May I suggest not focusing on that, and rather relaxing and simply relishing the experience of deciding if YOU personally enjoy the sensations of imbibing the offering?

 

[RooFlyer]

The wine I was offered on Iceland Air J class LHR-KEF some years back was labelled ... unfortunately.

It was "Koala White". A chardonnay from somewhere in this great land.

 

[juddles]

.... "Koala White".....

a true abomination