La Cave at Rita

Overview

Thoughtfully masterminded by a small group of experienced hospo friends with a love for good food and natural wine, Rita will host natural wine importing outfit Wine Diamonds and chef Michael Hazlewood for a pop-up wine bar in November.

La Cave will be in Rita from November 9-11 from 5pm until midnight. If you have even a fleeting interest in learning about natural wines, there is no better ground on which to craft your palate than these early summer nights at La Cave.

Dan Gillett started Wine Diamonds as a way to import beautiful, interesting natural wines to the New Zealand market. Michael Hazlewood (Hazle to his mates) is basically a prodigal son of Wellington food — sous chef at Melbourne's Attica for a number of years, he has recently returned to New Zealand after a stint in the UK working at spots like Brawn, Soif and Toasted in East Dulwich — all known for their passion for natural wines and food with an emphasis on the producer. He can currently be found cooking in Paul Schrader and Kelda Hains' newest spot, Rita, in Aro Valley.

After a couple of successful pop-ups at Customs by Coffee Supreme in 2016, Dan and Hazle hatched the idea for La Cave. Pronounced carve, the concept takes cues from the pair's favourite wine bars in Paris.

The wine list is one of Dan's best ever, he reckons. Bottles he has been saving for these nights, wines available in small supply only, from some of the best natural winemakers in the world. The pop-up will offer 9-10 wines by the half glass (around the $6 mark) and full (around $12), and nearly 40 by the bottle (wait til you see the list).

Hazle will be coming through with a selection of small plates in his style — thoughtfully put together, flavourful and simple. Dan will be flying over each day fresh sourdough from Scotch, his wine bar in Marlborough. The menu will change each night, but will consistently and notably feature Don Bocarte Cantabrian anchovies, sustainably farmed in the Bay of Biscay and procured from mates at Melbourne's Embla. 

We'll see you there (probably on all three nights).