BY JAMES WILKINSON

Japan Airlines (JAL) might be renowned for serving up some of its home nation’s best sake, but now the Tokyo Narita-based airline is taking inflight drinking to another level thanks to a new wine list that includes the renowned Champagne Salon.

JAL’s new Boeing 787-8 will join the fleet in 2012

JAL has struck a deal with Champagne Salon that means it will be the only airline serving the 1999 release in First Class. Its place on the wine list is alongside Champagne Dom Perignon’s Vintage 2003 and 17 other fine wines that span the globe from New Zealand’s Martinborough to California.

According to the airline, the 19 wines selected for First Class came out of an initial selection of 600, which were then dropped to a final list of 90.

Amongst the wines to be chosen, a notable inclusion is Kusuda Wines’ Martinborough Syrah, which is made by New Zealand expat Japanese winemaker Hiroyuki Kusuda.

Top shelf: JAL’s new First Class wine list

Fellow expat countryman and winemaker Kenzo Tsujimoto’s Kenzo Estate Rindo, from California, will also be available in First Class on selected flights.

It’s not just First Class passengers that get the best drops, however, because from next month (Feb 2012), guests in Executive Class will find a new list that includes nine wines and the premium Champagne Joseph Perrier Cuvee Royale Brut.