Millions of passengers fly with Cathay each year – and many of them love to enjoy a glass (or two) of wine while they’re making their way to their destination. Cathay’s wine supply has to keep up with this high demand.

“Most passengers would be surprised to realise the volume of wines required for an airline,” Debra tells us. “When it comes to fine wines – bottles that wine enthusiasts collect and enjoy – wineries do not have a large supply, so each year we battle to source even small quantities for our passengers.”

To meet travellers’ high expectations, Cathay cultivates long-standing, positive relationships with suppliers around the world. “In many cases, we are already the winery or champagne house’s largest customer,” says Debra.

Some of the world’s finest wines were created through international collaborations between creative wineries and winemakers.

You can get a taste of the fruits of teamwork with the Eroica Riesling (Columbia Valley, USA, 2017) from Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr Loosen. “This award-winning Riesling is a collaboration between Chateau Ste. Michelle, one of the oldest and most respected wineries in Washington State, and Dr. Loosen, a renowned winery from Germany's Mosel region,” Debra explains. “Expect a juicy peach, nectarine and citrusy palate accented with jasmine flourishes.”

Prefer a nice red? Try Quinta do Crasto’s Roquette & Cazes (Douro, Portugal, 2015) – the result of a joint venture between the Roquette family and the prominent Cazes family of Chateau Lynch-Bages, Bordeaux. Of this collaborative creation, Debra shares: “Situated on the right bank of the Douro River, between Régua and Pinhão, Quinta do Crasto has a privileged location in the Duoro Valley’s Cima Corgo. The estate is owned by the Roquette family and produces exceptional Douro and Porto wines, as its grapes are sourced from some of the oldest and most historic vines in the region.”