Eranda Ranganath, Assistant Bar Manager of popular French restaurant Carine at Emirates Golf Club, Dubai shares insights on current wine consumer trends and behaviours.
“Given that 75% of our revenue is from our wine menu, it would be fair to say that a lot of our diners appreciate and enjoy wine”
Backed by years of experience working across high-end F&B establishments in the UAE such as Asia Asia at Pier 7, Karma Kafé in Souk Al Bahar, and La Serre at Vida Downtown, Eranda Ranganath, the Assistant Bar Manager at Emirates Golf Club’s Carine is well-equipped when it comes to beverage.
Since joining the chic French restaurant led by locally-famed chef Izu Ani nearly one year ago, Eranda has served hundreds of guests at Carine, where he reveals simplicity is key to their offering and by using thoughtfully sourced ingredients the outlet offers an array of delicious Mediterranean-style dishes, unique cocktails and a fantastic range of old and new world wines.
“At Carine, whilst we maintain an elegant approach and aesthetic, we incorporate the philosophy of casual dining, welcoming families and friends to enjoy long lazy lunches or romantic alfresco dining in the evening,” explains Eranda.
The design of the restaurant is to evoke a strong sense of community where guests step into a lively atmosphere, filled with natural light and warmth. Carine’s manicured terrace serves rolling views of the green Emirates Golf Course and of course, a vibrant and exceptional F&B experience.
Nestled in one of Dubai’s most sought-after areas, Carine’s guests are predominately members of Emirates Golf Club, UAE residents and a few tourists, tells Eranda, revealing that “given that 75% of our revenue is from our wine menu, it would be fair to say that a lot of our diners appreciate and enjoy wine.”
When it comes to current wine consumer demands, the beverage professional explains that most guests at Carine have an appreciation for great quality at an approachable price point. “The majority of our guests are looking for a good selection of wines at an affordable price range. We’re also definitely seeing a new generation of wine consumers who are thirsty for the perfect wine and food pairings” he said.
Adding that “without doubt, Bordeaux is the most popular French red wine at Carine. We also see that Chablis is the best-selling white wine and a Cote De Provence rosé always performs well.”
While French wines are by far the most popular at Carine, Eranda admits the bar team likes to encourage their guests to experiment with different varieties and perhaps nudge them out of their comfort zones. To do so, Carine offers quite a large number of wines by the glass to enable dines to sample a wide-range of grapes.
“We predominantly serve our most exclusive wines by the glass,” notes Eranda, revealing that Carine’s Bordeaux selection of wines are the outlets most luxurious.
With such high demand for a wide-range of wine varieties, Carine uses two of EuroCave’s V-Pure L cabinets side-by-side to optimise storage and serving temperature.
“Storing and serving wine at the right temperature is crucial for us and our guests. Every wine is different, from aroma to taste, and with EuroCave cabinets we can conserve the essence and experience of each fine wine. The EuroCave cooling and humidity system is unique and essential to keep our wine safely and elegantly stored,” explains Eranda.
The Pure range used by Carine allows wine to mature under optimal conditions at 12-13°C or serve one style of wine at any single specific temperature from 6°C to 19°C.
For more information about Carine, please visit www.dubaigolf.com/emirates-golf-club/dine/carine/ or call +971 4 417 9885.
