Auckland’s first urban cellar door and wine bar on the waterfront has opened its doors, representing a stable of iconic wineries alongside a food menu that is both regional and seasonal.
Somm, located on Princes Wharf in the CBD, invites guests to discover some of New Zealand’s best wines on their own terms and without having to leave the 09 — a glass after work, a wine flight on the weekend or a bottle between friends.
Drawing its named from Sommelier (a wine steward), Somm represents wineries including Church Road, Martinborough Vineyard, Te Kairanga, Vavasour and Mt Difficulty. Located respectively in Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough, Marlborough and Central Otago, the brands encompass New Zealand’s most acclaimed wine regions which will now have a home in the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau.
Perfect for visitors on a timeframe or locals alike, this connection between the vineyard and the city offers a unique wine flight menu, making it easy to match and compare between regions, varietals and wineries with the help of tasting notes.
Beyond that, the drinks list features an extensive catalogue of library wines by the bottle and large format wines, with guest wineries from other regions such as Waiheke Island and North Canterbury adding to the premium experience. There are also local beers on tap, a refined selection of cocktails and champagne for toast-worthy occasions available.
The accompanying food menu, created by Executive Chef Gavin Doyle (the acclaimed chef behind Somm’s sister restaurant SOUL Bar & Bistro), features irresistible snacks, pizzas and sharing plates.
Described to complement rather than out-stage, Gavin says nothing on the menu is overcomplicated and encapsulates everything guests might crave with a good glass of wine in hand.
I wanted to create a menu of simple snacks designed for sharing,” he says. “It’s not stuffy. Each dish has lots of flavour and everything is presented in its simplest form.”
Items include antipasti, charcuterie, regional cheeses, burrata, market fish crudo, crab apple and goat cheese salad, crispy fried chicken, duck liver toast, Wagyu rump with caviar and a range of pizzas made with dough proved for 72 hours.
The fit out, designed by award-winning Nott Architects, sees the interior transformed to an open, yet intimate space with warm lighting, natural materials and rich textures. There’s a variety of seating including high leaners, banquettes and communal tasting tables, while an impressive butcher block showcases the charcuterie as it’s sliced.
The interior is punctuated with materials traditionally found in New Zealand’s prestigious winery regions including timber in walnut and oak, earthy stone and clay tiles, while a lush curtain allows the communal tasting area to transform from open to semi-private.
Gavin says Somm is set to become Auckland’s home of wine, capturing the ceremony of a regional cellar door with the comfort of a local wine bar.
Somm is located at Shed 22, Princes Wharf, Auckland. The wine bar is now open, with the cellar door experiences set to start at the end of May. For more information visit sommwinebar.co.nz
Supplied by Undertow Media
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