What's the Deal with Stemless Wine Glasses on Airplanes?

March 7, 2012 at 3:04 PM | by JetSetCD | Comments (2)

It's been decades since a fully stemmed wine glass last flew in First Class. Sip some Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon with your in-flight meal these days and you'll perhaps notice a trend towards flatter, squattier cup shapes. Why? Well, the simple answer is to say that the airplane is moving around in the sky and passengers would rather have their red wine in a glass than on their clothing. The correct answer, however, is all about design and enjoyment.

In-flight wine glasses have evolved along with appreciation for proper tasting and, as a result, properly shaped tasting glasses. Onboard LAN in both Premium Business and Economy classes, the carefully chosen wine options are poured into a stemless glass, thinner in economy and the fuller "Globe"-style in Business. The minimal designs are not so much for cost-cutting or space savings as they are for enhancing the total wine experience.

In Business, this experience is a series of steps. Consult the flight attendants—they receive wine training at least once a year—and they will tell you about the winery, recommended pairings and any flavor notes before presenting the bottle, offering a taste, and hearing your comments. It is a practice enforced by LAN's wine advisor H�ctor Vergara, the only certified master sommelier in all of South America.

Here again is a reason for the focus on in-flight wine glass design, as "the only way of having that experience is with a big, round glass." The greater the content area of the glass, the better.

Fancy yourself a oenophile? LAN updates their wine selections every three months, changing out the menus four times a year. Currently there are three reds, two whites, a champagne (Louis Roederer Brut Premier) and a port wine (Croft Oporto 2005) in Business, while economy has the choice of a Chilean red or white.

Wines currently onboard LAN long-haul flights in Premium Business:
· Vi�a Tabal� - Payen Syrah 2008 from Valle del Limari in Chile (red)
· Bodega Renacer - Punto Final Malbec 2007 from Lujan de Cuyo in Argentina (red)
· Vi�a Undurraga - Founder's Collection Cabernet Sauvignon from Valle del Maipo in Chile (red)
· Bodega El Esteco - Don David Torrontes 2011 from Salta, Argentina (white)
· Vi�a Casa Lapostolle - Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from Valle de Rapel in Chile (white)

Pro tip: A big wine switch will hit LAN this October, with new bottles from Vi�a Morand�. An incentive for fall flights!

The Sauvignon Blanc with a Business appetizer

[Photos: Jaunted]

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