Emirates has an insane wine cellar ….
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We were recently sent a press release where Emirates unveiled its wine list for 2024.
Whilst I will leave the tasting notes to others – neither Rob nor myself are notable oenephiles – it is worth highlighting the scale of the Emirates wine operation.
In 2006, Emirates quietly began its own cellaring operation in Burgundy. By 2017, it had spent over $500 million stocking the facility. Last year it spent $50 million laying down bottles for future years. In fact, some vintages won’t be served until 2037.
It now has over six million bottles waiting to be drunk; next year, it will introduce ….
“a selection of the finest white Burgundy wines, including prestigious Premier and Grand Crus wines such as Montrachet 2011, Chevalier Montrachet 2013, and Corton Charlemagne 2014, as well as some exceptional red Burgundy wines, primarily Grand Crus like Échezeaux, Clos Vougeot, and Chambertin.”
The airline doesn’t stint on its alcohol. When Rob flew Emirates First Class in 2019, his flight included (these are 2019 retail prices from our review at the time):
- Dalmore King Alexander III single malt (£175)
- Hennessy Paradis cognac (£790)
- Tesseron Cognac Lot 29 XO Exception (£495)
- Chateau Haut-Brion Graves 2004 (£250)
It’s not just First Class and Business Class that are treated to vintage wines. In the recently introduced Premium Economy cabin, Emirates is planning to serve wines from as early as 2011.
At the moment, the Emirates cellar features wines that date back to the 2003 vintage:
“Bordeaux wines designated for Business Class undergo a minimum ageing period of 8-10 years, while those for First Class receive a minimum of 12-15 years of ageing, all of which occur in professional facilities in France.”
There is probably some financial sense to this decision. It is likely to be cheaper to buy and cellar wines in-house than to buy aged wine a decade or more later, and this also allows Emirates to buy in the large quantities it needs. How much Montrachet 2011 could Emirates buy now in the open market compared to what it would require?
If only more airlines had this sort of foresight and investment …..
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How to earn Emirates Skywards miles from UK credit cards (April 2025)
Emirates Skywards does not have a UK credit card. However, you can earn Emirates Skywards miles by converting Membership Rewards points earned from selected UK American Express cards.
Cards earning Membership Rewards points include:
- American Express Preferred Rewards Gold (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 15,000 Emirates Skywards miles. This card is FREE for your first year and also comes with four free airport lounge passes.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
- The Platinum Card from American Express (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 50,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 37,500 Emirates Skywards miles
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
- American Express Rewards credit card (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 7,500 Emirates Skywards miles. This card is FREE for life.
Membership Rewards points convert at 4:3 into Emirates Skywards miles which is an attractive rate. The cards above all earn 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 spent on your card, which converts to 0.75 Emirates Skywards miles
The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card earns double points (2 per £1) on all flights you charge to it, not just with Emirates but with any airline.
