Japan Airlines New First & Executive Class Offerings

25 January 2012, Japan – Japan Airlines (JAL) introduces new First and Executive Class service offerings in the first quarter of the year including a new selection of Wine & Champagne and JAL Original Chocolates.

In Flight Wine & Champagne – International Routes

JAL will be serving up a new line-up of wine and champagne aboard its international flights. It rolled out the new line up to First Class on 11 January 2102 and will introduce to Executive Class between the end of January and the middle of February 2012.

19 types of wine, including New World ones, were selected from 90 shortlisted labels narrowed down from an initial choice of 600.  The selection process focused on finding compatible wines that complement and enhance the flavours of the meals served onboard.

First Class Selection

JAL is currently the only airline that serves Champagne Salon 1999 onboard its First Class.   Passengers can also enjoy Champagne Dom Perignon Vintage 2003.  The selection of wines in First Class features acclaimed overseas Japanese winemaker Hiroyuki Kusuda, whose Kusuda Wines Martinborough Sarah will be served on flights to Europe.  Kenzo Tsujimoto’s Kenzo Estate “Rindo” from California will be served on flights to the U.S. and Jakarta.

Some of the other wine served in First Class for flights from Narita to London, Paris, Frankfurt, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Jakarta include:

White Wine

• Domaine du Pavillon Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2007 from Bourgogne
• Gustave Lorentz Pinot Gris Grand Cru Kanzelerberg 2005 from Alsace
• Weingut St. Urbans-Hof Wiltinger Alte Reben Riesling Kabinett Feinherb 2010 from Germany
• Katsunuma-brewed Arvga Branca Vinhal Issehara 2010 from Koshu

Red Wine

• Château Rauzan-Ségla Margaux 2007 from Bordeux
• Domaine Michel Gros Nuits Saint Georges 2006 from Bourgogne

Executive Class Selection

Executive Class passengers have a choice of nine wines from around the world including Champagne Joseph Perrier Cuvee Royal Brut.

Selection of White and Red Wines on JAL’s routes from Narita to London, Paris, Frankfurt and Moscow include:

• Frey-Sohler Riesling Scherwiller 2010 (White) from Alsace
• Chateau Jun Koshu 2010 (White) from Koshu
• Chanson Vire-Clesse 2009 or 2010 (White) from Bourgogne
• Chateau le Monteil d’Asac, HAUT-MEDOC 2006 (Red) from Bordeaux
• Remoissenet Pere & Fils, Bourgogne Rouge Renommee 2010 (Red) from Bourgogne

Selection of White and Red Wines on JAL’s routes from Narita to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Vancouver, Jakarta, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, New Delhi, Manila, Hong Kong and Sydney  include:

• Errazuriz Estate Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (White) from Chile
• Chateau Le Monteil d’Arsac, HAUT-MEDOC 2006 (Red) from Bordeaux
• Bodegas CARO Amancaya Mendoza 2010 (Red) from Argentina
• Remoissenet Pere & Fils, Bourgongne Rouge Renommee 2010 (Red) from Bourgogne)

Renowned wine journalist and JAL’s wine advisor Fumiko Airsaka took into consideration the characteristics of the area from which the wine came from and the wine making methods during the strict selection process.   630 of JAL’s cabin attendants who are also qualified sommeliers were also involved in this process.  These cabin attendants often offer information and suggestions on wine on board.

Jean-Paul Hévin Chocolates for JAL First and Executive Class

JAL collaborates with award-winning master chocolatier Jean-Paul Hévin to serve his chocolate creations to First and Executive Class passengers from Valentines’ Day (14 February 2012) this year.

The Jean-Paul Hévin label (JPH) of gourmet chocolates is sold in stores in France, Japan and other parts of Asia.  Jean-Paul Hévin spent a year and a half leading a famous French pastry store in his early career and subsequently opened successively eight shops such as in Shinjuku since 2002.   In the new creations for JAL, Jean-Paul Hévin aimed to encapsulate unique flavours to bring across the elegance and sophistication he felt that were distinctive of the country and its people.

Using the highest grades of cacao from Paris to Venezuela, Jean-Paul Hévin took a month to formulate the right tastes to create four JAL Original flavours.

First Class passengers will be served individual pieces of a masterpiece chocolate of optimal blends of Grand Cru cacao beans with a hint of vanilla, Bonbon de Chocolat Arriba after meals.  Passengers can also help themselves to boxes of Palets at the bar counter after the first meal on flights to North America and Europe routes or Petits Palets on mid-distance, Asia routes.   Palets are an assortment of JAL Original Chocolates and other existing chocolates from the JPH label made from Venezuelan and African cacao beans.

Enjoy a cuppa of JAL Cafe Lines coffee, whose producer and coffee-hunter Jose Yoshiaki Kawashima has also cooperated in this tie-up to present the JPH JAL Original Chocolates.

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