Singapore Airlines to serve three First Class champagnes throughout 2024

Back in June 2023, Singapore Airlines launched A Celebration of Champagne, a 10-month long showcase that offered its Suites and First Class customers a third champagne option alongside the existing pours of Krug Grand Cuvée and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne.

During this period, we saw five rotating champagne labels, including some gems like Henri Giraud MV18 and Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires, and lesser known (but equally worthy) grower champagnes. 

A Celebration of Champagne officially concluded on 31 March 2024, but Singapore Airlines continued to offer a third champagne option throughout April (Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 2007).

Now, the airline has confirmed that this isn’t just a case of excess inventory. A third champagne will be a fixture throughout 2024, with more exciting labels to come.

Singapore Airlines to offer three champagnes throughout 2024

A Singapore Airlines spokesperson has confirmed that Suites and First Class customers will enjoy a third champagne on rotation throughout 2024:

• Bollinger La Grande Année 2015
• Henri Giraud Ay Grand Cru Brut MV19
• Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 2007

Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 2007 was previously served in April, and from 1 May 2024, Singapore Airlines is switching to Bollinger La Grande Année 2015.

🍾 Bollinger La Grande Année 2015

Bollinger is a remarkable Champagne House. It is the most traditional of all the great Houses, with its long-established vineyards in the region’s best villages, and continues to make wines in old oak barrels from some of Burgundy’s finest estates. 2015 was very dry and warm, but not blazing hot. Bollinger’s old, deep-rooted Pinot Noir vines in Ay and Verzenay loved these conditions, and these vineyards provided most of the grapes for this wine. You can almost see a hint of blush in its limpid gold colour. The flavors are bold, ripe; yellow peach and golden apple, nectarine and mango, tautened by delightful mandarin orange acidity and the beginnings of hazelnut and brioche richness which will only intensify with time. -Sommelier’s notes

The 2015 Bollinger La Grande Année launched in early April, and is a mix of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. It is 100% barrel fermented, with a moderate dosage of 8 grams per litre. La Grande Année means “The Great Year”, and indeed, this champagne is only produced in the best harvest years. 

From Wallpaper Magazine:

In order to understand why these cuvées are so special, we must talk about the weather – obviously a key factor for growing grapes and producing wine. The year 2015 was one of remarkable weather; a mild, wet, winter gave way to an April that saw the highest recorded levels of sunshine since 2007 and set the tone for a searingly hot, dry, summer (fortunately, the vines were able to cope with a lack of rain because the chalky vineyard soil had absorbed large amounts of water from the wet winter).

This chain of meteorological events resulted in a marvellous September grape harvest – it yielded compact bunches of small, concentrated, and extremely healthy berries with high levels of acidity. As a result, the 2015 cuvées display exquisite texture and an incredible power and generosity.

Tasting notes for the Bollinger La Grande Année 2015 can be found here.

This champagne will be poured in all Suites and First Class cabins, regardless of whether you’re flying the 90-minute hop to Jakarta, or the 14-hour odyssey to London. I’d recommend requesting a glass on the ground and then another in the air, just to see how differently it expresses itself!

Later in 2024, Henri Giraud Ay Grand Cru Brut MV19 will make an appearance in the Suites and First Class cabin, and it’s one I’m particularly excited to try, having missed out on the opportunity to sample the MV18 in 2023. 

Only available in the skies!

While Singapore Airlines may be pouring three champagnes in the air, on the ground you’ll be limited to “just” one- though it’s hardly a bad choice.

Visitors to The Private Room, the exclusive lounge for First and Suites Class passengers at Changi Airport Terminal 3, will enjoy 2012 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne.

You can, of course, request the champagnes from the First Class (2007 Piper-Heidsieck Rare Millesime) or Business Class lounge (Piper Heidsieck Essentiel Extra-Brut NV), though something tells me you’ll want to save your alcohol allowance for later!

For a full review of The Private Room experience, refer to the post below.

Review: Singapore Airlines The Private Room (2023)

Conclusion

Singapore Airlines will continue to serve three champagne options in First and Suites Class throughout 2024, with the highly-rated 2015 Bollinger La Grande Année 2015 now being poured on all routes. 

If you prefer the 2012 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne and Krug Grand Cuvée, don’t worry. They’ll still be available- though a little variety never hurt anyone!

From what I understand, only one bottle of the rotating option is loaded per flight, so if you’ve got a thirsty cabin, be sure to request your glass early. 

Do report back on how the new champagnes are faring!