ENGLISH SPARKLING WINE JUST TOOK ANOTHER BOLD STEP INTO THE GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT – THIS TIME AT 35,000 FEET.
British Airways has announced that it will become the first airline to serve prestige cuvée English sparkling wine in its First cabin. For English wine lovers (like me), this is more than just a celebratory clink—it’s a moment of recognition for the quality and elegance our homegrown fizz now commands on the world stage.
Flying First? You’ll Be Drinking the Best of British
From March 30, 2025, passengers flying First on long-haul routes will be offered a rotating list of prestige English sparkling wines. The line-up includes some of the most revered names in the industry:
- 1086 by Nyetimber Rosé 2014 – available from April to June
- Gusbourne Fifty One Degrees North 2016 – July to September
- 1086 by Nyetimber 2014 – October to December
- A new release from Sugrue South Downs – coming January 2026
That’s right—if you’re flying in First this summer, you’ll be sipping the 1086 Rosé, a wine made only in the best vintages from the finest parcels of fruit. As Eric Heerema, CEO of Nyetimber, puts it:
“These wines represent the pinnacle of Nyetimber’s winemaking – embodying outstanding quality, craftsmanship and patience… It feels very fitting to partner with a fellow iconic British brand.”
I couldn’t agree more.
I’m such a huge fan of Nyetimber, and it’s already a well established “quintessentially British” brand – indeed you’ll find their fizz at Wimbledon. So it seems the perfect match for BA (excuse the pun).
Seeing Digby Wines on the menu excites me too. Did you know that their brand is inspired by Kenelm Digby? A prominent British intellectual who is said to have invented the wine bottle.
Club World Gets in on the Action Too
Not flying First? Fear not—business class (Club World) passengers will also see English sparkling wines featured on a rotating basis, with highlights including:
- Digby Fine English Brut NV (April–June)
- Gusbourne 2019 Vintage Rosé (July–September)
- Hattingley Valley Blanc de Noirs 2019 – made exclusively for British Airways (October–December)
- And in early 2026, bottles from Roebuck and Digby’s Leander Pink
That’s a pretty stellar line-up. It’s great to see the airline continuing the momentum from its 2023 initiative, when English sparkling was first introduced in Club World.
The Lounges Are Getting in on the Fun
If you’re not quite ready to wait until you’re airborne, there’s also a dedicated English sparkling wine tasting area in the Galleries First lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5. There, passengers can sample Balfour Rosé de Noirs and Simpsons Chalklands Cuvée Brut NV before they fly. Two of my favourite Kent vineyards!
So, Why Does This Matter?
For years, English sparkling wine has been something of a best-kept secret—known and loved by insiders, but rarely featured in such high-profile global arenas. The fact that British Airways is not only serving these wines in its most premium cabin, but also choosing prestige cuvée labels, speaks volumes.
This isn’t just a nod to local sourcing—it’s a confident declaration that our best sparkling wines belong right up there with the finest Champagnes.
And while BA’s Champagne list is also impressive (Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle, Rare, Bollinger La Grande Année…), it’s the homegrown fizz that has me most excited.
A Final Thought
As British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, Calum Laming, put it:
“We are proud to lead the way in championing provenance and British originality… We have selected the highest quality of wines with our customers’ expectations in mind.”
This is a win for English winemakers, but also for wine lovers.
Where to next?
A few of my favourite things
Looking for a gift for yourself or a wine lover in your life? Here are a few of my favourite English Wine things.
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