R didn't want to walk all the way to the Harbour bridge. We had just had a nice dinner with lovely crunchy chips on the side that we fell in love with, and watched the day turn into dusk while lying in our beanbags on the grassy lounge outside Britomart.

On the way to the Bridge, Napoleon beckoned us into a corner wine bar oozing with warm sophistication. He apparently once said that every war victory should be awarded with champagnes and every defeat consoled likewise. After each bout of fights the French soldiers popped open the fizzy wine bottles with quick swipes of their sabres; this method became known as sabrage. The dimly lit hotel wine bar we were drawn to pays homage to Napoleon with the same name. At Sabrage, you can also celebrate in the same manner. The sommelier showed us the sabre; goodness it was heavy!
We chose to drink a pinot noir from Central Otago. Valli was recommended for us. Delicious! Apparently the small vineyard does not sell commercially, which is a pity since we both really liked it. I am appreciating wines from the Southern regions of NZ more, now, because I never really thought of NZ wine beyond the sauvignon blancs of the Marlborough or the Hawke's Bay regions before. Time to discover the red wines from the colder South :)

Sabrage Wine Bar
Sofitel Hotel
Viaduct Harbour
Auckland