• Jetstar awarded for second year running at coveted Cellars in the Sky wine awards
• Main Divide Sauvignon Blanc 2012 voted Second Best White Wine in Business Class
• Last year Jetstar won Best White Wine in Business Class and Second Best Business Class Cellar

A New Zealand wine served in business class on Jetstar long-haul flights has won an award at this year’s prestigious Cellars in the Sky Awards in London.

The awards, held this week, voted Jetstar’s offering of Main Divide Sauvignon Blanc 2012 as Second Best White Wine in Business Class. The wine is from Pegasus Bay Winery in Waipara, North Canterbury. 

Last year, Jetstar became the first low-cost carrier in the world to win the Cellars in the Sky Award for Best White Wine in Business Class with another Canterbury offering, Waipara Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2010.

Judges assigned this year’s award-winning Main Divide wine 93 out of 100 points, describing it as: “A stylish bouquet of flavours, including passion fruit, gooseberries and a touch of cassis. Lovely and ripe with a super attack. Wonderful length and freshness, with a dry, crisp finish.”

Andrew Christos, Jetstar Inflight Services Manager, said 33 airlines entered the Cellars in the Sky Awards this year, with 260 submissions.

“For Jetstar to receive an award for the second year in a row is a considerable achievement and is further proof that our in-flight wine program, which has been in place for two years, is delivering results,” Mr Christos said. 

Jetstar has a panel of experts made up of Lisa McGuigan, Matt Skinner, Usher Tinkler and Anna Pooley, to help select wines from a range of Australian and New Zealand producers to be served on-board. 

“The panel selects our in-flight wines through a double-blind tasting of about 200 wines twice a year, so it’s a comprehensive selection process,” Mr Christos continued.

Jetstar rotates its wine selection in business class to keep the offering varied. The Main Divide Sauvignon Blanc 2012 was offered to passengers for three months from November 2012 to January 2013. It has been replaced with Stoneleigh’s Sauvignon Blanc 2012.

After noting the popularity of the Waipara Hills Sauvignon Blanc last year, and subsequent New Zealand offerings, Jetstar now permanently features New Zealand wine on its business class list.

Business class is offered on all Jetstar long-haul international flights, including Australia to Hawaii and between Australia and New Zealand to Asia. Jetstar flies Auckland-Singapore three times a week using Airbus A330 aircraft.