With a focus on boutique French producers, Globetrender previews a new Eurostar summer wine list curated by head sommelier Honey Spencer. Jenny Southan reports

Eurostar has launched a new summer wine list for passengers travelling in Eurostar Premier, with 80% of its onboard wine selection now organic as part of a wider focus on more sustainable food and drink.

Available across all routes, the refreshed collection has been curated by Eurostar’s head sommelier, Honey Spencer (also owner of Sune restaurant in London's Hackney), and features wines from southern France chosen to complement the operator’s seasonal onboard menus. The launch forms part of Eurostar’s premium dining experience, developed in collaboration with head chef Jeremy Chan and pastry chef Jessica Préalpato.

Ahead of the rollout, Globetrender attended a preview tasting of the new summer wine list at Eurostar’s Business Premier Lounge at London St Pancras International. The event paired the wines with canapes from the seasonal menu, offering a glimpse of how the operator is continuing to elevate the onboard experience for premium travellers.

The move highlights the growing importance of food and drink in the rail travel experience. Eurostar serves approximately 1.2 million glasses of wine onboard each year, making it one of Europe's largest providers of wine in a transport setting.

The new summer wine list includes five organic wines from southern France. They have been selected for their suitability for warmer weather and for pairing with seasonal dishes served in Eurostar Premier.

Among the additions is Fleuriot IGP Côtes Catalanes BIO, a red wine produced near the Spanish border, alongside Dourbie OSCAR Blanc BIO, an organic white blend from the Terres du Midi region. Spencer describes it as "riotously perfumed, supple, approachable and balanced".

Moulin de Gassac Guilhem Blanc IGP Pays d’Oc BIO joins the list as another white option ("bright and expressive," says Spencer), while Antoine Ruhlmann Les Hauts de Valmont AOP Corbières BIO offers a fuller-bodied red that Spencer says "delivers depth without heaviness". The collection is completed by Petit Roubié Syrah Rosé BIO, a dry rosé with notes of redcurrant and watermelon.

Spencer says: “For this summer’s list, I wanted wines that feel vibrant and alive, but still really easy to drink onboard. Southern France does that so well. There’s this natural generosity to the fruit, a real sense of sun and place, without ever feeling heavy. A lot of these producers are working organically or with minimal intervention, and you can taste that clarity and precision in the glass.”

The updated wine programme reflects Eurostar’s continued emphasis on sourcing from producers that use organic farming methods and minimal intervention winemaking. The company says the changes support its broader sustainability goals across catering and hospitality operations.

Earlier this year, Eurostar retained the highest three-star rating awarded by the Sustainable Restaurant Association’s Food Made Good Standard. The accreditation recognises organisations that demonstrate strong environmental and social practices across food sourcing, operations and waste reduction.

Alongside the new summer wine list, Champagne Fleury remains available in Eurostar Premier. The producer is known for organic viticulture and continues to serve as Eurostar’s signature Champagne offering.

The launch comes as transport operators place increasing emphasis on food and drink as a differentiator for premium travel. Rather than treating catering as an ancillary service, rail companies are increasingly using curated menus, regional ingredients and specialist partnerships to enhance the journey itself.

Having sampled the wines and seasonal dishes at the preview event in London, it is clear that Eurostar is positioning its onboard dining offer as a central part of the travel experience. The new summer wine list combines regional sourcing, organic production and seasonal menus in a way that reflects broader trends towards more sustainable and considered travel.