Sky high: Austrians taking their wines very seriously

 

On many airlines, the wine knowledge of the air crew does not extend much beyond asking "red or white?" 

  
In Austria, they take things a little more seriously. 

Austrian Airlines, for instance, now has more than 100 Austrian wine experts to ensure the best in-flight wine experience. 

The specialists have been trained and qualified in a joint initiative by Austrian Airlines and the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (Austrian Wine). 

Those who have done the course will be providing business class passengers with professional advice on Austrian wines with the airline promising there will be an Austrian Wine Expert on board every long-haul flight from 2026 onwards. Flying economy? Tough. 

 
Austrian Wine ran a multi-day training course on wine, which has taught employees the skills to convey the diversity, quality and character of Austrian wines to Austrian Airlines passengers. 

Over the course of three modules - wine knowledge, sensory skills, tasting and service and  communication - participants learnt about wine-growing regions to types and categories of wine, as well as tips on wine pairing and making recommendations to passengers.

“We are delighted that this Austrian Wine Experts initiative has enabled us to bring our long-established partnership with Austrian Airlines onto an even higher level,” said Chris Yorke, CEO of Austrian Wine. 

“The Austrian wine culture is like no other in the world and an integral part of our national identity. The Austrian Wine Experts will play a significant role in enabling Austrian Airline guests from around the world to discover our outstanding wines before they’ve even landed.”

The number of qualified experts is expected to rise to 250 by 2026. 

“We are very proud that more than 100 members of our cabin crews have already been trained as Austrian Wine Experts,” said Austrian Airlines CEO Annette Mann. “With this new facet of our distinctive service quality, we are inspiring international guests on board to discover the culinary treasures of Austria. At the same time, the Austrian Wine Experts bring a piece of home and lived tradition to the world for all Austrians.”