Singapore Airlines is making a welcome change to its regular champagne pour in Business Class next month, with a surprise reintroduction of the popular Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve network-wide, replacing the now-commonplace non-vintage Piper Heidsieck Essential Brut.
This will restore SIA’s champagne offering in this cabin to a popular and relatively longstanding option, first introduced in mid-2016 but having been ‘missing in action’ for a large part of the last four years.
Charles is back
Singapore Airlines served Charles Heidsieck Champagne in its Business Class cabins between July 2016 and late 2019, but then switched away from the label in favour of Laurent-Perrier’s La Cuvée Brut.
Since then the Charles Heidsieck did make a return on selected flights, between June 2022 and late 2023, but has been replaced with Piper-Heidsieck since then.
Earlier this year a 2015 vintage varietal of the Piper-Heidsieck was being poured, though this has now been almost completely replaced with the more mundane non-vintage Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel Cuvée Réservée Extra Brut, which will continue to be served in this cabin until the end of August 2024.
Charles Heidsieck makes a return network-wide for the airline from Sunday this week, 1st September 2024, which for many readers (ourselves included) is great news indeed.
We personally love the more complex, textured finish of this champagne.
(Image: Singapore Airlines)
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve picks up an impressive 4.2 out of 5 rating on Vivino, despite being a non-vintage, a great step up in quality from the Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel Extra Brut it is replacing, which scores 4.0 out of 5.
(Photo: MainlyMiles)
Here’s what SIA has to say about the Charles Heidsieck Champagne.
“Charles Heidsieck, established in 1851 by entrepreneur Charles-Camille Heidsieck, is today one of the region’s most admired Houses.
Singapore Airlines
“Production of this multi-vintage wine is overseen by ‘chef de cave’ Elise Losfelt, and is a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Remarkably, over 40% of the blend is made up of older reserve wines which gives Charles Heidsieck its distinctive complexity, richness and maturity.
“These attributes have ensured that their Brut Réserve has been the standout performer at many of the top international wine competitions in recent years.”
While Charles Heidsieck will be available across the network from next month, do note that Singapore Airlines does not offer champagne in Business Class on its very shortest flights, which are those to and from:
- Kuala Lumpur
- Medan
- Penang
On these services, white wine and red wine are available, but sadly nothing in the bubbles department.
(Photo: MainlyMiles)
Aside from this news on the champagne being poured, remember you can check which Business Class seat type you’ll be getting on your next Singapore Airlines flight between now and late March 2025, at our recently updated guide.
What about the SilverKris lounge?
We passed through the SilverKris Business Class lounge at Changi Airport T2 last week, and we were very happy to see that Charles Heidsieck has also made its way here already.
(Photo: MainlyMiles)
Obviously there are no guarantees when it comes to the champagne you’ll find in the Business Class SilverKris lounges at Changi, but it does look as though Charles is back here as well, which is great news and should provide consistency both on the ground and in-flight.
Other champagnes SIA commonly serves at its Changi SilverKris Business Class lounges based on data points over the last few years include the following.
- Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut Champagne – 4.1 stars
- Taittinger Brut Réserve Champagne – 4.2 stars
- Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne – 4.1 stars
- Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel Extra Brut Champagne – 4.0 stars
What’s the latest Champagne in First Class and Suites?
Singapore Airlines brought Bollinger La Grande Année to its First Class and Suites cabins earlier this year, poured alongside long-time stalwarts 2013 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne and Krug Grande Cuvée.
That third option has now reverted to the Champagne Henri Giraud MV 19 Aÿ Grand Cru, which last appeared in 2023 as part of SIA’s rotating guest Champagne programme “A Celebration of Champagne”, showcasing Grower and Artisanal Champagnes from smaller vineyards.
The latest Henri Giraud is a 2019 vintage, well rated with a score of 4.5 out of 5 on Vivino.
It’s a blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay grapes, two-thirds from a 2018 vintage, with the balance “from a ‘perpetual reserve’ of aged wines that was begun in 1990 and that adds immense complexity and character”, according to Vinium Fine Wines.
| Singapore Airlines First Class and Suites Champagnes (September 2024) |
||
 2013 Tattinger Comtes de Champagne4.5 / 5 |
 N.V. Krug Grande Cuvée 4.6 / 5 |
 Champagne Henri Giraud MV 19 4.5 / 5 |
This trio is offered on all routes with a First Class or Suites cabin across the network – even on the airline’s 90-minute hops to and from Jakarta.
Singapore Airlines has confirmed that it will continue to offer three Champagnes in First Class and Suites throughout the rest of 2024.
Remember you can also see which flights have the latest Suites cabin and which have the older First Class seats right through to March 2025 at our continually updated reference page.
Check the inflight menu
Champagne and wine options do change from time to time, but the good news is that the latest inflight menus can now be viewed online up to eight days prior to departure.
That means you can check what’s being poured on your flight in advance with good certainty.
As you would expect, the inflight menu also includes the food and amenities selection for your flight in all cabin classes.
Summary
Charles Heidsieck fans will rejoice at the return of this popular champagne to the Business Class cabin on almost all SIA routes, with only the shortest hops to and from KL, Penang and Medan remaining sans-fizz in the alcohol department.
For now this spells the end for vintage champagne in SIA Business Class, though that was only available for a relatively brief period, already almost completely replaced by a non-vintage varietal over recent months.
In First Class and Suites there continue to be three excellent champagnes offered, with a recent switch from Bollinger La Grande Année to Champagne Henri Giraud MV 19 as the ‘rotating option’ alongside Tattinger Comtes and Krug.
(Cover Photo: Charles Heidsieck)
I am SO relived! I was about to cancel my flight. Thanks for the update. 😉
I’m not big drinker and was just curious that a change like this is something people really care about?
Excellent news, what to time to be alive. I stopped flying because I missed it so much but glad I can find it in my local supermarket.