PRESS RELEASES
Air France has chosen Xavier Thuizat, Head Sommelier at Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel, to sign its future wine, champagne and spirits list in all its travel cabins and lounges at its Paris airports. The Burgundy-born sommelier will also be putting together a new range of French beers.
May 17, 2024
Meilleur Sommelier de France in 2022, Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2023 and recent winner of the Michelin Guide's Grand Prix de la Sommellerie 2024, Xavier Thuizat is renowned for the quality and relevance of his selections. To create this new offer, he and the Air France teams will be organising blind tastings in all the wine-growing regions of France to identify the exceptional wines to be enjoyed on board or while relaxing at the airport.
With Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône Valley, Languedoc-Roussillon, the Loire Valley and Alsace, France's finest grape varieties will be featured on the new Air France wine list, signed by the sommelier. The list will accompany passengers in their choice of wine, a highlight of any trip on Air France.
Xavier Thuizat is taking over from Paolo Basso, world's best sommelier in 2013, who has been producing a high-class wine and champagne list for the airline's customers since 2014.
"I would like to thank Paolo Basso, who for ten years has been committed to promoting the finest wines from France's vineyards for all our customers, in our lounges and on board our aircraft. I am delighted to welcome Xavier Thuizat who, I am sure, will continue in this role with just as much talent and passion" said Fabien Pelous, Air France’s SVP Customer Experience.
In all its travel cabins, including Economy, and in its airport lounges, Air France offers a wide range of fine wines, champagnes and spirits promoting French vineyards and châteaux. Every year, over a million bottles of champagne and over 8 million bottles of wine are served to Air France customers.
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