SAO PAULO, Brasil, Nov. 27, 2012 – Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today announced the selection of wines to be served on board its BusinessElite cabin in 2013.  The selections profile wines from four continents and present Delta’s customers an opportunity to discover a variety of interesting and unique flavor profiles to pair with the upcoming new BusinessElite menu under development by Chef Michelle Bernstein.  The new selections will be on board beginning in the Spring and will include wines from Italy, Chile, Spain, France, California, Australia, Portugal and South Africa.

The selection of the BusinessElite wines is part of an annual rigorous evaluation during which Delta Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson evaluates and samples more than 1,600 wines from submissions worldwide.   Numerous factors are considered during the weeklong process, including the complexity and intensity of the wine, aesthetic details such as the image of the wine bottle and its label, and logistics such as the amount of production necessary to fulfill Delta’s needs.

“Delta wants to offer a unique experience to its discerning BusinessElite customers who truly appreciate a great wine experience,” Robinson said. “This year the selection includes the Araucano Reserva Sauvignon Blanc, a wonderful Chilean wine I chose for pairing with upcoming Latin inspired creations by Chef Bernstein.  Also, I want to highlight two selections I label as ’discoveries’ – Banfi Rosa Regale dessert wine and Barco Reale di Carmignano.  These wines are unique because while they are classic Italian wines, they are styles few people have tried. The Rosa Regale is a unique sparkling rose dessert wine, and the Barco Reale could be considered Italy’s first Super Tuscan.”

A total of 22 winning labels are profiled in cycles throughout the year, including eight red wines, eight white wines four dessert selections and sparkling wines. Approximately 1.5 million bottles of each wine are served on board BusinessElite worldwide every year.

Reduced humidity in the cabin and pressure changes at 30,000 feet of altitude impact the way in which the senses perceive flavors. Wines selected by Robinson tend to be full bodied-flavored with a richer flavor profile so they can be best appreciated under the unique conditions onboard.

Wine Selection for the 2013 BusinessElite Cabin:

“We want to inspire our customers to discover the world through our selection of wines and meals.  Our global selections for the BusinessElite cabin have heart and soul and represent rich cultural legacies from all the countries selected,” Robinson said.

About Delta Air Lines
Delta is working to become the best U.S. carrier in Latin America and the Caribbean. As part of that goal Delta has established a long-term exclusive alliance with GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes investing more than US $100 million in GOL. Likewise, Delta has invested more than US $65 million in Aeroméxico as part of a long-term exclusive commercial alliance and entered a code sharing agreement with Aerolíneas Argentinas solidifying its footprint in Latin America.  Executive Travel magazine recognized Delta with the Gold Leading Edge Award for the Best Flight Experience to Mexico. Delta provides service in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport reaching out to 32 countries and 54 destinations in the region offering more than 1,000 weekly flights between Latin America and the U.S. Spanish speaking Delta customers can receive real-time, on-the-go travel assistance in Spanish and Portuguese through its Twitter channels @DeltaAssist_ES and @DeltaAjuda 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.  Brazilian customers can also access Delta’s dedicated Brazil Facebook page visiting http://www.facebook.com/DeltaAirLinesBrasil.

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, won the Business Travel News Annual Airline Survey and was the recipient of 12 Executive Travel Magazine Leading Edge Awards for U.S. airlines. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to nearly 313 destinations in 58 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.