If you've ever ordered a glass of wine while flying (and who hasn't, really?) you've probably noticed that at 30,000 feet, things taste somewhat... different. And there's a perfectly good explanation for it.When flying at cruising altitude, cabin pressure and low humidity combine to dull certain flavors and heighten others. It's akin to eating a delicious meal with a giant fan blowing on you, explains Andrea Robinson, a Master Sommelier who selects wines for Delta. Drinkers will still get the basic salty, sweet, bitter, and sour tastes, but the more subtle flavors that people sense from smelling, like strawberry and cherry, are decidedly difficult to pick out. Both wine and food suffer from an airplane cabin's low humidity. "We try and use wines that have a fair amount of fruit, because that's the flavor that's going to be the most diminished," says Jon Bonné, a wine writer who chooses wines for JetBlue's Mint cabin.After picking the brains of several airline sommeliers, we gathered a list of tips to make sure that no matter where you're flying, you'll get a glass of wine you like.

Another major factor working against your palate: lack of humidity in that recycled air. Fliers are often dehydrated, and anything very tannic further dries out the palate—which will feel like sucking on a tea bag, Bonné explains. Ken Chase, American Airline's wine expert, recommends drinking three glasses of water for every glass of wine. Delta's Robinson favors Rioja from Spain because the airline is able to source bottles that have had time to properly age, giving the wine a suede-like texture.Pinot Noir is another good option, Chase says, because the grape's thin skin means fewer tannins for a silky, smooth wine. Malbec, known for its jammy fruit notes, is another solid choice. Jeannie Cho Lee with Singapore Airlines suggests sticking with varietals where the fruit will shine through, and warns against young wines aged in new oak. "These wines will leave your mouth parched, the tannins will be exaggerated, and the finish is often astringent," she says. A wine flight is served on United's Polaris business and first class.

Though it might be refreshing on the ground, Italian Pinot Grigio can seem like lemony water in the air, Robinson says. And while Chablis is fine, Bonné cautions that an oaked Chardonnay—which would taste mildly buttery on the ground—might read as movie-theater popcorn at cruising altitude.Look for Champagne or sparklers that are made in the traditional méthode champenoise, which results in tiny bubbles that are well-integrated into the wine and thought to diffuse more slowly under lower cabin pressure compared to many proseccos.Galley space is cramped, making it difficult to store bottles at their ideal temperatures, and since sommeliers advise staff to err on the side of serving the wine cold, be sure to give your red a minute to warm up. You'll find the best wines on routes like New York to Paris or London Heathrow because airlines are trying to attract and keep customers willing to shell out for premium tickets. These routes tend to serve bigger-ticket wines and champagnes, Robinson says.

On Air France, for example, the wines—like Champagne Krug Grande Cuvée—are selected by Paolo Basso, a Swiss/Italian sommelier who was named the best sommelier in the world in 2013. Earlier this year, it was reported that Emirates airline had spent upwards of $500 million to create the world's most high-end wine cellar in the sky. Emirates flyers can choose between a glass of Dom Pérignon, a Premier Grand Cru Classé from Château Figeac, or a highly prized Sauternes from Château d'Yquem. best wine kits 2014On Eithad, another top gulf carrier, travelers have been able to indulge in vintage Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année.United recently unveiled a new program on its Polaris business and first-class cabins that allows customers to craft their own wine flights. best red wines cookingIn Delta's premium cabins, many flight attendants have undergone special wine education, and are encouraged to offer curious customers tastes of various bottles. best red wine olive garden

Since JetBlue's list includes wines from boutique producers or regions which guests might not be familiar, like the Finger Lakes in New York, they also encourage Mint customers to try before committing.Porto is Portugal's second largest city and was elected Best European Destination 2017. Every year the city attracts thousands of tourists eager to discover the ancient downtown, the typical riverside with colourfully painted houses, to get lost in century old streets, to enjoy the Portuguese cuisine and, of course, to taste wine.best wine paris You don't need to go a specific winery or vineyard in the Douro Valley to taste the best Portuguese wines (but we strongly recommend you do!). best kind of wine with turkeyIf you're in Porto and haven't planned a trip to the Douro but find yourself in the mood for a Port wine tasting, there are plenty of choices, mainly on the other side of the Douro River, in Gaia. best way to save a bottle of wine

Each visit is different, featuring a tasting room, artisanal cheese or chocolate pairings, on-site sommeliers and much more. At Caves Ferreira you travel back to the origins of the Portuguese tradition. In this cellar you will learn more about the history of Port wine and the Douro region and discover one of its most iconic figures - Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira. The tour includes tastings of some of the best Douro wines and visits to the Old Bar, a tasting room of the 19th century. best wine to drink in the winterMore wine tastings tours at Caves Ferreira.best sweet white wine 2015 The Croft Cellar is located just a few minutes away from the waterfront in Gaia and is open all year. best wine places in usaThis cellar offers one of the most genuine and traditional tours to the Port wine world where you can not only taste the best Portuguese wines, but also enjoy many other experiences such blind tastings and chocolate pairings.

See all tasting tours at Caves Croft. Located in Vila Nova de Gaia near the waterfront, at Caves Offley you will learn the fascinating story of the Baron of Forrester and its role in the Port wine industry. In this guided tour through the cellar, there will be wine Port tastings and for small groups of connoisseurs there is also available an intimate visit with a wider selection of Port Wine tastings. Taste some of the best Portuguese wines at Caves Offley. Caves Sandeman are located in Vila Nova de Gaia, in a 1811 granite building overlooking the river and facing Porto's historic centre. At this tour you will discover more about Sandeman's wine tradition and the ageing process and you will have the opportunity to taste some Ruby and Tawny wines at the contemporary room or in a private room where you can also admire our antique bottle collection. More wine tasting tours at Caves Sandeman. Real Companhia Velha is probably the most different wine tasting tour in Porto. With a century-old tradition and the most important role in the history of Port wine, the guided tour of the centennial Cellar of Real Companhia Velha begins with a video that portrays the process of of Port wine -making in the Company.

The tour continues across the main ageing warehouse until the "Vintage Museum" and ends with a tasting of Port wines of exceptional quality. See all Port wine tasting tours at Real Companhia Velha. Espaço Porto Cruz is much more than a wine tasting tour, it is an experience. Designed as a place for information, exhibition and leisure, it offers new experiences around Port wine bringing it together with artistic creations in areas such as fashion, art and gastronomy. Tours at Espaço Porto Cruz include not only wine tastings but also visits to the multimedia centre, chocolate workshops and chocolate and cheese tastings. See all suggested wine tasting tours at espaço Porto Cruz. Churchill's is a Port Wine Cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia of high levels of elegance and style, serving as backdrop for the best that Churchill's has to offer - its wines. For those keen to enhance their knowledge of the Douro Region and the history of Churchill’s, the visitors Centre provides a perfect platform.

Here you can also enjoy tailor-made tastings of Churchill's Douro and Port Wine and Port in the Tasting Room, which has a spectacular view of the Rio Douro. Located in the heart of Vila Nova de Gaia's waterfront, Kopke House is a three-storey building where you can enjoy an unforgettable experience, tasting Port wines of exceptional quality, such as long age exclusive wines. During the tasting in this intimate and cosy space, the wines are paired with a specific handmade chocolate from famous Portuguese chocolate brand Arcádia. Caves Calem at Gaia waterfront is one of the most famous and most visited cellars for wine tours in Porto. Visits to Caves Calem include a guided to the cellar and its ancient traditions followed by a tasting of Port Wine, White and Special Reserve. In this tour you can also enjoy another wonder of the Portuguese culture, a fado concert, providing you a different and pleasant evening with two of the greatest icons of the Portuguese culture: wine and fado.

The new Burmester Museum and Wine Cellar is built in a privileged place overlooking the Douro River, besides the historic bridge D. Luis I. It was created with the clear ambition of making the history of the brand Burmester known to the public. The tours at Caves Burmester include a guided visit to the Cellar Museaum where you can learn about the peculiarities of Port Wine and ends with tastings of three excellent Port wines paired with the best chocolates. The tasting room is an impressive space with high ceilings and big windows, through which the Lodge’s stunning view of the city of Porto can be fully appreciated. Here you can relish the range of Ports available to taste, while your expert guide talks you through your wines. Graham’s has a wide range of different tasting options of Classic, Premium, Vintage or Tawny Ports. An unparallel tasting experience. If you wish to learn more about Graham's, you can book a tasting in the private Vintage Room. With its quiet atmosphere and professional tasting conditions, reclining in an armchair with a glass of fine Vintage Port or a rare Single Harvest Aged Tawny will be a memorable experience.