We proudly announce that The Wine Awards by Cosmo Middle East and MMI Dubai are back for its second edition.
Bigger and better than before, we will gather with working women from Dubai to celebrate the best whites, reds and sparkling vinos available in the region on Tuesday February 13 for a Galentine’s event to remember at ICD Brookfield Place’s Josette.
Judged by none other than the region’s leading wine connoisseurs, The Wine Awards will reveal your go-to sips across 12 categories.
The judging team have had the tough job of blind tasting 50 wines to ensure the best are crowned winners of each category. Once the winners are revealed you will have *all* the wine inspo no matter what event.
So, without further ado here is everything you need to know about the 2024 edition of The Cosmo Wine Awards.
The categories
We want to ensure Cosmo girlies know which wine to have when, no matter the occasion and that’s why The Wine Awards categories cover everything from Best Newcomer to Our “Roman Empire” Wine and Most Instagrammable. Want to know about each category and the low-down on each? We’ve got you.
Best Newcomer
NGL, it can be hard to keep track of new wines but luckily for us, the team at MMI keeps its wine selection fresh and up-to-date. This category is all about the number 1 new and interesting brand to have on your radar.
Best “How is this not Champagne?”
Everyone knows that for a sparkling to be named Champagne, it has to follow many rules but some great bubbly options taste ~just~ as good. Not sure where to start when it comes to finding a sparkling that will leave you asking “How is this not Champagne?” this category will have you covered.
Best “Expensive-Looking” Affordable
Shhh! No one needs to know that you didn’t fork out the dirhams when serving the winning wine from this category. This winner will be a wine that looks expensive, tastes great and is affordable. Classy, elegant and light on the wallet? You’ve got our attention.
Best “Actually Expensive”
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to splurge on a lovely drop, but you want to know you are *actually* getting the best product for your money. This category highlights the best slightly pricier wine for those nights when you want to treat yourself.
Most Sustainable Wine (inclusive of B-Corp, Vegan, Organic and Biodynamic)
We care about the planet and wine can be sustainable… but how? A sustainable approach to winemaking should consider (at the very least) the health and biodiversity of the
vineyard, water usage (both in the vineyard and winery), plastic usage and the overall carbon footprint of the grape-growing, winemaking and transport process. This results in a more natural product highlighting the natural flavours expressed in the vineyard. We’re here for it, and if you are too you’ll want to stay tuned to find out the winner of this category.
Most Instagrammable Bottle
We’re all guilty of choosing a wine because the bottle is cute (duh, aesthetics are important) but this category will reveal the judges’ fav wine that is both pretty and great quality. So, if you want a wine that looks good on the outside and tastes just as good, the winning wine in this category will be one for you to know about.
Best Boat Party Rosé
We’re lucky enough to have the Arabian Gulf on our doorstep for when we fancy a boat day, but if you are the one tasked with picking out the rosé to ensure the good vibes keep coming while at sea – it can be a tricky decision. Not any more as our judges have done all the work to help out by selecting the Best Boat Party Rosé to load up on your yacht before setting sail.
Best Under AED 50 Wine
With the fabulous new Dubai Tax laws, getting a bottle of decent wine for under AED50 is now possible! And who doesn’t love a bottle that screams value for money? We will reveal our fav soon and we are sure it will become your new house pour.
Best Date Night Wine
Always squirm when handed the wine list on date night as you are unsure of which one will hit the spot? Worry no more as The Wine Awards judges will be sharing with you the Best Date Night Wine that will ensure your next night out with the other half is one to remember.
Best Galentine’s Wine
There’s nothing better than a bestie night out and with Feb 13 being Galentine’s
it calls for a Galentine’s Wine. And when it comes to ordering wine on your next girls’ night out the winner of this category will be your go-to.
Best Female Winemaker
The Wine Awards are all about celebrating females so, of course, we had to have a Best Female Winemaker category. Some fabulous ladies are breaking the glass ceiling of the wine industry and doing it with true class – it’s hard to pick just one. We can’t wait to announce the winner of Best Female Winemaker.
Our “Roman Empire” Wine
A new category for 2024, one wine will be crowned Our “Roman Empire” Wine. Yep, it’s the one we can’t stop thinking about and our judges will share the No.1 choice with you very soon.
The judges
It’s a tough job, but someone has got to do it and these 4 ladies’ have swirled, smelled, sipped and scored all in aid of this year’s The Wine Awards.
Milli Midwood – Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan and Head of the Young Women’s Division in ITP
Milli’s dad has been in the wine business for over 30 years, so it’s something she has grown up around and always had a natural interest in. Before she knew it she was sitting WSET level 3 (where she passed with a Distinction – but, ya know, who’s counting… #NotSoSubtleFlex)!
Why do you love wine?
Wine is addictively interesting. I love the way that tiny inflections in the soils, nuanced wine-making techniques, and even the glass you drink it out of can totally change the outcome and experience of the whole bottle. I also love the way that certain grape varieties can totally enhance different foods and cuisines. It’s also a drink that always brings people together. The question should be why don’t I love wine!
Where’s your favourite place to go in Dubai to enjoy wine?
I love the selection of Italian wines at The Artisan – they do a delicious Gavi if you like white, and an even more delicious Chianti for lovers of red.
If you could only drink one wine for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Bollinger La Grande Année for all future celebrations plz. To quote the champagne house’s eponymous founder, Madame Lily: “I drink champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it — unless I’m thirsty.”
Manjot Riyait – Head of Marketing & Communication at MMI
Manjot switched from luxury cosmetics to spirits at William Grant & Sons and then NIO Cocktails before joining MMI almost two years ago as Head of Marketing & Communication. Here is where her love affair with wine grew to an obsessive level. She says a “huge perk of the job is the privilege of meeting some of the world’s leading winemakers and producers. Seeing and feeling their passion firsthand, tasting their exquisite wines and visiting their iconic vineyards stirred a real passion of my own.” She then went on to take the WSET and work closely with MMI’s talented wine team to share wine knowledge and culture through its Big Taste events to spread the passion.
Why do you love wine?
I love the wine industry, no matter what role people play, there is a shared love and passion. It brings people together. A particular wine can also evoke memories and be a part of special moments in people’s lives. There’s a real nostalgia to it.
Where’s your favourite place to go in Dubai to enjoy wine?
Dubai has so many incredible world-class bars and restaurants and the landscape continues to evolve. I love the wine bar culture of Europe and I think LPM comes close – you can pop up to the bar and enjoy great wines by the glass at accessible price points. The atmosphere is always welcoming with a great selection to discover and talented sommeliers to help guide you.
If you could only drink one wine for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Champagne! It’s synonymous with good times, happy moments, and occasions. It’s refreshing, versatile and uplifting.
Agathe Plantade – Head Sommelier at Sunset Hospitality
Agathe got into the wine business when she started to study hospitality as she was working in a restaurant and studying at the same time. The owner of the restaurant was a well-known sommelier, which led her to kickstart a career in wine and they’re still best friends today. She went to school for 3 more years to learn about wine. Then worked for 3 Michelin- starred chefs around the world before owning 2 restaurants in France and one in Dubai.
Why do you love wine?
Wine is always something new to learn about and wine brings people together.
Where’s your favourite place to go in Dubai to enjoy wine?
My favourite place to have a glass of wine is Atiko, to enjoy wine with a view!
If you could only drink one wine for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
If I should only one wine for the rest of my life it would be Krug!!
Tatsiana Makarevich – Head Sommelier at LPM Bar & Restaurant
Tatsiana realised she wanted to become a wine professional after organising dinner with a friend where she’d buy a different bottle of wine for every meet-up which was for fun and education purposes. This led to her wanting to turn her hobby into a career. She admits that the wine industry can be “time-consuming due to a massive amount of information you have to know, and at the same time is very dynamic in terms of knowledge, you have to be on spot with all the updates in the wine world” but she loves the continuous movement and finds it an exciting part of her job, and never gets bored.
Why do you love wine?
I love wine because – they are fascinating. Firstly, the winemaking process takes a part of the soul of each producer and brings emotions to the table. Wine can be drunk during any life occasion, any time of the day, it can be drunk with food and by itself. Secondly, and the most important thing, it brings people together throughout tasting, wine dinner or regular nights out like no spirit can do this.
Where’s your favourite place to go in Dubai to enjoy wine?
I really like Jumeirah properties and their restaurants. I do not have a specific place for now, mostly, because I like to explore new things.
If you could only drink one wine for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Champagne.