globaltravelerusa.com | $4.99 August 2016

CAIRO AN EPIC EXPERIENCE AWAITS AMONG THE ANTIQUITIES p. 60

BUSINESS BOOMS IN BOGOTÁ p. 52

EMBRACE CHESTER'S HISTORY ON A ROMANTIC RAMBLE p. 66 WINES ON DOURO DELIVERS MORE THE WING: THAN IMAGINED p. 74 12 th ANNUAL WINE SURVEY RESULTS REVEALED p. 38 Wines on the Wing GT presents the winners of the 12th annual Wines on the Wing wine competition.

BY EUNICE FRIED | PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER OTTAUNICK

eliá Hotels International, based in Spain, operates 350 hotels in 40 countries, but it offered none in the United States until opening INNSIDE New MYork Nomad in March. There, in an open, light-drenched space enhanced with earth and neutral shades, the hotel offers 300 guestrooms on 20 floors, a wellness suite and Impero Caffé, where well-known chef Scott Conant features Italian bistro cuisine. It also features two meeting rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows. And this is where Global Traveler held its 12th annual Wines on the Wing International Airline Wine Competi- tion, judging wines served on international first- and business-class flights throughout the world as well as a smaller third category, wines served on first- and business- class flights beginning and ending in North America. To judge the wines, GT invited 26 highly regarded wine professionals ranging from wine importers, wine retailers, winemakers and restaurant wine directors and sommeliers to wine educators, consultants and writers to taste the wines the airline entrants currently serve. All wines were served in numbered glasses so the judges knew only the type of wine they were tasting, noth- ing more. They saw no bottles, no labels. They focused their decisions completely on the quality of the wine in the glass. And they found much to admire. When the results were tallied, the airline that won first place among both International First Class and wines was Singapore , with its business-class category wines

38 | GLOBAL TRAVELER | August 2016 globaltravelerusa.com TOP FIVE INTERNATIONAL FIRST-CLASS WINES ON THE WING 1. 2. 3. American Airlines 4. 5. Emirates

TOP FIVE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS-CLASS WINES ON THE WING 1. Singapore Airlines 2. Delta Air Lines 3. All Nippon Airways 4. Brussels Airlines 5. Emirates

TOP FIVE CHAMPAGNES INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS 1. Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle, Grande Cuvée, NV (British Airways) tie Dom Pérignon 2006 (Singapore Airlines) adding up to the highest score ever recorded in American Airlines emerged as another major 2. Krug Grande Cuvée, NV (All Nippon GT’s 12 years of competition. Beyond that, its winner. Featured in both the Top International Airways) individual wines won a place in virtually every First Class and Top International Business Class 3. Dom Pérignon Rosé 2003 (Emirates) Top Wines list. categories, it also handily won as the Top North 4. Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle, Grande How does Singapore Airlines manage to offer American First Class/Business Class Airline, Cuvée, NV (American Airlines) such an amazing collection of wines? To begin, the sweeping that category with the Best North wines are chosen by experts — Jeannie Cho Lee, American Champagne/Sparkling Wine, Best North TOP FIVE CHAMPAGNES Michael Hill Smith and Oz Clarke — who taste American White Wine and Best North American INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS more than 1,000 wines each year before whittling Red Wine. their choices down. Then there is the quality of American Airlines’ wine program is a joint 1. Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve, NV those choices. Singapore, for example, is the rare venture between Ken Chase, the airline’s wine (Singapore Airlines) airline offering Grand Cru Burgundy and two consultant, and Intervine, a Napa-based airline 2. Pol Roger Extra Cuvée de Réserve, NV prestige Champagne cuvées, Dom Pérignon and wine program management company. Together, (Delta Air Lines) Krug Grand Cuvée. they taste close to 10,000 wines each year in their 3. Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label, NV (Emirates) “Our cellar is the result of extensive collabora- efforts to select wines for American Airlines. A 4. Jean Pernet Tradition, NV (Aer Lingus) tion with the talented members of our interna- committee of American Airlines management 5. Canard Duchêne, Cuvée Leonie, NV tional wine panel, a team that keeps us up to date tastes their selections semi-annually. In total, the (All Nippon Airways) in selecting many of the finest wines and Cham- airline serves passengers approximately 2 million pagnes but also keeps us current on wine trends bottles of wine per year. TOP FIVE WHITE WINES and developments,” said Sek Eng Lee, regional vice Emirates also scored highly. Featured among INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS president Americas, Singapore Airlines. He also both the Top Airlines International First Class and 1. François Villard Condrieu de Poncins 2014 congratulated GT’s judges: “We are grateful to the International Business Class, its François Villard (Emirates) experts convened by Global Traveler for recogniz- Condrieu de Poncins 2014 was the highest-scoring 2. Clos Devant Chassagne-Montrachet 2014 ing our in-flight wine program.” white wine among International First Class entries. (American Airlines) In total, Singapore Airlines spends $16.5 mil- “At Emirates, we’re dedicated to providing the 3. Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling 2013, lion annually on its wine program. And it pulls best experience for our passengers, and we have Mosel, Germany (All Nippon Airways) the cork on 194,000 bottles of Champagne a year. curated a wine program that is reflective of that 4. Vincent Girardin Chassagne-Montrachet All Nippon Airways did exceedingly well, promise,” said Joost Heymeijer, senior vice presi- Le Cailleret 2011 (British Airways) finishing second among International First Class dent, catering, Emirates. “Receiving this award is 5. Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2014, airlines and third among all International Business truly a testament to our unrelenting effort to offer a New Zealand (Singapore Airlines) entries, with many of its wines finishing among the consistently great product that delights passengers, top five in their categories. and we believe this is what sets us apart. Our long-

globaltravelerusa.com August 2016 | GLOBAL TRAVELER | 39 TOP FIVE WHITE WINES INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLASS 1. Paulo Laureano Reserva 2014, Alentejo, Portugal (TAP Portugal) 2. Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Australia (Fiji Airways) 3. Matahiwi Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2015, New Zealand (All Nippon Airways) 4. Stulmuller Vineyards Chardonnay 2013, Sonoma, California (Delta Air Lines) 5. Devil’s Lair, The Hidden Cave Chardonnay 2014, Australia (Singapore Airlines)

TOP FIVE RED WINES INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS

1. Monte Zovo Amarone della TOP NORTH AMERICAN term planning strategy and investment is what allows us to procure rare and Valpolicella 2012, Italy FIRST CLASS/BUSINESS exclusive vintages that continue to surprise our passengers time and again.” (American Airlines) CLASS WINES ON THE WING To accomplish that, Emirates invests heavily in its wine program. Last year 2. Crasto Reserva 2012, Douro, it spent more than $140 million, more than twice the amount spent the previ- Portugal (All Nippon Airways) 1. American Airlines ous year, on wines for all three cabins. Many of those wines will be properly 3. Château de Beaucastel 2007, 2. Delta Air Lines aged and not served for another 7 to 10 years. The increased investment, Châteauneuf du Pape, France 3. JetBlue Emirates said, is in response to its expanding network. (Emirates) Delta Air Lines finished second among the highest-scoring airlines in 4. La Follette Pinot Noir 2012, TOP NORTH AMERICAN International Business Class, and its Business Class Champagne and Chardon- Sonoma, California (British Airways) CHAMPAGNE/SPARKLNG nay were among the highest-scoring wines in their categories. 5. Clonakilla O’Riada Shiraz 2013, WINE Of the airlines that participated in Global Traveler’s 12th competition, 15 Austalia (Singapore Airlines) are members of three alliances: Star Alliance, oneworld and SkyTeam. The Lanson Black Label Champagne, alliance whose members’ wines totaled the highest averaged score was Star NV (American Airlines) Alliance. Those Star Alliance members include Air Canada, All Nippon Air- TOP FIVE RED WINES ways, Brussels Airlines, Singapore Airlines and TAP Portugal. INTERNATIONAL TOP NORTH AMERICAN Wine, to quote Ernest Hemingway, “is one of the most civilized things in BUSINESS CLASS WHITE WINE the world and one of the most natural things in the world.” Thanks to the excellent wines the airlines of the world provided, our judges enjoyed a most 1. Domaine de la Présidente, Bouchard Aîné & Fils 2014, Vieilles civilized, natural and enlightening afternoon. Cairanne 2013, Côtes du Rhône, Vignes, Burgundy, France (Ameri- France (American Airlines) can Airlines) 2. Churchill’s Estates Grande JUDGING PROCESS into flights, or categories, according Reserva 2011, Douro, Portugal TOP NORTH AMERICAN To participate in Global Traveler’s com- to their type. For example, all New (TAP Portugal) petition, airlines throughout the world Zealand Sauvignon Blanc submitted 3. Crasto 2014, Douro, Portugal RED WINE that operate long-haul international would be served together, as would (Brussels Airlines) Viñalba Malbec Reserva 2013, first-class and/or business-class service all California Zinfandel. Wines are 4. Portia Ebeia Roble 2014, Ribera Argentina (American Airlines) are invited to submit two white wines, presented to judges in code-marked del Duero, Spain (Air Canada) two red wines and one Champagne glasses. Judges are told only the type 5. Ferraton-Père & Fils La Matinière TOP AIRLINE ALLIANCE or other sparkling wine currently on of wine and, when appropriate (vintage Crozes-Hermitage 2011, France Champagne, for example), the year. If Star Alliance their wine lists as well as the wine lists (Singapore Airlines) judges feel a wine is flawed, a reserve Represented by Air Canada, All themselves. The same rules apply to bottle is poured. Professional assistants Nippon Airways, Brussels Airlines, our category of North American airlines pour the wines, and GT staff monitor Singapore Airlines and TAP that have first-class and/or business- the tasting. Portugal class service. The wines are coded and divided Each wine is judged on a modified

40 | GLOBAL TRAVELER | August 2016 globaltravelerusa.com Davis 20-point scale. The judges’ indi- JOHN FANNING, general manager HARRIET LEMBECK is president of buying decisions, coordinates the vidual scores for each wine are added of The Lambs Club, New York, has the Wine and Spirits Program where, Wine of the Month Club and writes and averaged, and the averaged served as general manager and/or for 32 years, she has taught consum- content for the shop’s website. She scores of an airline’s submissions wine director of other restaurants in ers and wine trade personnel. She is also conducts wine tastings and are totaled. Individual wines with the New York: SD26, Accademia di Vino, the author of the sixth and seventh classes. highest scores and the airlines with Il Trulli, Beppe, Felidia, Coco Pazzo, editions of Grossman’s Guide to Wine, the highest total scores win Wines on Le Madri and Palio; and in Rome: Beer and Spirits and is a contributor to ARNO SCHMIDT has been the the Wing awards. Bramante and San Michelle. Beverage Dynamics Magazine. executive chef at New York’s Waldorf

Astoria, The Plaza and other pres- FRED FERRETTI is a wine and food MICHAEL MANUPPELLI, a Certified tigious hotels, where he organized JUDGES writer whose articles appear in many Sommelier through the American numerous wine and food events. A MANOS ANGELAKIS is managing national publications. Formerly a New Sommelier Association, has been a native of Austria, he has worked in editor/publisher and senior wine and York Times reporter, for many years sommelier at The River Café in Brook- hospitality since 1946. food writer for Luxury Web Magazine he was also a columnist for Gourmet lyn, N.Y., for two years. Previously, he and a wine and food columnist for magazine. was beverage director at the Cornelia CHARLES SCICOLONE is the wine Epoch Times. He has particular exper- Street Café in Manhattan. and food editor of iItaly.org, an Italian- tise in Greek, Catalan and Chilean DAVID FRIESER, president of American web magazine; author wines and judges at numerous wine Beekman Liquors, Inc., a 59-year-old GILLES MARTIN is the winemaker of the wine blog Charles Scicolone competitions each year. wine shop in Manhattan, is a frequent and director of operations at Sparkling on Wine; consultant for the wine

wine lecturer for clients. He has been Pointe winery on Long Island, N.Y. importer Grapes on the Go; and a CESAR BAEZA is an enologist and professionally involved in wine for French-born, he studied winemak- wine educator. a consultant for the wine industry. A more than 30 years. ing at Montpelier and has worked at native of Chile, he studied winemak- Roederer Estate and Delas Frères. WILLIAM SHORT is regional ing there and in France, Spain and CODY GOLDSTEIN, an experienced manager, New York, for Dreyfus, California and worked in several winer- wine and food director, is founder of DAVID MILLIGAN is president of Ashby & Co. At 33 years, he is the ies. For 20 years he was wine master Muddling Memories, a bar consult- David Milligan Selections, represent- longest-tenured salesman in the fine- and co-owner of Brotherhood Winery ing firm. His recipes have won many ing fine French producers. In the wine importing company’s history. in New York. competitions, and his work has wine trade for more than 40 years, Before joining the wine business, he

appeared in several magazines and he began his training in England. He taught school for 10 years. RORY CALLAHAN, co-founder of the newspapers. Time Out New York also served as president of Seagram International Wine Center, is president nominated him as one of the city’s Chateau & Estate Wines. TIM SOMERS has worked in wine of Wine & Food Associates, a market best bartenders. and spirits for 28 years and has been development firm whose wine clients KATHERINE MOORE, FWS, is involved in start-up wineries in Califor- have included New Zealand, Spain, CURTIS GREEN is president and general manager of Union Square nia, North Carolina and China. He is South Africa and Chile. He attended founder of TenFolks Enterprises, Wine & Spirits, a large retail shop in currently vice president of training at the University of California-Davis a wine education and marketing Manhattan. Pernod Ricard. School of Viticulture and has made company created to broaden interest wine commercially. in wine among African Americans. He JOHANNES NECKERMANN is a ERIC WHITE is the manager of The

is also publisher of SlitelyChilled.com, wine consultant. A native of Germany, Winery, a Manhattan wine shop. He SCOTT CARNEY, M.S., is the dean the online magazine geared to the he has worked at Champagne Tait- has worked in the wine industry for of wine studies at the International African-American wine drinker. tinger, as a sommelier and in wine more than 20 years. For the last 11 Culinary Center, which has schools in retail. He has taught wine at SUNY’s years he has concentrated on wine New York City and California. FRANK JOHNSON is chairman and adult program and produced a private- consulting and tasting.

CEO of Frank Johnson Selections, an label Chardonnay at Hermann J. MOLLY CHOI, executive vice international wine brokerage firm. In Wiemer Vineyards, New York. president of sales and marketing at his 39 years in wine, he has worked Cape Classics, a leading South African in various aspects of the business and LIZ PALMER is a wine journalist wine import company, is responsible has also authored and edited several whose articles have appeared in for the marketing of more than 20 wine publications. Forbes, China Wine News and many wine estates. She has been with Cape other publications. Her book, The Classics for 19 years. KAREN KING is sales manager at Ultimate Guide to Champagne, will

Winebow, the wine-importing firm. be published this fall. She has been a LISA DONNESON, proprietor of She has been wine director at Union wine host and a wine judge at various Bouké and Bouquet Wines, produced Square Café and beverage director events throughout the world. on Long Island, N.Y., is a graduate of at Gramercy Tavern and The Modern the Wine and Spirits Education Trust in New York and taught wine at The JUDY RUNDEL has been on the staff and a member of the Institute of French Culinary Institute. of Heights Chateau, a wine shop in Wines & Spirits and Long Island Wine Brooklyn Heights, for more than 20 Council. years, where she takes part in wine

globaltravelerusa.com August 2016 | GLOBAL TRAVELER | 41 1 2

THE AFTER-PARTY 1. Lori Altman, advertising director, MNI Time Inc.; Dr. Arlene Stein; Eunice Fried, director, Wines on the Wing; Sheryl Stein, communica- tions manager, EL AL Israel Airlines

2. Lori Altman, advertising director, MNI Time Inc.; Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler ; Philip Ma, brand advertising and content, JetBlue

3. John Wroblewski, distribution specialist, Global Traveler; Eunice Fried, director, Wines 3 4 on the Wing; Lou Atsaves, distribution special- ist, Global Traveler

4. Susanne Demterious, marketing manager, German National Tourist Office; Mila Kickert, partner cooperations, German National Tourist Office; Marzena Weglowski-Pallazzo, market and sales manager, Bavaria Tourism; Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler

5. Charles Mardiks, president, Mardiks Public Relations: Elisa Fershtadt, public relations, Monaco Government Tourist Office; Sheryl 5 6 Stein, communications manager, EL AL Israel Airlines; Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler; Richard Evans, senior vice president, Global Traveler; Christopher Ahlgrim, global director of corporate travel sales, Global Hotel Alliance

6. Kimberly Krol, editor in chief, Global Traveler; Beth Vessicchio, senior manager, integrated investment, Universal McCann; Angelique Platas, digital coordinator and account executive, digital, Global Traveler; Holly Riddle, assistant editor, Global Traveler 7 8 7. Jeff Sohinki, director of sales and marketing, Global Traveler; Jacob Taylor, senior account executive, Day One Agency; Jennifer Maguire, principal, Jennifer Maguire Communications

8. Mike Russo, member, Global Traveler Globility Board; Joe Cestaro, member, Global Traveler Globility Board; Mark Rizkowsky, member, Global Traveler Globility Board

9. Anna Szpunar, Ink Publishing; Richard Cumming, president, Two Goats Agency; Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, 9 10 Global Traveler; Banu Yilmaz, advertising direc- tor, Global Traveler; Rhonda Flores, senior marketing associate, SYSCO Foods

10. Olivia Falcione, sales and marketing manager, Global Traveler; Keila Lacourt, re- gional sales manager, North USA & Eastern Canada, Avianca; Bernardo Villaquiran, account sales executive, Avianca; Yahaira Lopez, account sales executive, Avianca

42 | GLOBAL TRAVELER | August 2016 globaltravelerusa.com