The Viaduct Events Centre hosted the Wine AKL wine festival which was held over three sessions on 16 and 17 August. It was an opportunity for wine lovers, from newcomers to experts, to get up close and personal with the products from over 60 New Zealand wineries, and to hear from some of the smartest people in the industry.
The vast selection of wines available to sample or buy included limited releases and new-vintages. Helping people find their perfect drop were wine pros like Nick Stock (Australia), Shelley Lindgren (USA), Rebecca Gibb (United Kingdom) and New Zealand’s own Bob Campbell. Some of central Auckland’s favourite restaurateurs and sommeliers ran crash courses in food and wine matching. Other sessions included a beginner’s guide to cellaring, Wine Tasting 101 and to how to order wine like a pro.
Patrons were well fed by a pop up restaurant by Simon Gault’s Euro Restaurant which served dishes designed specifically to pair with New Zealand wine varietals. The Serrano ham served with half a baguette and truffle mushroom marscapone was designed to go with a Sauvignon Blanc and received rave reviews.
Wine AKL was part of Restaurant Month in the Heart of the City. Restaurant Month continues until 31 August with over 100 eateries taking part. There will also be a huge range of food and wine events around the city.
For more information see – http://www.heartofthecity.co.nz/restaurant-month
