Images: Supplied
Above the clouds, Qantas Business Class passengers are being poured an Adelaide Hills white that’s beaten more than 1,400 wines to earn its place on the airline’s international wine list.
Paracombe Wines’ 2022 Grüner V5 has been selected for Qantas International Business Class, a major accolade for the family-owned Adelaide Hills producer and one of the country’s most rigorous wine programs.
“We’re thrilled to share the exciting news that Paracombe 2022 Grüner V5 has won selection on Qantas International Business Class flights. Something like this is never expected, but we’re always hopeful and seeking out opportunities,” says Paracombe owner and co-founder, Kathy Drogemuller.
“This is a huge honour for all our team here at Paracombe. It is made possible by passion, dedication and commitment. All the hard work in the vineyard, testament to our winemaker, Ryan Giles’ great work in winemaking in the winery, bottling, packaging and cellaring all on site. Taking exceptional care at every stage of the wine’s journey from the vine to the glass,” she adds.
The Qantas Wine Program is famously exacting. Each year, six Rockpool sommeliers – handpicked by Qantas creative director of food, beverage and service Neil Perry – blind taste more than 1,400 bottles over four days inside the airline’s Centre of Service Excellence in Sydney. Wines are assessed across 19 categories, and sommeliers hunt for “delicious wines that are ready to be consumed by their customers within the next 12 – 18 months.” There’s one simple rule guiding the final list. “If it tastes great on the ground, it tastes great in the air,” Perry says.
The result is a rotating onboard cellar that introduces local and international travellers to what Qantas deems Australia’s finest, from household names to small, regional producers like Paracombe.
So what does the winning drop taste like? The Grüner V5 2022 is an aromatic white blend built around Grüner Veltliner, supported by Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Riesling and a touch of Pinot Gris. Pale straw in colour, it opens with lifted rose florals, melon and citrus, before settling into a palate that’s crisp and fresh, with hints of nutmeg, ginger and slate-like minerality. It’s a wine designed to drink beautifully now, but one with the acidity and texture that helps it age gracefully, and it retails at just $25.
While the Grüner’s first-class seat might’ve come as a surprise to Paracombe, wine critics have already given glowing reviews. Rob Geddes MW has praised the wine for its balance and restraint, describing it as “a beautifully judged blend” and “a perfect lunch companion.” The vintage also picked up 92 points in the Halliday Wine Companion, adding to a long list of accolades across previous releases.
Production, however, is limited. Just 438 cases were made, and with the wine now pouring at 10,000 metres, Paracombe says only the final few cases remain available to buy.
The selection is also a milestone moment for a winery steeped in history and proudly family-run. Paracombe sits high on an ancient plateau in the Adelaide Hills, farming vineyards on 1.7-billion-year-old soils with a strong focus on sustainability. The Drogemuller family’s story stretches back to the aftermath of the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires, when they planted vines on an old dairy farm and made their first wines in a tin shed.
Driven by a philosophy that honours both story and site, Paracombe’s rise has been steady and consistent, making this moment all the more significant. The label has seen its fair share of accolades, and this selection is one of its many times mile-high.
“We’ve been fortunate to have won selection before with Qantas. Previously our Pinot Gris has been served on domestic business class flights. Shiraz and Montepulciano on International Business Class flights. The Montepulciano was on flights to Italy after COVID, when flying was permitted again. That was a special moment of joy for us,” Kathy elaborates.
And while the sky-high cred is a good feeling, Kathy is quick to advocate for those on home soil.
“The loyalty and support we receive from South Australians is the best,” she says. “Our local market is our strongest and we’re incredibly grateful for the way SUPPORT LOCAL is absolutely true for Paracombe wines and our family owned business.”
Qantas business passengers, you’re high-class experience just got even more xx offered a glass of South Australian-proud Grüner V5 on the onboard wine cellar among the curated selection of award-winning Aussie drops.
Add the Grüner to your cellar collection here, but you’ll have to be quick – only the last few cases are left.
