There’s a moment at the start of any Singapore Airlines flight in first or Suites class, after you first board. A flight attendant approaches you and offers you champagne. If you accept they will stop, and with a mix of smugness and pride, ask “would you prefer Dom Perignon or Krug?” That classic question is about to change.
While I generally prefer Krug, I believe the only correct answer to an almost absurd question like that is to be equally absurd – and yet truthful – replying, “that depends – what year is the Dom?” Dom Perignon’s quality varies tremendously by vintage.
Effective November 1, though, Singapore Airlines says that they will no longer be serving Dom Perignon,
For your reference, with effect from 1 Nov 2022, Dom Pérignon champagne will no longer be available on board Singapore Airlines flights. SIA will continue to offer Krug Grande Cuvée and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne to all Suites and First Class customers.
I do not consider replacing Dom Perignon with Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, and still offering a choice between the premium Taittinger or Krug, to be a downgrade. But it does represent the loss of a ‘famous name’. Taittinger Comtes de Champagne was first introduced, temporarily, as a third option in fall 2019. Singapore has been known to vary its champagne offerings from time to time, even once provisioning vintage Krug.
For Asian meal choices, Singapore Airlines and ANA offer my favorite foods in first class, while Singapore and Emirates offer my favorite wines. I see no flight from quality here. They’ve offered surprising quality champagne in business class as well, and given their premium reputation tie-in with bubbles included the option even in their premium economy cabin.
Don’t care. A part of the service that adds little or nothing for me personally and of a kin to the branded amenity kits that I suspect passengers don’t value remotely as highly as airline product managers do.
Hi,
As a Champagne lover and multiple times visitor to the region in France and having tasted all 3 at their cellars I think they have gone with the far superior choice of Taittinger Comtes de Champagne.
I personally love blanc de blanc and now with Krug and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne there is a real choice for lovers of lighter or heavier styles.
Now to try and find a flight…
Dale.
When selecting an inflight fine dining meal option in the United Airlines premium cabin dining to Hawaii and offered a choice of a beef salami stick or a Spam sandwich, I believe the only correct answer to an almost absurd question like that is to be equally ridiculous – and yet truthful – replying, “That depends. What year is the Spam in the Spam sandwich?”
Spam’s quality varies tremendously by vintage. In addition, vintage Spam, more than a decade old, has a uniquely distinct flavor.
Overrated brand
I prefer Salon with the grapes being sourced from Les Mesnil. Dom is vastly overrated due to $$ being spent on PR
As holiday season approaches, any chance of them adding Korbel?
@Ken A: Fantastic !! 🙂
Singapore has always impressed me with their selection of Rieslings. I’ve always thought Dom to be a bit more hype than substance at it’s price – Pol Roger is a great and less expensive option. To each their own.
Considering you can buy Dom Perignon at Costco for as low as $132/bottle, it’s not that much of a super premium offering. It’s nice, but not this unaffordable luxury that no one can obtain. FWIW, you can also buy bottles from small family producers in Hautvillers with vineyards right next to the Dom vineyards for 20 euros. Maybe not the equal of the very best of the Dom vintages, but I’d be willing to bet most people can’t spot the difference at 35,000 feet in a blind test. Some can, but most, no.
Read “The Billionaire’s Vinegar” for an expose on how full of BS the upper end wine world is. Even acknowledged experts get fooled. There is wine, there is good wine, there is great wine, there is value, there is hype, and there is BS – make sure you don’t confuse them.
Minotto,Korbel or Lambrusco will do for Yankees anyway …lol
Any bottle of wine over $30 is a waste of your money. Same thing with vodka. Only buy Smirnoff.
Totally agree with Dale. Taittinger Comtes de Champagne is an excellent choice.
Trivia: this is Prince Malko Linge’s favorite Champagne
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAS_(novel_series)
The definition of “First World problem”.
*rolleyes*
They could just get a whole bunch of Mumm’s.
@Jojo – If you’re drinking Smirnoff, there’s a reason you can’t taste the value in a bottle of wine over $30, your taste buds have been burned off. Grey Goose is more marketing hype, but at least upgrade to Tito’s. Or better yet, realize that vodka is a waste of a good drink, pick a better spirit.
Good everyday bottles usually range from $12-20, but very few of those approach what a really good $75 bottle can do. Unfortunately, a lot of $75 bottles taste like they ought to cost $15. Find a store who knows what they’re doing and pay them to guide you.
To add perceived insult to perceived injury, Frontier is changing out Barefoot Bubbly for Cooks.
Twould be hilarious if they offered passengers in First a choice of Krug… or Charles Shaw.
Obviously Gary Leff doesn’t really know champagne if he thinks Dom is a big deal. Ppl that likes Dom are label chasers.
They make millions of bottles of Dom Perignon every year, and it is still bottled under natural cork. The 2006 release had serious cork taint issues, with some claiming rates as high as 10%
Champagne has so much more to offer.
I may debase myself but I reject everything but apple juice. Less flatulence.