New Zealand Cellar Doors Worth a Visit
I originally wrote this article for the World of Wine summer edition a year ago. The title was No Better Time, and while we can’t traverse the country visiting Cellar Doors enjoying wine just yet, when we can, here are some I thoroughly enjoyed.
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Above: Amisfield Vineyard Restaurant, Central Otago
There’s no better time
There’s no better time than now to start rediscovering Aotearoa with all its glorious landscapes and places to visit. Summer 2021 activities are coming online in December so stopping by new places to dine and cellar doors opening or reopening for the season.
Sommeliers need to keep their finger on the pulse of the world of wine and beverages and there’s often no better way to do this than travel to source. My recent stops throughout the north and south islands revealed some cellar door experiences I didn’t know existed and couple I had not been to for a while and so many were top notch.
First impressions really do mean something and a cellar door experience should be more than just the opportunity to taste wine. Everything from arriving, the greeting and overall hospitality must be part of the package of experience. Cellar doors must sell food if they are going offer wine by way of sample so the food menu too has become an important layer in the overall experience. And, it must be done well to be remembered and recommended. It is often the little things that make a difference such as making bottled water available and even espresso coffee is a growing trend. Another trend is charging for tastings. It’s a small price to pay really, but has become a necessary part of cellar door costs of doing business. Fortunately most if not all providers remove the tasting cost when a wine purchase is made.
Some worthwhile cellar doors I really enjoyed visiting and ones that you could pop into on your next roadie are:
Luna Estate – Contact Frank Chen on frank@lunaestate.co.nz
Colombo – Nicola or Thomas at info@colombo.co.nz.
Ph: 027-356-0545 (Nicola)
Ph: 027-356-0546 (Thomas)
Cambridge Road – Contact Lance Redgwell on 027 526 2069
Te Awanaga Estate – +64 6 875 0553 or Rod MacDonald on 021 226 2942
Amisfield – Olivia Herbet at olivia@amisfield.co.nz 021 184 0193
Desert Heart – Denny Downie at denny@desertheart.co.nz or 027 429 3186
The Hunting Lodge – Contact Anna Bentley at anna.bentley@thehuntinglodge.com
Westbrook – contact Tracey Larsen at tracey@westbrook.co.nz