VistaJet has expanded its wine programme through an exclusive partnership with Olivier Bernstein to offer wine drinkers and collectors the opportunity to savour and connect with one of Burgundy's finest winemakers, both in-flight on board the Global 7500 aircraft and at destination. The partnership is also celebrated with the creation of a limited edition seven-bottle case of a specially selected assortment of Grand Cru wines, which will be available for VistaJet members to purchase and deliver to their cellar directly from Bernstein's cellar in Beaune, France.

This pioneering move came to fruition after a conversation between VistaJet founder and chairman Thomas Flohr and Bernstein about how best to maintain the integrity of fine wines.

“We have worked with experts to understand how taste and smell are affected by the atmosphere in a pressurised cabin and found that nasal sensors' reception of aromas are limited owing to the lower air pressure that comes with a lower humidity. In particular, fruit flavours become diminished, while bitterness and spiciness are largely unaffected. These insights allow us to carefully select wines that will give the best flavour and fullness at altitude,” says Flohr.

“Burgundy wines are fragile, complex and can be quite difficult to understand. They can lose their magic and sensuality if they are not correctly stored or delivered. Sourcing directly from the growers' cellars and having them delivered directly is, to me, the ultimate guarantee of quality,” says Bernstein.

“For our members, who are wine collectors and connoisseurs, this service guarantees safe transportation of their precious wine, with no change of hands in transit. We fly globally, so we can offer ultimate convenience and safety anywhere in the world,” adds VistaJet chief marketing officer Matteo Atti.

Another Vista brand, XO, has launched XO Firsts, an initiative that grants its members unprecedented access and benefits along with instantaneous private flight booking options. The company is offering complimentary access on a first-come, first-served basis to a world of exclusive experiences, from sporting events and cultural happenings to private getaways. These once-in-a-lifetime opportunities will be announced monthly and exclusively to those who have joined XO Membership or XO Reserve, and will go to the first member to claim and book round-trip flights by private jet, through XO.

Vista president, US Leona Qi says: "We have created XO Firsts to offer our members more travel possibilities and further enhance their membership experience. Each First includes a complimentary beyond-the-jet travel opportunity designed to align with the passion points and travel interests of our innovative member community, including private viewing and personal interaction at sports and cultural events and relaxing getaways in unique locations."

A few of the XO Firsts coming soon include a racing weekend in Austin, Texas with Paddock Club passes and access to the Robb Report pre-race evening; a day in Dubai on a luxury yacht with Sunseeker Gulf; and art in Miami with a Golden Ticket to Romero Britto's Palace Studio and dining with chef Daniel Boulud.