Hong Kong-based Master of Wine Debra Meiburg has just become the latest addition to
Cathay Pacific Airways’ wine panel, the airline announced recently. Meiburg joinscurrent wine consultants Lau Chi-sun and Roy Moorfield to pick out new wine selections for passengers in all classes of travel.
An award-winning author, educator and international speaker,Meiburg was ranked seventh in The Drinks Business magazine’s list of the “Most Powerful Women in Wine” and was named as one of the “7 People to Watch” by Decanter Magazine. She is also the producer and host of various television shows and has been a judge in multiple pan-Asian wine competitions. This is also the first time for her to team up with an airline to select fine wines for the enjoyment of passengers on board.
According to Cathay Pacific head of Catering Aaron Claxton, the airline company is “very pleased to welcome Debra on board as one of our consultants. She is known for her global approach and great insights into Asia’s wine markets, and, working in tandem with our existing wine consultants, will help in our quest to bring more unique wine experiences to our passengers.”
Cathay Pacific serves around 80 different wines from France, Italy, Austria, South Africa, Australia, the United States and New Zealand, among many other countries. The airline’s wine panel samples thousands of bottles of wine every year to ensure that the selected wines fly well. The usual criteria for selecting high-quality wines apply during the sampling process, while additional factors such as the impact of high altitudes on people’s palates and cabin humidity are also taken into consideration.
“I am thrilled to join Cathay Pacific’s wine panel, and excited to review the airline’s current wine portfolio and offer guidance on the evolution of this selection. With so many interesting wines in the market today, and passengers as engaged as ever in the food and beverage experience, I’m excited at the vast potential to offer an enriched wine experience to enhance passengers’ inflight experience which aligns with Cathay Pacific’s ‘Life Well Travelled’ philosophy,” Meiburg commented on her appointment.
For more information, check out Cathay Pacific Philippines’website, www.cathaypacific.ph.
