Wine AKL

Overview

If you’re getting a little thirsty after eating your way around the city during the month-long event that has recently surpassed Christmas as my favourite annual occurrence, then take a break from all the dining that Restaurant Month brings, and wash down the tastes of the city with Wine AKL.

Presented by Peugeot, Wine AKL will bring bevvies from over 60 wineries New Zealand wine to the  table, including everyone’s classic favourites, as well as a range of limited releases and new vintages. The event not only caters for bonafide aficionados, who know everything about wine, spanning from the grapevines to the glass, but Wine AKL is also user-friendly for wine newbies who can barely tell their reds from their whites.

International talent, including Nick Stock, over-the-globe wine critic from Australia, Rebecca Gibb the British wine journalist, and Shelley Lindgren who has flown over from her wine directing position in the US have all come to the show to convert our country into connoisseurs. They will join our local wine expert Bob Campbell to educate attendees on what’s new with the wine world. These lectures will be broken up by talks from Auckland’s most prestigious restauranteurs and sommeliers, who will chat about wine ordering, food matching and their own favourite vinos.

The likes of Michael Dearth from The Grove, Jeremy Ellis from Baduzzi and John Logan from O’Connell Street Bistro will share their knowledge alongside the participating wineries, including the locals: Villa Maria, Odyssey  and Man O War and those from further down the land of the long white cloud such as Muddy Water from Canterbury, Tohu from Nelson and Mills Reef from the Hawkes Bay.

If the wine goes to your head, then each winery will also have a few snack samples on offer, but if you’re up for a meal then I recommend the heading to Simon Gault’s pop-up restaurant, which has a menu especially created to compliment the wines on show. The menu includes a clam chowder, ham baguette, and lamb rump, each with a hint as to which wine should accompany the plate, although why not channel the newly cultured connoisseur within and show off your wine-ordering skills?