Delta to Showcase Distinctive California Winemakers on Transcontinental Flights

New offerings chosen by Delta Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson the latest in transcon enhancements

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Aug 13, 2012, 11:36 ET

ATLANTA, Aug. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) will introduce the Delta Winemaker Series on all transcon flights beginning Sept. 1, 2012, offering customers in BusinessElite a unique selection of California wines on flights connecting New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport.

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"We know our transcon customers have great taste and discerning palates. This program is a natural way to further enhance their in-flight experience," said Gail Grimmett, Delta's senior vice president – New York. "The Delta Winemakers Series, combined with Wi-Fi on every flight, new cabin interiors with seat back in-flight entertainment, BusinessElite cradle seats for a comfortable sleep, and special menus designed by Napa-based chef Michael Chiarello, offers a unique cross-country flight experience for our customers."

Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson, Delta's in-flight partner who has been curating the airline's BusinessElite wine offerings since February 2008, selected the featured winemakers to be served onboard in the BusinessElite cabin for two months at a time. The program will feature the following chosen winemakers and launch with Inception Wines:

Santa Barbara-based Inception Wines will offer a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Jonathan Hirsh and George Spiriotis, a former sommelier at Wolfgang Puck's flagship restaurant Spago Beverly Hills.
Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Valley will feature an Equilibrium Fume Blanc and Merlot from Genevieve Janssens, Director of Winemaking. Janssens was named Wine Enthusiast's 2010 Winemaker of the Year.
Heidi Peterson-Barrett, winemaker and proprietress of La Sirena in Napa Valley, will showcase a special Syrah. Merry Edwards, winemaker and proprietress of Merry Edwards Winery, will offer a Sauvignon Blanc. One of California's first female winemakers, Edwards has more than 35 years of winemaking experience. She manages five estate vineyards with her husband: Coopersmith, Cresta d'Oro, Flax, Georganne and Meredith.
Dave Miner, proprietor and vintner of the Miner Family Winery, will feature a "Simpson Vineyard" Viognier 2011. Charles Krug Winery will also offer a Napa Valley Merlot from Peter Mondavi, proprietor and vintner. Established in 1861, Charles Krug Winery is the first winery in Napa Valley, producing the finest Bordeaux style wines.

"I am delighted about this opportunity to share some of my favorite wines," Robinson, Delta's in-flight sommelier said. "The Delta Winemaker Series features juicy, silky and refreshing taste profiles, and all translate well on the palate at 30,000 feet. I expect Delta's customers will be impressed by the quality and variety of wine as these winemakers and their vintages are among the best of California and, most importantly, they taste delicious in flight."

Delta has transformed coast-to-coast travel with its transcontinental BusinessElite class, offering customers a unique experience on flights between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport. Transcon BusinessElite service includes a gourmet three-course menu from Chiarello paired with a wine menu curated by Robinson; an extensive library of movies, TV shows, music and games offered on personal in-seat Panasonic screens; and Gogo In-flight Internet access. Delta's transcon BusinessElite cradle seats recline 150-degrees with an industry-leading 55" of legroom. Premium pillows, quilted duvets and headrests with wings provide additional comfort.

About Andrea Robinson

Robinson is one of only 18 women in the world to have earned the Master Sommelier credential, and is the only woman ever named "Best Sommelier in the United States" by the Sommelier Society of America. She is a graduate and former Dean of The French Culinary Institute in New York City and has won three James Beard awards. As the author of four top-selling books and award-winning host of several TV programs, Robinson hosts an online video wine course at www.andreawine.com. Robinson created her own ground-breaking wine stemware series called The ONE™ which is in alignment with her philosophy of simple. After three years of designing, testing and tasting, Robinson has developed one perfect white wine glass and one perfect red wine glass to optimize all white and red wines.

About Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. During the past year, Delta was named domestic "Airline of the Year" by the readers of Travel Weekly magazine, was named the "Top Tech-Friendly U.S. Airline" by PCWorld magazine for its innovation in technology and won the Business Travel News Annual Airline Survey. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to nearly 350 destinations in 65 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline's service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, a world-class airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Delta is investing more than $3 billion through 2013 in airport facilities and global products, services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.