Ruinart Champagne dinners and Gaja wine pairings lead The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands’ festive programme
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands will bring together Champagne-led gastronomy, Italian wine pairings, chef’s table dining and festive gala dinners as part of its Christmas and New Year programme, featuring collaborations with Maison Ruinart and acclaimed French artist Alexandre Benjamin Navet.
Presented under the theme “A Canvas of Festive Wonder”, the celebrations will combine culinary experiences with art, entertainment and island activities, with events extending through 9 January 2027.
For chefs, sommeliers and food and beverage professionals, the programme will feature two exclusive gastronomic dinners in collaboration with Maison Ruinart, a premium wine-pairing experience at IWAU Chef’s Table and an Italian-themed Gaja Wine Dinner.
Maison Ruinart brings Champagne and gastronomy together
One of the principal culinary collaborations will involve Maison Ruinart, the French Champagne house, which will partner with the resort during Navet’s artist residency from 18 to 23 December.
The collaboration will explore the relationship between art, Champagne and gastronomy through curated Ruinart tastings and two exclusive dinners.
On 22 December, the resort will host the Ruinart Artist Dinner, following the Christmas Tree Lighting and Cocktail at Beach Shack.
The evening will bring together the work of Navet and the heritage of Maison Ruinart through a dining experience centred on art and Champagne.
For the resort’s culinary and sommelier teams, Champagne-led dining provides an opportunity to explore food pairings that take into account acidity, texture, effervescence and the characteristics of individual wines.
The Ruinart experiences will also introduce guests to the relationship between Champagne production, craftsmanship and contemporary art.
Navet’s residency will include artistic installations, workshops and a transformation of Beach Shack. His creations will remain on display at the resort until April 2027.
Christmas and New Year gala dining
The festive culinary programme will continue on 24 December with a Christmas Eve Cocktail followed by a Gala Dinner at EAU Bar.
The evening will combine festive cuisine with live entertainment, providing one of the principal dining occasions of the Christmas programme.
On 31 December, the resort will host a beachfront New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner, featuring gastronomy, performances and celebrations to welcome 2027.
For the resort’s culinary and food and beverage teams, these events will involve coordination across kitchen production, pastry, beverage and front-of-house operations, with dining service integrated into the wider entertainment programme.
The celebrations will continue into January with an Orthodox Christmas Gala Dinner on 6 January.
Chef’s Table and Italian wine experiences
Wine-focused dining will remain a key part of the programme after New Year’s Eve.
On 3 January, The Vintage Affair at IWAU Chef’s Table will present an intimate gastronomic experience paired with premium wines.
The chef’s table format will provide a more focused dining setting, with food and wine pairings forming part of the multi-course experience.
For sommeliers and chefs, such dinners require close collaboration between menu development and wine selection, considering the relationship between ingredients, cooking techniques and the structure of each wine.
On 9 January, the resort will host La Bella Vita Gaja Wine Dinner, celebrating Italian culinary traditions alongside wines from Piedmont.
The event will bring together Italian gastronomy and the winemaking heritage associated with Gaja, offering guests an opportunity to explore regional cuisine through a wine-led dining experience.
Art and culinary experiences across the island
Beyond the wine dinners and gala celebrations, the festive programme will include themed dining evenings featuring international flavours.
The wider celebrations will also feature creative workshops, family activities, wellness experiences and marine conservation programmes.
The collaboration with Navet will form the artistic centrepiece of the season, with his work appearing throughout the resort, including Beach Shack and a specially designed Christmas tree.
For the resort’s culinary and beverage teams, the festive programme will bring together different approaches to gastronomy, from Champagne tastings and artist-led dinners to chef’s table experiences, Italian wine pairings and beachfront gala dining.
Through its partnerships with Maison Ruinart and Gaja, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands will place wine appreciation and culinary collaboration among the principal elements of its 2026–2027 festive celebrations.
