Our clients February 2014

Tell us a bit about your house.

 

Mirihi Island is a small, boutique luxury resort on the South Ari Atoll of the Maldives - by seaplane, about half an hour away from Male', the capital and main island. This emerald gem is just 350 meters (0.2 miles) long and 50 meters (0.03 miles) wide, with a sparkling, palm-fringed beach of fine white sand, turquoise-blue water, and its own unique reef. A bit of paradise on earth for a maximum of 72 guests, spread out among 30 water villas and 6 beach villas. We have 140 employees to fulfill (nearly) every wish. To name but a few examples of how you can pamper yourself: a private, romantic dinner for two on the beach; a sunset Champagne cruise on our house yacht; or a dinner with carefully selected wines in the fine dining restaurant Muraka with specialties featuring locally caught fish and lobster.

 

 

What role do you play at the resort?

 

As the restaurant and bar manager, I'm responsible for all food and beverage service on the island. The complex includes two restaurants: the main restaurant "Dhonveli," which serves three tasty buffets that change daily, as well as the à la carte, fine dining restaurant "Muraka," which offers a unique dining experience in a lagoon setting. In addition, there are two bars: "Anba Bar," where there's occasionally live music (Maldivian and saxophone), and the "Sunset Bar," an inviting place to enjoy picturesque sunsets over an apéritif and canapés every evening. I'm also in charge of our "in villa and destination dining" programs. The latter refers to private dinner arrangements on our beach on a nearby uninhabited island or on our house yacht, "Thari." Since late 2011, I've overseen a team of 20 service employees and barkeepers. In particular, I've expanded our wine list during the past two years, thereby enabling our house to offer one of the best wine lists in the Maldives. Since 2013, our wine list has earned an "Award of Excellence" from the renowned American trade magazine Wine Spectator.

 

 

What do you particularly enjoy about working with wine?

 

Wine fosters connections. What I like about wine is that it's a subject that quickly brings brings people together. I like the fact that wines can be as special and individual as the people who enjoy them...and that with every encounter with wine, I learn something new.

 

 

How did your contact with Balthasar Ress come about and what do you like about us and our wines?

 

Contact with Balthasar Ress developed through a local importer here in the Maldives. Over two years ago, when I began to work in the Maldives, German wines played a marginal role in his portfolio (I think it was two Rieslings). Today, he has the largest - and best - selection of German wines in the Maldives. I was looking for German wines from special producers. I particularly like the wines of Balthasar Ress because they're part of a family tradition. They're a real plus for my wine list and my guests.

 

 

What have you always wanted to tell us as a wine estate?

 

German Riesling and Maldivian curries beautifully complement one another. My favorite recommendation here on the island is a Balthasar Ress Schloss Reichartshausen Riesling Kabinett feinherb with Maldivian chicken curry. The residual sweetness of the Riesling tempers the hot spiciness of the dish yet enables the curry to retain its distinctive character. My most memorable experience with Balthasar Ress wines was when Clemens was a guest at a wine tasting and presented "wine in tubes." I immediately placed an order and planned to serve them with dessert at the next wine dinner...to "amaze" our guests. Practical and original at once.