Airline food has come a long way and now the wine list is also getting a make-over. In this exclusive interview, ANNE KREBIEHL, the newly appointed Master of Wine for Qatar Airways, shares the secrets of a perfect pour at 40,000 feet.
Q: Anne, congratulations on the new appointment. What exactly does your role as Qatar Airways Master of Wine entail?
A: I will be responsible for Qatar Airways’ wine selection across its entire fleet – ensuring that wines elevate our amazing on-board dining menus, are suitable to being in altitude and provide passengers with a premium experience.
Q: Qatar Airways is ranked among the top three airlines for exceptional onboard wine selections. Does that create any extra pressure in your new role?
A: I see it as an incredible opportunity to bring my extensive industry knowledge and passion for wine to an airline renowned for its commitment to delivering world-class experiences.
As the only airline in the world to have won the prestigious Skytrax Airline of the Year eight times and World’s Best Business Class 11 times, Qatar Airways is synonymous with excellence and innovation, constantly striving to enhance customer satisfaction.
I look forward to an inspiring journey ahead, collaborating closely with the culinary design team to craft wine pairings that further elevate Qatar Airways’ already exceptional dining offerings.
Anne Krebiehl, Master of Wine for Qatar Airways
Q: So how do you go about selecting the best wines to serve at 40,000 feet?
A: There are a number of factors that affect the taste of wine in the sky. For instance, lower humidity and cabin pressure temporarily reduce passengers’ capacity to smell and taste delicate flavours – so I am working with my colleagues at Qatar Airways to find the best and most expressive wines in any category.
Q: Are there any issues with storing and serving wine aboard a commercial airliner?
A: Storing and serving wine aboard a commercial airliner does present challenges, but education and training are key to overcoming them.
Cabin crew must have a solid foundation in wine varieties, regions and styles to confidently present and serve curated selections. Proper wine service etiquette, including presenting the bottle and handling glassware, is essential to maintaining a premium experience.
Knowledge of wine and food pairing principles helps crew recommend wines that complement onboard meals. Training also covers identifying potential issues like cork taint and effective communication skills for engaging with passengers.
By incorporating structured wine education and ongoing training, we at Qatar Airways ensure a high standard of wine service, enhancing passenger satisfaction and reinforcing brand reputation.
Q: How closely will you have to work with Qatar’s chefs to make sure your selections match their onboard dishes?
A: Ensuring that each wine complements and harmonises with Qatar Airways’ world-class cuisine is essential to elevating the overall dining experience for passengers. Therefore, I will be working very closely with our culinary team to achieve this harmony.
We are also working on AI solutions which will offer food and wine pairing suggestions to our premium cabin passengers on Qatar Airways’ mobile application.
This will be based on actual food and wines choices available onboard, enhancing the overall inflight dining experience.
Q: Why do you think wine continues to grow in popularity around the world?
A: While wine consumption globally is on a downward trend, fine wine has undeniably become a global phenomenon.
Wine has become an integral part of a full and enjoyable lifestyle, with its worldwide accessibility and its variety of styles and flavours, there is something to appeal to everyone.
And while people are not necessarily drinking more, people are more discerning, they want to drink less but better. Consumers are more knowledgeable about their choices, taking a keen interest in what they eat and drink, where their food and drink is grown and how it is made.
This growing awareness means they are educating themselves on their preferences, leading to a demand for a variety of tastes and high-quality wines.
Q: How do you rate Australian wine?
A: Australian wine has held a firm place in our selection for a long time. Full-bodied and smooth Shiraz as well as creamy and crisp Chardonnay are firm favourites, recognised for their quality around the globe.
But I am also partial to old-vine Grenache and Pinot Noir of course from the cooler corners of Oz. I also know there is more to explore with the wide range of grape varieties grown across the Australian regions. Australia’s unique fortified wine also often make the cut to be served on the fleet.
Q: How important is the Australian market to Qatar Airway?
A: The Australian market is crucial for Qatar Airways due to extensive flight operations to major cities and significant passenger volume. Additionally, the partnership with Virgin Australia enhances connectivity and passenger benefits.
As a result, Australian wines are a key focus in our sourcing strategy. Qatar Airways already features some fine Australian wines onboard and has won awards with these selections in recent years at the Cellars in the Sky competitions.
Q: How important is it that First and Business Class passengers are served only high-quality wines?
A: Crafting a forward-thinking sourcing strategy and curating a diverse and unique wine selection is critical – this selection will cater to various passenger tastes, from the finest wines in First and Business Class to specially developed blends for economy class.
Qatar Airways prides itself on excellent service and with a renowned First and Business Class offering, it’s important to us that our wine selection adheres accordingly.
Q: Finally, we have to ask this one. Do you have a couple of favourite wines at the moment that we should look out for?
A: Oh, I absolutely love sparkling wine and often enjoy a glass of Champagne. For something richer, I usually opt for an elegant Pinot Noir. Both are delightful choices that rarely disappoint.
# Qatar Airways has just been recognised for its outstanding onboard wine offering, taking home eight honours at Business Traveller’s prestigious Cellars in the Sky Awards.
