Italian wine dinners showcase Batasiolo and Castello di Gabiano in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

OCM dinners in Dubai and Abu Dhabi last weekend put Italian wine, cuisine and culture in front of invited guests through pairings featuring Batasiolo and Castello di Gabiano. The events aimed to strengthen ties between Italy and the UAE while spotlighting Piedmont’s winemaking heritage and the broader appeal of Made in Italy.

Why it matters: - The dinners positioned Italian wine as a cultural product, not just a beverage, for a UAE audience with strong interest in luxury hospitality and international cuisine. - The events also created a direct showcase for Piedmont producers in two of the Gulf’s most visible dining markets. - The initiative pointed to growing Italy-UAE opportunities across food, hospitality, tourism, culture and lifestyle.

What happened: - OCM dinners took place in Dubai and Abu Dhabi last weekend. - The events featured Batasiolo and Castello di Gabiano wines paired with Italian cuisine. - The dinners were held in association with the Worldwide Sommelier Association in the UAE. - Patrizia Marin, president of the Worldwide Sommelier Association in the UAE, supervised the initiative. - Guests included representatives from business, institutions, hospitality, media and food and beverage sectors.

The details: - Batasiolo represented Piedmont and the Langhe. - Castello di Gabiano represented Monferrato and its historic winemaking tradition. - The dinners used curated food and wine pairings to highlight the territories, traditions and people behind the labels. - Rosario Scarpato, president of the Summit of Italian Cuisine and founder of Melius Guide Platform, curated the menu selection. - The format was designed to recreate the conviviality of the Italian table, where food, wine and conversation share the same setting. - The initiative framed wine as part of a wider story about landscape, agriculture, family traditions, gastronomy, history and local identity. - The dinners also highlighted Made in Italy values such as territory, heritage, craftsmanship, authenticity, conviviality and the mix of tradition and innovation. - The event description called the experience a bridge between Italy and the United Arab Emirates.

Between the lines: - The structure of the dinners suggests a broader branding effort for Italian producers in markets where cultural storytelling can influence premium food and wine demand. - By centering hospitality and cultural exchange, the events went beyond product promotion and leaned into soft-power diplomacy. - Dubai and Abu Dhabi offered a high-visibility setting because both cities serve as meeting points for Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the wider international community.

What's next: - The dinners are likely to support continued visibility for Italian wine and cuisine in the UAE. - The format could also encourage more collaboration between Italian producers and Gulf hospitality and lifestyle sectors. - The organizers signaled interest in deeper engagement across food, hospitality, tourism, culture and lifestyle.

The bottom line: - Batasiolo and Castello di Gabiano used two UAE dinners to turn Italian wine into a broader message about heritage, quality and cultural connection.