March 27, 2025 โ€“ London: British Airways will serve prestige cuvรฉe English sparkling wine in its First cabin. Beginning March 30, passengers travelling in First will enjoy exclusive access to 1086 by Nyetimber Rosรฉ 2014.

This move makes BA the first airline to feature top tier English sparkling wines at altitude, with additional premium offerings from Gusbourne and Sugrue South Downs slated to appear in the coming months.

The airline hasn’t abandoned champagne enthusiasts, though โ€“ Laurent-Perrier Grand Siรจcle returns to the First cabin alongside these English newcomers.

Premium English Wines Take Flight

Throughout the year, First passengers will enjoy a rotating selection of prestigious English offerings:

  • 1086 by Nyetimber Rosรฉ 2014 (April-June)
  • Gusbourne Fifty One Degrees North 2016 (July-September)
  • 1086 by Nyetimber 2014 – the first English prestige cuvรฉe ever released (October-December)
  • A unique blend from Sugrue South Downs (January-March 2026)
A bottle of sparkling wine next to a filled glass on a white surface evokes the elegance of Air Macau meals, with soft shadows cast by gentle light.
Bottle of Gusbourneโ€™s luxurious prestige cuvรฉe Fifty One Degrees North 2016 served in First cabin.

“We are proud to lead the way in championing provenance and British originality as we continue to work with the very best wine producers across England and beyond for our customers to enjoy both on the ground and in the air,” said Calum Laming, British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer.

Business Class Gets English Sparkling, Too

The airline’s focus on premium English wines extends to its Club World (business class) cabin. Passengers will continue to enjoy Digby Fine English’s Brut NV in the coming months, followed by Gusbourne’s 2019 Vintage Rosรฉ in July.

Later in the year, Hattingley Valley’s Blanc de Noirs 2019 will appear, followed by Roebuck Reserve Brut 2020 and Digby Leander Pink Brut NV in 2026.

British Airways has created a dedicated English sparkling wine tasting area in its Galleries First lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5 for those wanting to sample these wines before their flight.

The area features Balfour Rosรฉ de Noirs and Simpsons Chalklands Cuvรฉe Brut NV.

A bottle of sparkling wine and a filled flute glass rest elegantly on the surface, their allure heightened by a bold red and dark background. Perfectly pairing with Air Macau meals, this scene captures the essence of indulgence with every bubbly sip.
A hand holds a champagne glass while sparkling wine is being poured from a bottle, creating bubbles, much like the effervescent delight of Air Macau meals. The glass rests on a white napkin on a light surface.
A person holding a filled champagne flute, dressed in a dark outfit with a red patterned scarf, exudes an air of refined elegance reminiscent of enjoying Air Macau meals high above the clouds.

Prestigious Champagne Returns to First

Alongside the new English sparkling wines, British Airways has also reintroduced several prestigious Champagnes to its First cabin on a rotational basis:

  • Laurent-Perrier Grand Siรจcle (April-June)
  • Lanson NOBLE Champagne 2008 (July-September)
  • Bollinger Grande Annรฉe (October-December)
  • Rare Champagne and Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millรฉnaires (January-March 2026)

Passengers travelling in First from New York (JFK) will continue to enjoy Veuve Clicquot’s La Grande Dame 2015.

Expert Service At 35,000 Feet

To ensure these fine wines are served with appropriate knowledge and care, more than 1,300 British Airways cabin crew members have completed specialised First Service Specialist training that includes a wine masterclass developed by the airline’s Master of Wine.

British Airways continues to distinguish itself in the premium cabin wine space with this industry first move to showcase England’s finest sparkling wines.

The decision to maintain prestigious Champagne alongside these English selections suggests BA is positioning this as an expansion of luxury options rather than a replacement strategy.

Photos courtesy of British Airways