Just two months after Alta closed, the Karangahape Road space has reopened as a new wine bar by Everyday Wine – the organic and natural wine shop located just 150 metres up the road.
Named Flor (the Spanish word for “flower” that, in winemaking, is a film of yeast on the surface of wine), the renewed venue brings the wine shop to life. It’s offering almost 200 natural wines by the bottle with a rotating selection available by the glass each night.
Owner and Everyday Wine founder Dan Gillett was also involved in the space’s past two venues – Alta, which opened in July 2021 and was fronted by chef Georgia van Prehn, and wine bar Clay between 2019 and 2021, alongside Brendan Manning.
This time, Flor’s solely his concept. He wants it to be a relaxed place for a wine and a bite to eat, with creative small plates by chefs Tushar Grover and Josh Letele – formerly of Parnell fine-dining restaurant Pasture.
“I wanted a space where people could fully enjoy everything we offer in the store, sampling natural and interesting wines,” Gillett tells Broadsheet. “Taking over Alta was our chance to create a nearby wine bar for a laid-back wine-tasting experience. And we were lucky enough to have great ex-Pasture chefs join us, too.”
The current food menu is designed for sharing and includes vegetable-focused dishes like a zingy edamame and spring onion congee; and tomatoes paired with peach and marigold. If you want fried snacks with your pét-nat, there are crispy octopus bites coated in a moreish spice rub and served with mayo; hot fried chicken with a milk bun and pickles; and raw fish with a tomato and basil broth. There’s a grilled lamb “gyro” served in a nasturtium leaf instead of a wrap; and a dish of charred, sliced duck that manages to be incredibly juicy with hardly any fat. They’re also serving sourdough made with Pasture’s famed recipe, alongside a dish of creamy ricotta, honey, and herby oil – perfect for dipping.
In addition to the extensive natural wine list – not all of which is wild and funky, Gillett says – there are a few cocktails, Garage Project beers, and French ciders.
Inside, the space has been made brighter with added lighting and colourful posters on the top wall, which draw the eye upwards and make it feel larger. The existing banquette seating and mosaic-tiled floor remain. The outdoor courtyard, a major drawcard come summer, has expanded with more small tables, and a new front dining area and awning are in the works. Currently open from Wednesday to Sunday, Flor will eventually open seven days a week.
Gillett is excited to expand Everyday Wine’s presence along Karangahape Rd, where he’s noticing more people returning to the area post-lockdowns. “With places like Tempero opening down the road from us, there’s a new wave of people coming back to the street, especially post-Covid,” he says. “It’s encouraging to see.”
Flor
366 Karangahape Road, Auckland
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Hours
Weds to Sun 4pm–late
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