Chapel Down Bacchus white wine takes flight with Virgin Atlantic Upper Class listing

UK. English wine producer Chapel Down has rolled out its Bacchus white wine in Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class cabins across the entire fleet.

The listing, which began on 1 May, is a response to the rising international demand for premium English wines, with Chapel Down recognised for its distinctive style and quality.

The wine is available on the airline’s long-haul routes from Heathrow to destinations in North America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Caribbean.

With its innovative approach and curated food & beverage offering, Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class has gained recognition for delivering British style and hospitality to international travellers, the partners noted.

Crafted from grapes grown in Kent’s lush vineyards, Chapel Down Bacchus is a fresh, aromatic white wine with layered notes of elderflower, citrus peel and freshly cut grass, offering a clean, lingering palate finish.

The 2023 vintage won Silver at two of the wine industry’s most prestigious events – the Decanter World Wine Awards and Wine GB Awards 2024.

Chapel Down Sales Director Tom Hepworth-Bond said, “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Virgin Atlantic to serve our Chapel Down Bacchus to guests as they travel across the globe.

“With a large number of international fliers on board, this is a powerful opportunity to showcase the exceptional quality of English wine to a discerning and influential audience. It’s also a proud moment for our industry, which continues to build global recognition and momentum.”

Virgin Atlantic Beverage Lead Shiada Drysdale added, “We’re delighted to partner with Chapel Down to bring the Chapel Down Bacchus white wine to our guests in Upper Class.

“Chapel Down Bacchus is one of the finest examples of English white wine, and we’re excited for our customers to enjoy the elevated in-flight dining experience, along with our deliciously different inflight menu, delivered with our signature Virgin Atlantic flair.”

The additional listing underscores Chapel Down’s commitment to export and global travel retail, complementing its presence at 35 UK travel hubs, such as London Heathrow, Gatwick, London City and Eurotunnel, while also reaching 15 international markets, including the USA and Scandinavia.

The wine producer has also announced a distribution partnership with Jackson Family Wines earlier this month to extend its footprint in the USA.