Eight hours, forty minutes flying at 580 mph in an aluminum spaceship.

Normally this would not be anyone’s idea of a good time. But once in a while, everything seems to work out and the universe smiles on us. In this case, it was hard work and not good fortune that was to thank.

Years of accumulating frequent flyer miles, and the need to escape the everyday, led us to splurge on a business class trip to Austria (more on that later). For those of you who have yet to fly in Business Class, let me tell you it truly is another world, and when you get there you will certainly feel as if you have earned it!

From Vancouver to Amsterdam we flew on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. We were greeted with a glass of Billecart-Salmon Brut Champagne (real Champagne, the stuff with a cork ;-).

KLM is understandably proud of their onboard culinary program. We were given a 60 page book, “From Holland – Delights of the Dutch” that describes some of their providers, producers of wine, cheese, beef, vegetables, fish and more. All items that are used in their business class service.

Then we came to the menu of the day, twelve pages printed specifically for this flight and this cabin.

Here is the wine list, all produced by Dutchmen:

whites
Villebois, Sauvignon Blanc Prestige 2011 (Loire, France). Joost van der Does de Willebois. Tasted.
De Kleine Schorre, Pinot Blanc/Auxerrois 2011 (Zeeland, Netherlands). Johan van de Velde. Tasted.
Breedeweelde, Chardonnay Private Collection 2012 (Slanghoek, South Africa). Rob van Weelde, Pieter Carstens.

dessert
Breedeweelde, Special Late Harvest (Muscat of Alexandria) 2012 (Slanghoek, South Africa). Tasted

reds
Pagos del Mancayo 2010 (Campo de Borja, Spain). Louis Geirnaerdt. Tasted
Château Beaulieu 2010 (Côtes de Bourg, Bordeaux, France). Jodocus Boomsma. Tasted

ports
Niepoort DEE Tawny (Portugal). Dirk Niepoort. Tasted
Croft Pink Port (Portugal). Adrian Bridge.

If only every plane ride could be like this!