English sparkling wine debuts on Emirates flights

English sparkling wine is coming to Emirates' cabins for the first time. Wiston Estate, a family-run producer in West Sussex, will pour its Brut NV in Premium Economy on the airline's UK routes from October.

The bottle joins a wider refresh of Emirates' 2026 wine list, curated by MMI, the drinks arm of the Emirates Group. The same October changeover brings Château Mouton Rothschild 2003 to First Class on UK routes and a 2015 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru to African routes, with Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017 due to land later in the year.

Emirates has invested more than $1 billion in its wine programme since 2006 and keeps roughly five million bottles in dedicated storage facilities in France, according to MMI. Wiston's Brut NV blends Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grown on South Downs chalk, made by the traditional method with reserve wines and extended ageing on lees.

Emirates just gave English fizz a seat next to Champagne on its own drinks trolley.

English sparkling wine takes flight

"English sparkling wine has emerged as one of the most exciting success stories," said Oliver Dixon, Head of Fine Wine at MMI. "Wiston stands out for its outstanding craftsmanship, vibrant character and expression of the chalky South Downs terroir."

Richard and Kirsty Goring, who own Wiston Estate, called the selection a milestone for the winery. "As a family we are delighted that Wiston has been chosen as the first English sparkling wine to be poured on board Emirates," they said.

Six wins for a family estate

Wiston Estate sits on the same chalk seam that runs through the South Downs, the geology English producers point to when comparing their fruit to Champagne's. The winery has been named WineGB Winery of the Year six times, most recently in 2024, and took Best in Show at the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2019 for its Blanc de Blancs 2011.

English sparkling wine has spent two decades moving from curiosity to fixture on serious wine lists, planted largely with the same three grapes Champagne uses. A single airline route will not settle that argument on its own, but it puts a West Sussex bottle in front of passengers who might otherwise reach for Champagne by default, even as grape economics wobble elsewhere: Sonoma County's wine grape value fell 17 percent in 2025.

Emirates' premium economy wine list also picks up a Chablis Premier Cru from Jean-Marc Brocard and an airline-exclusive Chandon 2021 this cycle, part of a rotation MMI updates several times a year. Wiston's turn on that list runs from October, with no end date yet announced.