Raise Your Glass: 8 Best Places for Red Wine in Dubai
Are you booked on a stopover trip to enjoy the unique experiences the United Arab Emirates can offer, or are you a current resident? Whichever you are, you’ll probably appreciate having a liquor store in Abu Dhabi or Dubai readily available on your mobile for wine deliveries.
Nothing beats a glass of good red wine after a long and tiring day. With its dynamic architecture and eclectic modus vivendi, the UAE is the perfect setting for a solitary or intimate wine party.
Make yourself comfortable in front of your television, crack open a bottle of your favorite vin rouge and enjoy it with a charcuterie board of olives, figs, ciabatta, pastrami, lamb salami, aged cheddar, gruyère, olive oil, and a dip of olive oil, honey and fruit preserves.
Whether you like it smooth and rich or fresh and juicy, there’s red wine (and a food pairing) to suit every palate.
Alcohol Licenses
Buying and consuming alcoholic drinks in the UAE is allowed for non-Muslim tourists and residents over the age of 21.
In Dubai, tourists can present their passport and entry stamp at a liquor store to obtain a free 30-day alcohol license. In Abu Dhabi, they can fill out a form that declares their status as tourists and indicate they understand Abu Dhabi’s rules and regulations regarding alcohol consumption.
An alcohol license is also easy to obtain for UAE residents.
Residents of Dubai can visit a store and present their Emirates ID. To buy and consume liquor or wine in Abu Dhabi, residents need to obtain an alcohol license from the Special License Office; they can apply for it online. They do have to meet a minimum income requirement of AED 3,000, and married women must submit a no-objection certificate from their husbands.
Where to Enjoy Wine in Dubai
As the region has strict drinking policies, you can buy alcohol only from licensed providers.
If you want the best value, download your licensed liquor store’s mobile app and get your wine delivered to your apartment or your temporary home in the UAE. For the occasional glass or two, you can visit licensed bars and restaurants.
In Dubai, you can visit any of these eight venues to enjoy a glass of the finest red wines.
The Agency, Souk Madinat Jumeirah
The Agency is adjacent to the Burj Al Arab and Wild Wadi Water Park. It is your port of call at the end of a long day.
Boasting one of the best wine lists available in the city, The Agency is a stunning establishment with stylish interiors featuring a blend of dark wood and crimson velvet furniture. Expect an unassuming but absolutely majestic list of pinot noir, merlot and malbec, among many other celebrated red wines.
Gaucho, Dubai International Financial Centre
The quintessential Argentinian experience in Dubai, Gaucho has been known as a stalwart of steakhouses since it opened in 2011.
What it should be known for, however, is its almost unmanageably massive selection of wines that covers every wine region in Argentina. The red wine on Gaucho’s extensive list is wonderfully exquisite, whether served by the glass or bottle.
Cave, Conrad Dubai
Living up to its moniker, Cave is a dedicated wine bar nestled in the heart of Conrad Dubai. Take a trip to Cave and find a stylish underground cavern that celebrates the best of modern Parisian cuisine.
Their wine list is a cause for celebration, featuring a selection of red wines that covers nearly the entirety of the globe. And with wine available by the glass or bottle, feel free to make a night of it.
Solo Italian Restaurant & Bar, Raffles Hotel
A home-grown establishment, Solo features modern twists to Italian traditions, all enjoyed in a relaxed, convivial setting.
Their wine list is replete with a selection of red wines that celebrate the finest regions in the Old World, particularly Italy. Wines here are full-bodied and expressive, and all are available by the glass, carafe, or bottle.
Vintage Cheese & Wine Bar, Pyramids at Wafi
Those with discerning taste buds will feel at home at Vintage Cheese & Wine Bar. Cozy up on plush, regal-cushioned sofas and chairs as you work your way through Vintage’s extensive wine menu.
Vintage’s well-curated red wine list is creative and exquisite, while their small plates and an exhaustive list of cheeses should keep you going as the night slips away with you.
Certo, Radisson Blu Hotel
Tucked away in Dubai Media City lies Certo, an award-winning establishment that will take you on a tour of traditional Italian cuisine.
Its well-curated menu is best enjoyed with a glass of red wine, with the wine menu featuring some Old World heavyweights. A few standout reds, the Le Volte IGT and Valpolicella DOC, keep things interesting and tempt you to return for more.
Oeno Wine Bar, Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina
While showcasing perhaps the most exhaustive wine list in Dubai, Oeno Wine Bar is a stylish and attractive venue that makes fine wine accessible to everyone.
Their wine menu takes you on a journey across both the Old World and New World, featuring favorites from the classic regions of France and further afield. The staff is fantastically knowledgeable, and the expertly curated wine list ranks Oeno high on the go-to lists of wine lovers.
Alta Badia Bar, Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel
Dubbing itself as a place for “honest Italian cuisine,” Alta Badia Bar perfectly blends authentic Italian fare with an elegant ambiance and warm service.
The impressive cocktails menu in this bar includes a well-contemplated wine list, with wines from Europe and the New World. Its elevated setting makes it the ideal destination to enjoy the city’s skyline.
Wine Night in Dubai
Whatever preference you have, from smooth and rich to full-bodied or elegant, Old World classics or New World favorites, the wine scene in Dubai (as well as the greater UAE) is brimming with something to delight your palate.
Here, you are sure to find cozy settings and sophisticated atmospheres great for a night of sipping and celebrating.
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