tl;dr – The airline introduces a special custom cuvée for international premium economy and economy long-haul flights.
As of December 1, 2025, Japan Airlines (JAL) is sporting new wines in its long-haul economy service. On International routes to/from North America and Hawaii (excluding Guam), Europe,
Australia, and Southeast Asia, as well as Haneda/Narita – Hong Kong flights, passengers can sip the new “+81” blends.
The wines are crafted by JAL Wine Advisor Motohiro Okoshi, who, judging from homie’s photo, you just want to trust:
If you’re wondering about the label name “+81”, that is Japan’s country code when dialing into the country.
The new line features two wines: a red and a white blend, both of which are made with Spanish varietals.
I would have loved in JAL attempted to feature a local producer, as a way to introduce more passengers to Japan’s up and coming wine industry, focused on production with vitis vinifera. I recently had the chance to go tasting in Hokkaido and was impressed by the quality of what is out there.
I have to imagine that volume and distribution played a major role here. Spain is usually near the top of the list in terms of volume of wine produced per year, whereas even the most productive Japan winery probably couldn’t produce enough wine to meet JAL’s needs even if it dedicated it’s whole operation to it.
Here are specifics on the wines, their composition, and characteristics:
White Wine: A harmonious blend of Airén, Chardonnay, Verdejo, and Sauvignon Blanc creates a wine with satisfying body and enhanced fruity aromas that remain perceptible even at high altitudes.
Grape Composition: Airén 40% / Verdejo 24% / Chardonnay 16% / Sauvignon Blanc 20%
Aromas of quince intertwine with fresh lemon and delicate floral hints.
The palate offers a smooth, well-balanced mouthfeel with moderate concentration and refreshing acidity, finishing clean and crisply dry.
Red Wine: A fruit-forward Garnacha base is complemented by Merlot and Syrah for structure, while a touch of Moscatel adds aromatic richness and depth.
Grape Composition: Garnacha 47.5% / Merlot 28.5% / Syrah 19% / Moscatel 5%
The wine opens with ripe red cherry and elegant rose-petal aromas.
A gentle texture, supported by integrated tannins and fresh acidity, delivers concentrated fruit flavors with a lingering spicy nuance reminiscent of pink pepper.
