Guests in Emirates First Class can sample the recently released Dom Pérignon Vintage 2005 and the Dom Pérignon Vintage Rosé 2003 paired with an exclusive menu created by the culinary team at Dom Pérignon, headed by Pascal Tingaud, Chef de Cuisine at Dom Pérignon and two-Michelin star chef.

As Dom Pérignon’ s leading global partner, Emirates will offer this exceptional vintage from July to its First Class customers across different routes, including between Hong Kong and Dubai. On some routes, Emirates will also serve the Dom Pérignon Vintage Rosé 2003 in First Class. Both Champagnes have been offered to Emirates as a global airline exclusive.

The pairing menu of six carefully designed canapés, intended to complement and enhance the experience of the Dom Pérignon Vintage Rosé 2003, includes cured duck with saffron poached peach; walnut baguette with Persian feta cheese, fresh fig, and truffle infused honey; and wild smoked salmon, with lemon and cumin cream cheese on Norlander bread, on flights departing Dubai. Customers travelling to Dubai can look forward to a menu comprising charcoal cracker topped with ash goat’s cheese and quince jelly; Teriyaki-marinated duck breast with a curried apricot and apple chutney; and finally, mixed sesame coated tuna with wasabi mayonnaise. Using the finest produce, these gastronomic innovations and unusual food combinations are meant to heighten the flavour of the champagne and elevate the overall fine dining experience of Emirates’ First Class cabin.

“Food and wine pairing has reached its tipping point, in that it is now an expected part of the fine dining experience,” says SVP catering at Emirates  Joost Heymeijer. “We have a like minded partner in Dom Pérignon, who also strives to bring the dining experience to life and help elevate the rarity and richness of their product. We place great emphasis on creating an experience onboard that our customers will cherish, and hope this new offering will help meet the high standards they have come to expect from Emirates”.

Dom Pérignon Vintage 2005 is the current vintage of Dom Pérignon. Due to the limited production linked to the challenging nature of the 2005 harvest, access to this vintage will be carefully curated. The year 2005 was full of contrasts. The weather was mostly warm, with little rain. A heatwave in August was followed by cool, rainy weather in September. Eventually, a drastic selection in the vineyard ensured a limited volume of exceptional quality, with a never-before-seen aromatic maturity. The wine has a strong character and a powerful presence. Overall, it is structured, focused, firm and dense. Its intriguingly spicy, flowery finish remains present in each sip.

The 2003 vintage was a real challenge for its creation due to extremes in weather conditions. After an unusually harsh, dry winter, severe frost devastated the grape crop. This was followed by the hottest summer in 53 years. The grapes that miraculously survived the frost and hail were then subject to scorching heat. However, the grapes harvested were mature and healthy, comparable to those of the legendary 1947, 1959 and 1976 harvests. The resulting intensity is unique and paradoxical, hovering between austerity and generosity. www.emirates.com