THE BEST: Top Resorts With the Finest Wine Collections
Conrad Maldives Rangali, The Wine Cellar
It is a unique offering as guests descend two meters underground, where a meticulously preserved collection of 18,000 bottles and up to 800 different wine labels awaits. The stunning setting hosts a six-course degustation menu with seven hand-picked wines, including expertly matched Champagne. The wine collection honors old-world traditions and growers while embracing emerging wines popular among enthusiasts as the list is updated annually. The resort offers the rarest wine, the 1995 Krug Clos d’Ambonnay, and the priciest one, the special edition 2000 Methuselah of Cristal 1990, priced at USD 52,000, to celebrate the new millennium.
JA Manafaru, The Cellar
The Maldivian archipelago’s northernmost private island hides a subterranean chamber filled with world-class wines in the Indian Ocean.An enchanting garden path leads to JA Manafaru’s exceptional dining destination, hidden behind heavy oak doors.
Upon this grand vault’s doors opening, descend the stone steps into an atmospheric chamber lined with Indonesian volcanic rock and into a world of fine wines and culinary wonders. With Chateau Margaux and Rothschild classics, it’s a true epicurean’s dream. The secret chamber offers a must-try, bucket-list experience for food and wine enthusiasts. With space for only 12 guests, it guarantees an exclusive, personalized dining encounter.
Anantara Kihavah, SEA
One of the world’s few underwater restaurants with an award-winning wine cellar, guests experience a tasting journey in a surreal setting. Mirrored surfaces cover the hexagonal space, reflecting the graceful movements of angelfish and the gentle sway of sunlit soft corals. With over 450 bottles from over two dozen countries, the Wine Guru at SEA curates a flight of wines or expertly pairs rare vintages with a meal prepared by the Executive Chef. The wine cellar maintains cooler temperatures, ensuring the graceful aging of each bottle. Unsurprisingly, World of Fine Wines Magazine gave SEA three-star recognition for the fifth year.
