Dubai’s biggest wine festival, The Big Taste, is preparing for take-off, and this year, the spotlight isn’t just on world-class vintages, but also on the future of wine in a changing climate.
Hosted by MMI, the two-day event (24th–25th September, 2025, 7:30–10:30 PM at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai) allows wine lovers to taste from over 100 producers across 20 countries, and discover the unique stories behind each bottle.
While most guests will be there to enjoy fine wines, there’s also an important message running through the event, that vineyards around the world are having to adapt as rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns, and water scarcity reshape the way wine is made.
Eco Vineyards on Pour
Some of these forward-thinking producers will be showcased at The Big Taste this year. From Ken Forrester’s sun-kissed vineyards in South Africa, where Chenin Blanc grapes are farmed without herbicides or pesticides and nurtured with cover crops and hand-harvesting, to Antinori’s Chianti Classico estate in Tuscany (pictured above), a hillside winery built into the earth to save energy and blend seamlessly into the landscape, sustainability is reshaping the world of wine.
Also being showcased is Château Léoube, a jewel of the French Riviera where vines tumble toward the Mediterranean and organic farming has been a way of life for more than two decades. Here, grapes are picked by hand, compost replaces chemicals, and the vineyards are framed by olive groves, wild herbs, and protected coastline.
And from the other side of the globe comes Australia’s Shaw + Smith, a cool-climate darling from the rolling hills of Adelaide. At their Balhannah and Lenswood vineyards, rows of vines are cared for with organic and near-organic practices, winter cover crops are used, and sheep graze to keep weeds down naturally. With rainfall declining and summers heating up in South Australia, these earthy, hands-on methods are a lifeline for the vineyards of the future.
These producers are showcasing that adaptation doesn’t mean compromising, in fact, careful stewardship of soil, water, and architecture is helping ensure our favourite wines continue to capture their terroir, even as global weather patterns change.
Whether you Swirl or Sip
Whether you’re there to learn about the future of wine making or simply to enjoy new wines, your ticket gives you access to unlimited tastings, global food stations, live music, and surprise performances.
You can also enjoy exclusive masterclasses take, and for the true connoisseurs, the ultimate masterclass unlocks the secrets of curating a world-class cellar.
To encourage mindful drinking, The Big Taste has partnered with chauffeur service Zofeur and guests can use the promo code MMI60 for 60 per cent off a safe ride home.
Plus, all attendees will receive 10 corks (AED 100 each) through MMI’s new Cheers Club loyalty programme, redeemable on select wines showcased at the event.
General admission tickets are AED 450, with masterclasses ranging from AED 100–500.
