Image this: a swirl of 2005 Bordeaux in your glass, the soothing lull of ocean waves as your soundtrack, a delicate sea breeze brushing your pores and skin, and a sky alight with sensible hues of orange and pink. The Maldives transforms wine appreciation into a unprecedented sensory journey, far past its famed turquoise waters.
A rising variety of luxurious resorts have elevated their choices, creating immersive experiences for everybody from novices who respect a thoughtfully curated wine choice to seasoned fans in search of a soothing trip removed from vineyards and cellar excursions.
These islands, famend for his or her idyllic magnificence, now cater to wine aficionados with a number of the most distinguished applications on the earth. Whether or not you’re simply starting to discover wine or are a connoisseur searching for uncommon vintages, the Maldives delivers a spectrum of alternatives to indulge your ardour. Resorts have designed wine applications that embrace all the things from approachable, sustainable alternatives for simple enjoyment to expansive cellars housing uncommon labels from Bordeaux, Burgundy and past. Visitors can get pleasure from informal pairings by the seashore, personal sommelier-led tastings or extravagant dinners with expertly chosen wine flights.
For these newer to wine, the deal with selection and internationality elevates the island expertise. Many resorts prioritise accessibility, providing in depth by-the-glass menus and food-pairing discoveries that demystify wine’s complexities. For specialists, the Maldives affords the prospect to find memorable bottles in unparalleled settings, equivalent to underground cellars, overwater eating places or secluded seashore set-ups. Past the glass, these resorts embrace innovation, with wine-themed encounters like wine gazing underneath the celebs and winemaker dinners to extra distinctive beverage choices like garden-to-glass cocktail creations and nice rum and sake alternatives.
The Maldives’ wine tradition has blossomed right into a cornerstone of its luxurious choices, mixing world-class experience with the barefoot leisure of island life. Under, we spotlight a choice of the perfect resorts for wine lovers, picked for his or her location, superior hospitality, lodging and wine experiences, which cater to fans at each stage of their journey.
JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa
Shaviyani Atoll, Maldives
Paradise discovered within the Shaviyani Atoll, JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa seamlessly blends notable wine experiences, culinary excellence and a world-class rum assortment to create an unforgettable escape. With 60 expansive seashore and overwater villas, every that includes personal swimming pools and personalised ‘Thakuru’ butler service, the resort caters to {couples}, households and wine fans alike.
The wine program is a standout, anchored by a cellar boasting over 2,000 bottles, together with iconic Bordeaux first growths like 2005 Chateau Latour or Mouton Rothschild to Italy’s greats like Tignanello and Biondi-Santi. Throughout peak intervals, patrons can take pleasure in day by day tastings, winemaker dinners or curated wine-pairing menus, accessible within the Wine Room or from the privateness of their villa. For informal sips, the resort affords 12 wines by the glass day by day, guaranteeing an approachable but elevated immersion into wine.
Complementing the wine providing is the resort’s rum bar ‘Rum Baan’, showcasing a formidable assortment of over 100 rums. Visitors can savour these neat or in expertly crafted cocktails, or partake within the interactive garden-to-glass cocktail making exercise, deciding on contemporary herbs from the JW Backyard to raise their creations.
Eating is a journey in itself, with 5 eating places providing numerous culinary explorations. Highlights embrace the normal Japanese specialties and mouth-watering grills at Hashi & Shio, Thai delicacies within the not-to-be-missed treetop restaurant Kaashi, the normal Malafaaiy seashore dinner celebrating native flavours, personalised eating underneath the celebs and floating breakfast out of your personal pool, full with Devaux Champagne.
For households, the Little Griffins Youngsters’ Membership is a resort staple with lengthy opening hours and numerous actions for little ones, whereas an adult-only infinity pool and Spa by JW supply the sanctuaries one would anticipate of a distant, luxurious getaway.
With its world-class wine cellar, rum assortment and impressed eating, JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa affords refined indulgence in a wide ranging island setting.
Aerial view of JW Marriott’s duplex seashore villas. Credit score: JW Marriott
How you can get there
The resort is a scenic 55-minute seaplane switch from Malé Worldwide Airport, offering gorgeous aerial views of the Maldives’ turquoise waters. Count on to be warmly greeted with music, a Maldivian-crafted necklace, cooling towels and drink.
Velaa Non-public Island
Noonu Atoll, Maldives
Velaa Non-public Island stands out as a beacon of indulgence and class within the Maldives. Conceived by Czech entrepreneur Jiri Smejc as a private ardour undertaking, this unique retreat is as a lot a sanctuary of privateness as it’s a celebration of world-class hospitality.
Tucked away within the pristine Noonu Atoll, Velaa contains 47 meticulously designed villas, together with overwater residences and the ultra-secluded Romantic Pool Residence accessible solely by boat. With a guest-to-staff ratio of 1:8, each element is curated to exceed expectations.
The wine program at Velaa is among the many most distinguished within the Maldives, boasting a cellar with over 1,500 labels, together with uncommon vintages from Bordeaux and Burgundy and cult favourites from California. Overseen by the resort’s crew of skilled sommeliers, this system consists of personalised wine tastings, meals and wine pairing experiences and entry to unique vintages seldom discovered outdoors personal collections. Likening to a James Bond-esque setting, a resort spotlight is Velaa’s ‘Snow Cellar,’ an underground cellar sustaining good situations for the island’s distinctive assortment.
Eating at Velaa is equally distinctive. The resort’s signature restaurant, Aragu, redefines nice eating with its deal with modern European delicacies fused with Asian influences. Each dish is crafted to harmonise with Velaa’s wine providing, making a symphony of flavours.
Past its culinary excellence, Velaa affords a bunch of bespoke actions, from golf on the Maldives’ solely personal island course to deep-sea diving within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of the encompassing waters. The serene Velaa Spa, that includes therapies by My Mix by Clarins, affords an idyllic retreat for leisure and rejuvenation.
Non-public wine tasting at Velaa Non-public Island’s wine cellar, Tavaru. Credit score: Velaa Non-public Island
How you can get there
Fly into Velana Worldwide Airport in Malé, Maldives, adopted by a 45-minute seaplane switch to the resort. Transfers could be organized immediately by means of the resort.
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort
Baa Atoll, Maldives
Located within the Maldives’ first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort affords a tranquil retreat that mixes holistic wellness with a refined wine expertise. With 69 luxurious seashore and overwater villas, every that includes personal swimming pools and sweeping ocean views, this resort is a hideaway for wine lovers and wellness fans alike.
The resort’s wine program displays its dedication to sustainability and high quality, that includes a curated choice of natural and sustainable wines. Anticipate finding acquainted super-premium labels like Louis Roederer and Prunotto alongside engaging island finds like Italy’s award-winning Cantina Terlano whites and Germany’s Dr. Bürklin-Wolf Riesling. Visitors can partake in distinctive ‘wine gazing’ experiences in an intimate personal cellar, good for unique eating with a personalised sommelier-led tasting menu. For sake lovers, don’t miss the prospect to dine at The Pearl, the resort’s overwater Japanese restaurant, with beneficiant sake pairings which elevate the culinary journey.
Complimenting its memorable meals and beverage programme, The Westin focuses on wellness, providing guests entry to its gorgeous overwater Heavenly Spa, state-of-the-art gymnasium, various health applications from dawn yoga and tennis to seashore runs, in-room juicers for contemporary orange juice (or a mimosa with wine fridges in every room) and its proprietary Heavenly Mattress, designed to advertise sleep and restoration. Visitors can even immerse themselves within the vibrant underwater world of the Baa Atoll, famend for its vibrant coral reefs and one of many world’s largest concentrations of manta rays.
For travellers in search of an impressed mix of nice wine, sustainable luxurious and rejuvenation, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort delivers an unforgettable expertise, leaving a long-lasting impression lengthy after your go to.
Non-public eating at The Westin. Credit score: The Westin
How you can get there
The resort is a 35-minute seaplane journey from Malé Worldwide Airport, providing views of the Maldives’ idyllic islands. Guests are welcomed with conventional music and a contemporary welcome drink.
Constance Moofushi Maldives
South Ari Atoll
A part of the distinguished Constance Motels & Resorts assortment, Constance Moofushi Maldives blends barefoot luxurious with distinctive hospitality within the coronary heart of the Indian Ocean. Set on a personal island within the South Ari Atoll, this all-inclusive resort is a haven for {couples}, honeymooners and discerning travellers in search of an unparalleled tropical escape.
The resort’s 110 villas, cut up between seashore and water lodging, are thoughtfully designed to enrich the atoll’s pure magnificence. From crystal-clear lagoons to powdery white sands, each side of Moofushi invitations travellers to immerse themselves in its tranquil environment.Â
Constance Moofushi is well known for its revolutionary wine program. With over 200 wine labels meticulously curated from famend areas worldwide, the providing is each complete and approachable. The resort’s wine cellar, overseen by skilled sommeliers, elevates friends’ journies by means of tastings, pairings and a deep dive into the world of nice wines. The crew’s dedication to excellence has earned Moofushi accolades in worldwide wine circles, together with recognition on Star Wine Listing.
Eating at Moofushi is an journey in itself, with a deal with marrying world flavours with native elements. The al fresco Jing Restaurant, perched over water, affords an beautiful pairing menu, the place every dish is matched with wines that elevate each chunk.
Past wine, friends can take pleasure in an array of experiences, from world-class diving within the South Ari Atoll’s marine-rich waters to spa therapies impressed by pure therapeutic traditions. The resort’s ‘True by Nature’ philosophy is obvious in each element, guaranteeing a keep that’s as genuine as it’s indulgent.
Vacation spot eating at Constance Moofushi Maldives. Credit score: Constance
How you can get there
Fly into Velana Worldwide Airport in Malé, Maldives, adopted by a 30-minute seaplane switch to the island. Seaplane transfers could be organized immediately by means of the resort.
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives
Nestled on a pristine island within the Dhaalu Atoll, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is an oasis of luxurious, providing a retreat from the world. Its 77 unique seashore and overwater villas function elegant, island-inspired design with private butler service, every providing personal swimming pools and panoramic ocean views. Whether or not it’s a romantic escape or a multigenerational retreat, the resort combines refined dwelling with unforgettable moments.
The standout function for wine fans is Decanter, the resort’s underground wine cellar. Housing over 7,000 bottles from 650 labels spanning 23 international locations, this gold-toned enclave affords one of many Maldives’ most numerous and prestigious collections. Highlights embrace 1755 Portuguese Madeira and 2014 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Visitors can savour these uncommon finds throughout personal wine pairing dinners or curated tastings, the place the manager chef and head sommelier craft unforgettable meals and wine encounters.
As well as, the resort boasts The Whale Bar, identified for its Champagne sabering ritual, and a rum bar with over 300 rums. Bespoke cocktails and a garden-to-glass program are additionally a part of the elite beverage choices.
With seven eating places and two bars, personalised wellness applications and immersive actions like coral reef restoration and dolphin cruises, The St. Regis Maldives affords an ideal mix of luxurious and world-class wine experiences.
Beneath The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort’s signature restaurant Alba, Decanter is an underground wine cellar that includes personal eating experiences and wine tastings for as much as 14 friends. Credit score: The St. Regis
How you can get there
Accessible through a scenic 45-minute seaplane switch from Malé Worldwide Airport. Count on to be greeted with sabered Champagne upon touchdown.
From winery to atoll: Behind the scenes wine logistics and coaching
How do world-class wine experiences thrive on a number of the planet’s most secluded islands? Within the Maldives, wine logistics is a feat of precision, showcasing the dedication behind its luxurious resort choices. Wonderful wines are sourced from world hubs like Dubai and Singapore, saved underneath optimum situations and shipped to Malé, the capital. From there, they’re meticulously transported to resorts through seaplanes, dhonis (conventional Maldivian boats) or speedboats, guaranteeing minimal publicity to the area’s tropical warmth and humidity. As soon as on-site, temperature-controlled cellars safeguard their delicate nature, so friends get pleasure from wines at their best, irrespective of how distant the vacation spot.
Equally spectacular is the deal with wine training and workers coaching. Many resorts put money into globally recognised applications like WSET (Wine & Spirit Schooling Belief), providing certifications and hands-on coaching tailor-made to their groups. Resorts equivalent to The St. Regis Maldives and Anantara Kihavah host on-site workshops led by sommeliers and distributors, alongside digital programs to broaden experience. Common tastings and cultural sensitivity coaching assist workers cater to numerous visitor preferences, whereas superior {qualifications} pave the way in which for profession progress. This dedication ensures a seamless, refined wine expertise that aligns with the Maldives’ status for unequalled hospitality.
