New Zealand Pinot Noir among the latest special wine promotion on-board Cathay Pacific

• August 22, 2016
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Cathay Pacific Airways has introduced its latest special wine promotion which features a selection of four premium organic wines. Starting from August, the wines will be available to Business Class passengers on select long-haul flights.

Being organic, the viticulture of these wines is founded on the cornerstone that healthy soil produces high-quality fruit. One of the key principals of organic wine includes treating the soil as a living entity. Proud organic grape growers endeavour to maintain the richness of the earth, which is teeming with worms, grubs and other species that help aerate, nourish and activate the soil.

Organic wine signifies that a winery is passionate enough about their terroir to nurture, protect and gently handle their soils and vines, producing the finest wine possible from their vineyards.

Organic wines generally contain low levels of sulphur dioxide, which is commonly used as a wine preservative, making them a popular and appealing choice for those considering their health and wellness.

This year, Cathay Pacific offers more than 40 wines from countries including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, South Africa, the United States, Chile, Australia and New Zealand on board its flights.

Château Maucoil Côtes du Rhône Villages 2014 France

A classic red wine from stressed soils made up of sand and river pebbles than that found in the southern part of the Rhone valley.  Yet this wine is gentle and smooth and is typically blended with the region’s dominant varieties of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Mourvédre. A deep colour with an exciting spicy-fruit aroma. The ripe tannins support a rounded palate with dark berry flavours. The overall impression leans to a more rustic era. It is a wine that demands beef, lamb or even spicy food.

Explorer Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014 New Zealand

It is said that grapes only grow in beautiful places and the site of this vineyard certainly fits that description. The owners also have a property in Gevrey Chambertain in Burgundy, France and as such have a double commitment to Pinot Noir. The gravel and silty clay of this terraced vineyard in the lower slopes of the Central Otago Valley produce excellent fruit. The Pinot Noir clones planted are Pommard and Dijon. The aroma of the wine combines hints of oak and sweet berries. It is elegant with a concentrated berry red plum flavour that follows through on the finish.

Viña Las Niñas Colchagua Valley 2014 Chile

This vineyard is nestled in a horseshoe-shaped valley 600 metres deep on the west side of the Andes Mountains. Gentle breezes coming in from the South Pacific Ocean create ideal conditions for high-quality fruit production. Several individual plots of Mourvédre, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are brought together to make a complex wine that has a whiff of new oak and dark red fruit in the aroma. The mouth feel is textured tannins and intense blackberry flavour.  This wine brings to mind roasted meat from a grill with aromas of smoky charcoal.  

Gemtree Bloodstone Shiraz McLaren Vale 2014 Australia

Throughout the wine world there is a claim that the best grapes always face the sea. If true, this vineyard situated in the foothills of the Adelaide ranges that overlook the Southern Ocean is a great example. A multi-award winning wine, it comes from selected sites that express varietal Shiraz character. The soils are ancient limestone speckled with semi-precious gemstones. The maritime climate ensures maximum quality grapes. The aroma is all fruit, mulberry with a touch of nutmeg spice. It leads to a palate layered with generous fruit and rounded tannins that support a lingering finish.