New Wine Tasting Studio and Wine Lounge Opens

The Hawke’s Bay hospitality scene has another string added to its impressive bow with the Smith & Sheth Wine Company Tasting Studio and Wine Lounge officially opening in Havelock North this week. Located in the Porters Hotel complex (behind Malo restaurant) the Smith & Sheth Oenothèque (official name) is a stylish snug of modern interior design with a cosy outdoor courtyard-perfect for soaking up Hawke’s Bay’s long, hot summer nights. The Oenothèque is open from 10am – 8.30pm, Tuesday-Saturday and will feature live music every Thursday evening for the month of January. No bookings required. An Oenothèque is a French term for a wine shop, cellar or collection of wines or a wine bar. Wine lovers will delight at the impressive wine list that during the day showcases the Smith & Sheth CRU wine range and exciting new boutique wines from around Hawke’s Bay, in a tradition cellar door format. In the evening there is a greater selection of wines on offer including wines from the iconic Pyramid Valley Vineyards in North Canterbury and Lowburn Ferry from Central Otago. Sommelier Sonja Eberly said their focus was to give customers a truly unique, interesting wine experience. ‘During the day we will offer a full tasting of some amazing Smith & Sheth CRU wines but in the evening we have tried hard to show wines not readily available in Hawke’s Bay to offer variety, and we have also taken great care when selecting our glassware, furniture and menus so when people visit us, they get the full “wow factor”. In addition to the great wines and location Smith & Sheth has a host of nibbles and grazing options to keep the hunger pains at bay. The Smith & Sheth Oenothèque is just one of the exciting new wine ventures on offer from the newly formed Hawke’s Bay based company Aotearoa New Zealand Fine Wine Estates (AONZ). The man behind AONZ is none other than Steve Smith MW, original co-founder of Craggy Range. This time Smith has partnered with Brian Sheth, a businessman from the US and together they have built a portfolio of premium wine companies that will concentrate on providing amazing, unique experiences for their followers. Situated next door to the Tasting Room and Wine Lounge, you’ll find the Smith & Sheth Heretaunga Studio where wine connoisseurs from all around the globe can enjoy a world class wine tasting experience unlike anything people have ever seen before in New Zealand. Bookings can be made for tastings via www.smithandsheth.com or at 06 650 5550 Posted: 7 January 2019