Seoul — Korean Air has earned five honors at the 2026 Wines on the Wing Awards, organized by business travel publication Global Traveler. The airline placed first in one category, second in two categories, and third in two categories, demonstrating the strength of its in-flight wine program.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Wines on the Wing is a prestigious international competition that evaluates premium cabin wine selections of leading global airlines. International wine experts conducted blind tastings across 20 award categories, evaluating wines served onboard as of February 2026.
Korean Air took first place in the Top International Business Class Wines on the Wing category, recognizing the overall excellence of its Prestige Class wine portfolio. Judges praised the airline’s well-balanced selection of wines from diverse regions and styles, carefully chosen to complement inflight cuisine and the unique cabin environment.
The airline also secured second-place honors in two categories. Its First Class wine portfolio ranked second in Top International First Class Wines on the Wing, while Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Premier Cru Mont de Milieu 2023 took runner-up in Top White Wines International Business Class.
Korean Air secured third-place finishes in two additional categories for wines served in First Class. Krug Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition was recognized in Top Sparkling Wines International First Class, while Levantine Hill Estate Chardonnay 2020 placed third in Top White Wines International First Class.
“Korean Air has shown its excellence in the sky winning first place in Top International Business Class Wines on the Wing. This is a true testament to Korean Air’s dedication to offering the finest wines in the air,” said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher & CEO of Global Traveler.
“The in-flight wine offerings from Korean Air are the same wines you find on the wine lists of Michelin Star restaurants in New York, Paris, Seoul and every other world capital,” said Tom Gannon, wine director at Global Traveler. “It was no surprise given the quality of wines served to their guests that they did so well in Global Traveler’s Wines on the Wing competition. Congratulations and thank you to Korean Air for raising the bar and exceeding expectations of what an in-flight wine experience can be.”
“We are committed to enhancing customer satisfaction by curating exceptional wines from around the world and delivering distinctive inflight services that make every journey more memorable,” said David Pacey, Executive Vice President and Chief of In-flight Services and Lounges at Korean Air.
Korean Air carefully curates its wine portfolio from renowned global vineyards to deliver a distinctive inflight dining experience. Wines are selected specifically to retain their individual flavor profiles under high-altitude cabin conditions and to pair seamlessly with the airline’s onboard menus. The airline also regularly rotates its selections to offer frequent travelers greater variety.
The recognition follows several other recent accolades for Korean Air. On August 1, the airline was named Favorite Airline in Asia at The Trazees 2026 for the second consecutive year. Hosted by Trazee Travel, Global Traveler’s travel platform for millennial and Gen Z audiences, the awards are determined through votes cast by young travelers worldwide. In June, Korean Air also received six honors at Business Traveller’s Cellars in the Sky Awards 2026, further reinforcing its leadership in inflight wine, beverage and service excellence.
[Reference: Korean Air’s Award-Winning Wines]
1. Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Premier Cru Mont de Milieu 2023
2nd Place — Top White Wine, International Business Class
This Premier Cru Chablis is produced from a single vineyard in the Chablis region of Burgundy, France. Jean-Marc Brocard is a renowned traditional winery celebrated for expressing the distinctive terroir of Chablis with exceptional purity and precision.
Bright aromas of lemon zest and white flowers, including acacia, are complemented by notes of ripe peach and a subtle hint of honey. Pronounced minerality reminiscent of flint and a fresh sea breeze is balanced by vibrant acidity and a smooth, creamy texture, leading to a clean and lingering finish.
2. Krug Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition
3rd Place — Top Sparkling Wine, International First Class
Krug Grande Cuvée was created by the House’s founder, Joseph Krug, with the vision of recreating the fullest and most complete expression of Champagne every year. Krug’s signature Champagne is composed of more than 100 individual wines.
Drawing from a library of approximately 400 reserve wines, the final blend is selected through thousands of tastings and then aged in Krug’s cellars for more than seven years.
Rich aromas of freshly baked brioche, roasted hazelnuts and lemon confit are complemented by fine, creamy bubbles and the vibrant acidity of ripe citrus. The Champagne offers remarkable depth and balance, pairing beautifully with a wide variety of inflight dishes and enhancing the overall dining experience.
3. Levantine Hill Estate Chardonnay 2020
3rd Place — Top White Wine, International First Class
Levantine Hill is a premium winery producing exceptional wines in the Yarra Valley of Victoria, Australia. Equipped with state-of-the-art winemaking facilities and underground cellars, the winery continues to invest in producing wines of outstanding quality while advancing a modern and sophisticated winery culture.
Rich aromas of nectarine, lemon zest and cinnamon apple Danish are complemented by delicate notes of grapefruit, toasted hazelnut and vanilla. Its full-bodied texture is balanced by refreshing acidity, showcasing the elegance and depth characteristic of fine Australian Chardonnay.
