Monday, August 19, 2024 Emirates is elevating its renowned in-flight wine experience by introducing a bespoke wine training program for its cabin crew, titled “L’art du vin.” This initiative is designed to enrich the cabin crew’s understanding of Emirates’ distinguished wine offerings and inspire a deeper interest in the world of wine. Developed by the Emirates Crew Training design team, the program was officially launched in June 2024 at the Emirates Cabin Crew Training College in Dubai.
The training takes place in a specially designed classroom that mimics the ambiance of a luxury lounge, complete with mood lighting, ambient music, and elegant displays of champagne, wines, and glassware. The classroom is arranged with a horseshoe-shaped bar that replicates Emirates’ iconic A380 Onboard Lounge, where cabin crew begin their immersive learning experience. The program includes three intensive courses tailored to different levels of expertise: L’art du vin Introduction, L’art du vin – Business Class, and L’art du vin – First Class.
Each course consists of up to 8 hours of classroom instruction, enhanced with study guides for home learning, an interactive app, and detailed tasting notes.Throughout the training, cabin crew members have the opportunity to taste the exceptional wines served on Emirates flights. In line with Emirates’ ongoing commitment to enhancing its people and products, over 1,000 cabin crew members have already completed the course, with plans to extend the training to more than 22,000 additional crew members by 2026.
L’art du vin: Tailored Wine Education for All Experience Levels The L’art du vin program is meticulously designed to cater to various levels of knowledge and experience among Emirates’ cabin crew. The introductory course, aimed at newly recruited crew members, provides a comprehensive overview of Emirates’ investment in wine, the fundamentals of winemaking, and essential wine facts. Participants engage in tastings of both white and red wines, receive an introduction to sparkling wines, and learn the best practices for recommending wines to passengers, along with mastering the art of pouring techniques.
For more experienced cabin crew, the L’art du vin – Business Class course takes wine education to an advanced level. This course begins with tasting flavored waters to help crew members identify key wine characteristics such as acidity, dryness, sweetness, and fruitiness. The training then progresses to exploring the differences between grape pulp and skin, deepening the understanding of wine structure.
Participants also delve into Emirates’ extensive wine cellar, learn about the world’s wine regions, and study the impact of climate on wine production. The course includes focused sessions on Emirates’ signature red and white wines, an introduction to champagne and port, and bespoke tasting experiences to perfect the art of wine and food pairing. The exclusive L’art du vin app serves as a professional guide throughout the training, allowing crew members to keep personalized tasting notes and prepare for customer interactions.
L’art du vin – First Class builds upon the knowledge gained in the Business Class course, offering an in-depth exploration of Premier and Grand Cru Classé wines. This advanced course covers the prestigious 1855 Bordeaux classification, with detailed studies on premier cru class estates like Château Cos d’Estournel 2006 from St. Estèphe, and the Grand Cru vineyards of Burgundy, including the renowned Bâtard-Montrachet 2013 from Louis Latour.
The curriculum also expands to include iconic wines from around the globe, featuring top producers such as Vega Sicilia Unico 2006 from Spain’s Ribera del Duero and Italy’s Ornellaia 2012 from Bolgheri, Tuscany. Additionally, the course covers California’s Opus One 2012 from Napa Valley, offering a well-rounded education in world-class wines. Participants also receive comprehensive training on Dom Pérignon Champagne, Château d’Yquem Sauternes, and aged vintage ports from esteemed houses like Graham’s, Dow’s, and Sandeman.
The wine and food pairing lessons in this course take expertise to the next level, teaching crew members how to balance acidity, saltiness, sweetness, and umami in culinary pairings. Crew members also learn how to guide travelers in selecting the perfect wine to accompany their cheese choices. In line with Emirates’ commitment to innovation and talent development, participants who complete the course receive a certificate of achievement and the opportunity to advance to the next level in their Emirates career.
The L’art du vin courses are led by a select group of cabin crew who have been identified as wine ambassadors, all of whom have earned WSET Level 2 and 3 certifications from The Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Outstanding Wines Across All Classes for Emirates Passengers Emirates is dedicated to offering the finest wine selections to passengers in every class. First Class passengers can indulge in a selection of exceptional vintages from renowned wine regions in France, Australia, Spain, Italy, and the USA.
On select routes, First Class travelers have the opportunity to savor rare vintages such as Louis Latour Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru Les Demoiselles 2014, M. Chapoutier Ermitage Rouge Le Pavillon 2012, Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay 2019, Vega Sicilia Unico 2006 from Ribera del Duero, Ornellaia 2012 from Bolgheri Tuscany, and Opus One 2012 from Napa Valley. Business Class passengers are treated to an impressive array of aged Bordeaux wines from the outstanding 2009 vintage, sourced directly from the Emirates cellar.
These include les Tourelles de Longueville 2009 on UK and Americas routes, Sociando-Mallet 2009 on European routes, Château Lagrange 2009 on Middle Eastern routes, and Larrivet Haut-Brion 2009 on Far Eastern routes. Emirates also sources wines from across Burgundy, including Chassagne-Montrachet, Saint-Aubin, Pouilly-Fuissé, and Chablis Premier Cru from a variety of esteemed producers. In addition, Business Class passengers can enjoy notable Spanish wines like Crognolo 2021 and Australia’s Terre à Terre Cabernet-Shiraz, available on select flights.
In Premium Economy Class, passengers are offered a selection of sparkling vintage wines, as well as premium red and white wines. Highlights include Chablis 2022 from Albert Bichot, Woodcutters Shiraz 2021 from Torbreck in Barossa, and Domaine Chandon 2017, a sparkling wine exclusively available to Emirates Premium Economy passengers. Economy Class passengers are not left behind, as Emirates offers one high-quality red and one white wine on all routes.
Passengers can enjoy Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2021, recently introduced onboard. Additionally, the selection includes ‘AOP’ and ‘Biodynamic’ wines from M. Chapoutier, wines from Domaines Baron de Rothschild, a South African Sauvignon Blanc from the sustainability-focused Gabb family, and an Antinori Santa Cristina Cabernet Sauvignon.
.
