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Two Special Dinners Brought the Excellence of Italian Wine, Cuisine and Culture to Dubai and Abu Dhabi last weekend.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, September 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Italian excellence took centre stage in the United Arab Emirates through a prestigious series of OCM dinners dedicated to the promotion of Italy’s wine heritage, gastronomy and culture, featuring the renowned wines of Batasiolo and Castello di Gabiano.

Designed as more than traditional wine-tasting occasions, in association with the Worldwide Sommelier Association in the UAE, under the supervision of its President, Patrizia Marin, the OCM dinners in Dubai and Abu Dhabi offered guests an immersive journey into the Italian way of life, bringing together outstanding wines, authentic cuisine, cultural storytelling and the art of hospitality for which Italy is celebrated worldwide.

At the heart of the initiative were two distinguished names representing the diversity and heritage of Italian winemaking: Batasiolo, an ambassador of Piedmont and the Langhe, and Castello di Gabiano, whose centuries-old history and winemaking tradition are deeply rooted in the Monferrato territory.

The dinners showcased selected labels from the two estates through carefully curated pairings with Italian cuisine, allowing guests to discover not only the characteristics of each wine but also the territories, traditions and people behind them.

*Wine as an Ambassador of Italian Culture*
Italy's wine heritage extends far beyond the bottle. It is intrinsically connected to landscape, agriculture, family traditions, gastronomy, history and local identity.

The OCM dinners aimed to communicate precisely this dimension to an international audience in the UAE: wine as an expression of territory and as an ambassador of Italian culture.

Through Batasiolo and Castello di Gabiano, guests were introduced to Piedmont, one of Italy's most prestigious wine regions, where centuries of winemaking knowledge coexist with innovation, sustainability and a profound respect for the land.

Each wine became part of a broader narrative connecting vineyards to cuisine and cuisine to culture, creating an authentic Italian experience in the heart of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

*Italian Cuisine Meets the UAE*
Food played an equally important role in the experience.

Menus inspired by Italy's culinary traditions were specifically paired with the selected wines, highlighting the relationship between Italian gastronomy and viticulture. Rather than presenting wine as a standalone product, the dinners recreated the conviviality of the Italian table — a place where food, wine, conversation and relationships naturally come together.

The menu selection was curated by Rosario Scarpato, President of the Summit of Italian Cuisine and founder of Melius Guide Platform.

This approach is particularly meaningful in the UAE, one of the world's most dynamic destinations for international hospitality, luxury gastronomy and cultural exchange.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi have become important meeting points between Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the wider international community. Against this backdrop, the OCM initiative created an opportunity to strengthen the visibility and understanding of high-quality Italian products while promoting the cultural values that distinguish *Made in Italy* around the world.

*From Piedmont to Dubai and Abu Dhabi*

Batasiolo and Castello di Gabiano offered two complementary expressions of Piedmont's extraordinary wine culture.

Batasiolo is closely associated with the celebrated landscapes and wines of the Langhe, an area internationally recognised for its exceptional viticultural heritage. Its wines embody the combination of tradition, terroir and contemporary Italian winemaking expertise.

Castello di Gabiano brought to the initiative the heritage and elegance of one of Monferrato's historic estates, where wine, architecture, landscape and centuries of history form part of a single cultural identity.

Together, the two wineries allowed the OCM dinners to tell a broader story about Piedmont and Italy: a country where every territory has its own character, yet all share a common commitment to quality, craftsmanship and beauty.

*Creating a Cultural Bridge Between Italy and the UAE*

The Dubai and Abu Dhabi dinners were conceived as platforms for dialogue as much as showcases for Italian excellence.

Bringing together representatives from the business community, institutions, hospitality, media, food and beverage sectors and selected guests, the events encouraged new connections between Italian producers and the UAE's sophisticated international market.

The initiative reflected the increasingly important relationship between Italy and the United Arab Emirates and the opportunities for further collaboration across food, hospitality, tourism, culture and lifestyle.

Through wine and cuisine, guests experienced a form of cultural diplomacy built around something profoundly Italian: the pleasure of sharing a table.

*An Experience of Authentic Made in Italy*

The objective of the OCM dinners was ultimately to leave guests with more than the memory of exceptional wines.

It was to communicate the values behind them: territory, heritage, craftsmanship, authenticity, conviviality and the constant dialogue between tradition and innovation.

From the vineyards of Piedmont to the tables of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Batasiolo and Castello di Gabiano therefore became protagonists of an Italian journey designed to engage all the senses.

*Wine, food and culture came together around one table, transforming each OCM dinner into a celebration of Italian excellence and a bridge between Italy and the United Arab Emirates.*

Patrizia Marin
Marcopoloexperience FZ LLC
+ +971 56 800 3394
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