Rare port toasts Air NZ's classy wine list

The Taylor's port. Photo / Supplied

Air New Zealand went to the very top shelf and cracked open a port made in the same year as Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address to thank experts working on the airline's new high-end wine programme.

The Taylor's port was made in the same year as Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

Bruce Parton, Group General Manager Air New Zealand. Photo / Duncan Brown

Airline chief operations officer Bruce Parton is the programme's champion and said he was able to secure one of just four bottles of the rare 1863 Taylor's port in New Zealand after becoming available in a worldwide launch late last year.

"The reason I bought it was that it was a way of having an incredibly interesting bottle for the Masters of Wine to try," he said, following a function at which six of the country's top experts shared their thoughts on the ultra-premium range due in business class next year.

A wine industry expert described the port as "surprisingly fresh".

When launched to the market late last year, the single harvest tawny was selling for around US$3800 ($5633), although the Wine-Searcher website shows merchants around the world now selling it for between $4450 and $5785 for the 750ml bottle.

Parton wasn't talking price, saying only it was "not cheap". The new range in business class could feature wines topping $100 a bottle, but there'd be limits. "You're not going to get 1863 Port in the front of our planes I'm afraid."