Winter in this city rewards those who plan for it. The weeks between July and September can drift by in a blur of early darkness and deferred catch-ups, which is precisely why Somm’s new tasting series feels so well timed. The Princes Wharf cellar door has introduced Midweek Pours, a fortnightly gathering that transforms the quietest evening of the week into something worth putting in the calendar.
The format is refreshingly simple. Every second Wednesday from 5:30 pm, twelve guests settle in for four curated wines with snacks alongside, each session built around a different theme. One evening might trace a renowned wine region or a single grape variety, the next might spotlight a celebrated producer or welcome a guest winemaker to pour their own bottles and tell the stories behind them. From $25 a person, it sits comfortably in that sweet spot between a casual glass after work and a full cellar door experience, designed for the seasoned enthusiast and the simply curious alike.
The opening run reads like a tour of some of the country’s most storied vineyards. Vavasour launches the series on the 22nd of July, followed by Martinborough Vineyard on the 5th of August and Te Kairanga on the 19th, before a Sauvignon Blanc evening closes out the first stretch on the 2nd of September. Should a particular pour win you over, every wine tasted on the night is available to purchase and take home, which strikes us as a far better souvenir of a Wednesday than most.
With just twelve seats at each session, these will not linger on the books for long. Bookings are essential, so gather a friend or two and claim your place before the first corks are pulled.
