Waiheke Restaurant Among New Zealand's Finest

Media release 18 June 2008

Waiheke Restaurant Among New Zealand's Finest
Cuisine NZ Restaurant of the Year Awards 2008 Finalists Announced

Waiheke's Cable Bay Vineyards has been nominated as a finalist in the Cuisine NZ Restaurant of the Year Awards 2008.

Cable Bay is the only restaurant on Waiheke and one of only 40 restaurants to be a finalist in this prestigious national competition.

Cable Bay winemaker and managing director, Neill Culley is delighted Cable Bay's artisan approach to the food, wine and art has found favour with Cuisine judges and the dining public.

"We are passionate about everything we do at Cable Bay from our unique wine growing relationship with the Waiheke Island community, the production of high quality wines, to the freshness and simplicity of our food and the hospitality we provide," he says. "As a new player on the restaurant scene we are delighted to receive independent recognition of our efforts."

Cable Bay first opened its doors in early 2007 and in just over a year has established an enviable reputation for great food and wine. The restaurant is run by a dedicated team including Andi Reilly as front of house and chef Will Thorpe in the kitchen.

Thorpe has put Cable Bay and its fresh, contemporary food on the map since his return to New Zealand. He has worked at world renowned UK chef Gordon Ramsay's Amaryllis restaurant in Glasgow and Auckland's SKYCITY. Will grows his own organic produce and has recently put home-grown vegetables onto the plates of restaurant diners at Cable Bay.

In keeping with Cable Bay's bespoke approach he says he aims "to present a menu and food that reflects the excellence of Cable Bay wines and leaves a lasting palate memory for our diners."

As a winery restaurant, the wine of course takes a starring role at Cable Bay. Neill Culley takes an artisan approach to winemaking and oversees a process that focuses on small lot winemaking to ensure fruit from each vineyard achieves its full potential. As a result, all Cable Bay wines have their own distinct personalities.

Cable Bay's Waiheke vineyards produce Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Viognier, Bordeaux blends, Syrah and a Rosé while fruit from Marlborough vineyards provides Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Gewürtztraminer and Pinot Noir. The wine list is not limited to Cable Bay's own wines, but is complemented by some of the best wines that New Zealand, and the world, has to offer.

"One of the great points of difference Cable Bay has over a city restaurant is that we can offer an unrivalled experience that involves the whole complex. You can tour the winery, dine in the restaurant, relax in the bar, tempt your palate in the tasting room or enjoy an exclusive event in the private meeting or dining rooms. We seem to have a winning combination that people really respond too," says Culley.

Cable Bay Vineyard's stunning Waiheke Island winery complex offers a complete sensory feast. As well as feasting their taste buds on superb food and wine, visitors can feast their eyes on the stunning views of the Waitemata Harbour looking back towards the Auckland city skyline. The venue is also rich with an extensive art collection, featuring expressive sculptures and paintings by New Zealand artists.

ENDS

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