Qantas Rockpool Sommeliers from left to right: Bon Klaus Kuil, Matt Langdon, Neil Perry, and Ryan Gavin

Qantas has announced a new team of wine experts and mixologists from the Rockpool Restaurant Group who will select wine, Champagne, spirits and other beverages for Qantas domestic and international flights and lounges.

The new team, named The Qantas Rockpool Sommeliers, features 16 highly experienced sommeliers and mixologists.

Among the group is head of sommeliers Australia, David Lawler and one of only two master sommeliers in Australia, Sebastian Crowther, as well as head bartenders of Rockpool restaurants around the country.

The sommeliers will blind taste, review and select from 1,200 Australian wines and Champagnes over four days each year and provide tasting notes for the International First and Domestic Business cabins.

They also provide recommendations for wine in the lounges and for the first time, Rockpool mixologists will create monthly cocktails.

Gareth Evans, chief executive Qantas International, said the group will provide an exciting new direction for the airline’s entire wine and beverage program.

“Qantas’ new holistic approach to food and beverage will mean not only matching our menus with the perfect wine, but with the perfect cocktail or champagne,” said Evans.

“We invest over $15 million dollars in the Australian Wine industry every year, so we take the selection process very seriously.

“We are really proud to showcase Australian wine to the world, and we’ll keep supporting boutique Australian wineries as well as the iconic drops that have defined Australia’s global winemaking reputation.

“Qantas is the third largest purchaser of wine in Australia and we also invest significantly in training our own teams to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge to recommend wines to our customers”, added Evans.