Pop the Cork at Cellar Door

Cellar Door opened its doors at The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora in Christchurch earlier this month.

Set in the South Quad of The Arts Centre’s award-winning, gothic revival heritage buildings, the new wine bar is within a champagne cork’s pop of the Teece Museum, the University Music Department, Lumière Cinemas and the Canterbury Academy of Dance.

Owners Tim Ogle and Kate Hide have paid tribute to the space’s rich history with curated art and objects and they are pleased to continue the tradition of warm hospitality, fine wine and good food established by Annie Edmond when the space was Annie’s Wine Bar.

If you like your wine as a casual imbiber or consider yourself a connoisseur, you can try a curated wine tasting ‘flight’ (a group of four x 40ml tasters that are selected by the Cellar Door team to showcase differences in grape variety, region and winemaking style). Or you can choose from a large selection of local, New Zealand and international wine by the glass or bottle. Wine can also be purchased by the bottle to take home or can be shipped world-wide.

If wine’s not your thing – don’t fret! There’s a selection of craft beer on tap and a selection of gin, whisky, cognac, aperitifs, digestifs and cocktails, as well as local soft drinks and specially created seasonal house-made soda syrups. And … wine is best accompanied by food. The Cellar Door offers a good range of local seasonal menu - fresh, elegant dishes that use seasonal local ingredients and are inspired by the wine regions of the world. Check out the options here.

The menu has nibbles including salted almonds and Italian olives. Larger dishes include white anchovies on toast with gremolata and chardonnay shallots or braised beef cheek for two with mushroom ragout and creamy polenta.

Arts Centre Chief Executive Philip Aldridge says it is fantastic to have a wine bar back in The Arts Centre after the closure of Annie’s in 2011.

‘Cellar Door is a game changer for us as it will bring more life to The Arts Centre in the evenings, so we are excited to see Tim and Kate’s vision for the refitted space come to fruition.’

Visit Cellar Door at The School of Art building in The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora on 1 Hereford Street opposite the YMCA. Parking is available on Rolleston Avenue, Westend carpark, underneath the Christchurch Art Gallery or in the Botanical Gardens on Rolleston Avenue.

Cellar Door is open from 10am to 10pm seven days. To learn more about the ‘new kid on the arts block’ visit www.cellardoor.nz, ph: 03 9258497 or email: wine@cellardoor.nz

The Arts Centre was home to Annie’s Wine Bar from 1992 until 2011 when the earthquake significantly damaged many buildings and resulted in the closure of the entire centre. A $250 million restoration programme began in 2012 with buildings being progressively restored and reopened. Two thirds of the programme is complete with 15 buildings restored and reopened to the public.

For more information, please contact:

Chris Archer
Programmes and partnerships manager
The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora
chrisa@artscentre.org.nz
027 267 3143
03 363 2831