Fine wine and fierce competition collide at the highly anticipated 2025 season of Battle of the Somms. Hosted by Breakfast Wine Club, it is a guest-driven dining experience. It will once again transform the Michelin-starred Al Muntaha restaurant at Jumeirah Burj Al Arab into a battlefield. This will be between two of the city’s finest sommeliers, who will go head-to-head in a high-stakes wine pairing competition.
The Event of the Battle of The Somms
A one-of-a-kind format, Battle of the Somms brings the excitement of live wine showdowns to Dubai’s most iconic dining venue. Each event pairs two top sommeliers, tasked with crafting blind wine pairings for a curated, multi-course tasting menu. The twist? The guests hold the final vote. Their decision will determine which sommelier’s selection reigns supreme. It will add an element of strategy, storytelling, and spirited competition to the proceedings.
The first edition of the season kicks off on Sunday, 9th November 2025 at 1 PM. The event will unfold in the luxurious setting of Al Muntaha, a restaurant perched high above the Arabian Gulf. Attendees will indulge in a five- to six-course meal, expertly paired with two mystery wines per course, alongside Antipodes water. This price covers all wines, the curated menu, and water, providing exceptional value for a world-class experience.
A Culinary Showdown
The season opener promises an extraordinary dining journey, starting with sustainably prepared tomato in various forms, followed by salmon trout tartar paired with grapefruit and yogurt. A dish of handmade bottoni filled with fresh green almonds, served with a smoked aubergine consommé, will follow. The main course features Lacaune lamb, complemented by Crusco pepper, snap peas, and jus. To conclude, apple tatin, crafted by Burj Al Arab’s award-winning pastry chef, Tom Coll, is paired with a unique bread ice cream.
For the season’s launch, we are thrilled to welcome Shiv Menon from BOCA (DIFC) and Antonio Costigliola, Head Sommelier at Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, who will each create their own wine pairings for the menu. The guests will sip, score, and vote to decide which sommelier delivers the most harmonious wine pairings.
The Season Journey & Grand Finale
The Battle of the Somms series will continue monthly throughout 2025, showcasing some of Dubai’s most exciting sommelier talents. As the season progresses, guests can expect to see new sommeliers bringing their unique style and expertise to the table. The season will culminate in an extraordinary Grand Finale in early 2026, where the top performers from the season will face off in a Battle of the Best Somm, determining the ultimate champion of this prestigious competition.
A True Celebration of Wine
“Battle of the Somms is the perfect opportunity to showcase the skill of a modern sommelier,” says Christiaan Olivier, Co-founder of Breakfast Wine Club. “It’s a celebration of the sommelier as an agent of taste — weaving culture, history, and camaraderie through the story of the grape. And there is no more iconic stage than the Burj Al Arab.”
Throughout the event, guests will enjoy Antipodes water, sourced from New Zealand’s deepest aquifer. Known for its mineral composition, Antipodes enhances the taste of fine wines, allowing the full character of each wine to shine. Since 2007, Antipodes has been proudly CarbonZero, ensuring sustainability is at the heart of every dining experience.
Contact & Location
- Date: Sunday, 9th November 2025, 1 PM
- Price: AED 990 per person (includes wines and Antipodes water)
- Audience: Limited to 40 guests per event.
- For Reservations: https://fp.sevenrooms.com/explore/almuntahajumeirah
Images: supplied
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