Glaetzer and Heartland Wines fly First Class

Glaetzer Wines and Heartland Wines have received a glowing endorsement from two prestigious international airlines which have selected their flagship wines for service on First Class from Jan 2004.

Air New Zealand has selected Glaetzer Shiraz 1999 (Barossa Valley) for its First Class wine list, while British Airways has chosen Heartland's Directors' Cut Shiraz 2001 (Limestone Coast.)

Glaetzer Shiraz and Directors' Cut Shiraz both impressed airline selection panels in blind tastings designed to find top-flight wines worthy of being served in First Class.

Legendary Barossa winemaker Colin Glaetzer and his son Ben make limited quantities of benchmark Shiraz under the family label, Glaetzer Wines. Ben is also the winemaker for the dynamic, new label, Heartland Wines.

The Glaetzers say they're chuffed the airlines have chosen their respective reds from among the world's best.

Glaetzer Shiraz is the family company's flagship wine. Air New Zealand were looking for distinctly-Australian Shiraz for First Class and this Barossa classic perfectly fits the bill.

Heartland Directors' Cut Shiraz is Heartland's only reserve wine made with the finest selection of fruit from each vintage. Heartland's experienced team is made up of second generation winemakers Ben Glaetzer and Scott Collett, fifth generation viticulturalist Geoff Hardy, vignerons John Pargeter and Gino Melino and wine industry professional Grant Tilbrook

The Air New Zealand and British Airways successes cap off a brilliant year for Colin and Ben Glaetzer:

• The latest edition of wine investment bible, Langton’s Australian Fine Wine Guide, named Glaetzer Wines in its list of Top 10 Australian wineries to watch. Langton’s called Glaetzer an "emerging star" among Australia's premium producers. The directory is the benchmark guide for Australia’s blue-chip investment wine market.
• Ben Glaetzer also received high praise from influential US wine critic Robert Parker Jr in his Wine Advocate review. The Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz 2002 (Barossa Valley) was awarded 96-100 points.
• Directors' Cut Shiraz 2000 was also the red wine of choice for Business Class on Scandinavian Air Services (SAS).

For further information on Heartland Wines or Glaetzer Wines contact Vicki Arnold