In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, acclaimed winemaker Jesse Katz brings the final act of winemaking to 35,000 feet to create a wine specifically designed to be enjoyed on an airplane
The custom Cabernet Sauvignon will debut in United Polaris® business class on select international routes in 2028
September 28, 2026 (Healdsburg, CA) — Aperture Cellars, the renowned Sonoma County winery championing a range of world-class Bordeaux varietals, and United Airlines today announced Air and Vine, a custom Cabernet Sauvignon blended at a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet. The project builds on Aperture and United’s existing relationship as part of a three-year partnership to bring a new signature Aperture wine to United Polaris business class each year.
Rather than making a wine on the ground and later considering how it might perform in flight, Jesse Katz, founder and first-generation winemaker of Aperture Cellars, brought the final act of winemaking onboard a United flight from New York to San Francisco. At 35,000 feet, he tasted the individual components and determined the wine’s final composition, allowing the sensory realities of flight to influence the blend itself. Katz composed the blend according to how each component expressed itself under the same conditions in the sky in which the finished wine will eventually be poured and enjoyed. In doing so, the aircraft cabin becomes more than the setting for the final glass; it becomes an extension of the winery and part of the winemaking process itself.
“Winemaking has always been about understanding place, but with Air and Vine we had an opportunity to expand what ‘place’ could mean. We know that wine presents differently in the air, so rather than treating altitude as something we needed to overcome, we made it part of the creative process. We brought the final blending decisions to 35,000 feet and built the wine around the exact environment in which it will one day be enjoyed. It’s a completely new way of thinking about winemaking, and, I hope, about how deeply considered the travel experience can become.” — Jesse Katz, Founder and Winemaker of Aperture Cellars
“Creating memorable travel experiences often comes down to the details, and this collaboration with Jesse and Aperture is a perfect example of that. By creating a wine at 35,000 feet, in the very environment where it will be served, we’re bringing a truly distinctive experience to United Polaris travelers, and we can’t wait for them to enjoy it onboard.” – Aaron McMillan, Managing Director, Hospitality Programs, United Airlines
For centuries, great winemaking has been defined by place – the vineyard soils and climate, the conditions of the vintage and the decisions made inside the cellar. With Air and Vine, Aperture adds another dimension to that idea of place: the environment in which the wine will ultimately be experienced.
Flavor, aroma and texture are perceived differently in the air, shaped by the unique conditions of pressure, humidity and altitude. Those conditions have traditionally been considered after a wine is made, when airlines and sommeliers select wines suited to the inflight experience. For Katz, that phenomenon became the starting point to reimagine what a wine could be when designed specifically for the sky.
At the center of Air and Vine is fruit from Farrow Ranch, Aperture’s estate vineyard in Geyserville, sourced specifically from the property’s hillside Cabernet Sauvignon blocks. Every cluster was hand-harvested and sorted with the same exacting attention given to Aperture’s most celebrated wines.
The final composition reflects the balance of five Bordeaux varietals, brought together through a blending process conducted at 35,000 feet: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 6% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Each varietal contributes to a considered composition shaped by the unique sensory conditions of flight, reflecting Aperture’s winemaking philosophy of balance, structure and the expressive character of each component. The 2024 vintage was aged for 24 months in barrel, including 40% new French oak, before its final blend was composed at altitude.
This custom blend is a tribute to journey, craftsmanship and sensory exploration, inspired by Katz’s lifelong connection to travel and the artistic legacy of his father, esteemed photographer Andy Katz, whose career was devoted to capturing the world. Traveling with his father, Katz cultivated an enviable international wine education, visiting more than 90 countries by the time he graduated high school and experiencing some of the world’s most storied vineyards while learning about terroir, balance, and the creativity of winemaking. That shared sense of discovery and movement became the foundation for a singular idea: to create a wine in flight, for flight.
Air and Vine will debut in United Polaris business class on select international routes in 2028. For information about Aperture, contact Sarah Gargano at sarah@sarahgargano.com
For information about United Airlines, contact Brianna Sachs at brianna.sachs@united.com
