As part of its ongoing campaign to support and promote British produce, British Airways will be the first airline to serve an English sparkling wine.

Balfour Brut Rosé 2007, from the Hush Heath Estate in Kent, will be part of an existing array of Champagnes served in First Class and in the BA lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5 between July and September.

The airline's wine buyer, Andrew Sparrow, says: "British Airways' First Class customers expect the very best and we are delighted to be able to offer them this fantastic English wine. In tastings it has performed brilliantly and we believe it will really hold its own at 35,000 feet."

It was only in 2002 that Richard Balfour-Lynn planted the first vineyards at Hush Heath, but the wines from these Kentish grapes have managed to garner unusual success in both domestic and international markets. In fact, the 2005 vintage was a gold medal and trophy winner at the Decanter World Wine Awards - a first for an English wine.

The 2007 vintage, which will be exclusively released for British Airways, was made from a blend of the three traditional Champagne grape varieties - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier - using the traditional or Champagne Method.
Pictured, Balfour Brut Rosé

Lynn McClelland, British Airways' head of catering, says: "No other airline has ever served English fizz to its customers. By giving our British and international customers an exclusive taste of the best of Britain, we are putting English winemaking firmly on the map."

So First Class passengers travelling on British Airways can now enjoy, alongside helpings of Herefordshire beef, Loch Fyne smoked salmon and Cropwell Bishop Stilton, a glass or two of delightful Kentish bubbly.

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