A new wine and snack bar opens its doors on High Street, Armadale.
High Street, Armadale has welcomed the arrival of Auterra, a much anticipated new wine and snack bar from the team behind Amaru.
Inspired over the years by Amaru regulars – who would tell chef/owner Clinton McIver when starting their dinner sittings with appetisers and champagne that they could ‘just have this and be happy’ – McIver got to work on realising this idea and building what would become Auterra during the Melbourne lockdowns.
“Auterra is a place where people can gather to enjoy the simple things in life – good wine, food and good company. Sit down and order small plates of tasty morsels to tuck into while exploring our list of wines and grower champagnes, all selected for their story and sense of place. With being unable to visit Champagne right now, what better way to imagine that you are there than indulging in a tipple here?” says McIver.
Auterra – meaning of the earth – has a wine list overseen by Venue Manager and Head Sommelier Jenna Phillpott (The Recreation), featuring a champagne selection focused predominantly on growers, with boutique Victorian producers and lesser-known international varietals and vignerons, and an ever-changing selection by the glass.
“We’ve taken a slightly different approach to our wine list at Auterra, focusing on sharing a glimpse of the unique terroirs the world of wine has to offer and selecting wines that – for us – best reflect their origin. The list will be constantly evolving and changing, and we look forward to sharing it with our regulars and visitors alike,” says Phillpott.
Pours by the glass include:
• NV Courteron, Côte de Bars, Champagne Fleury, Blanc de Noirs ($27)
• NV Cumières, Vallée de la Marne, Georges Laval, Cumières ($55)
• 2018 Canberra, Mount Majura, The Silurian Sparkling ($14)
• 2018 Heathcote, Victoria, Jasper Hill, Georgia’s Paddock, Semillon ($15)
• 2018 Mosel, Germany, Markus Molitor, Haus Klosterberg, Trocken, Riesling
($13)
• 2019 Bourgogne, Burgundy, Marc Rougeot-Dupin, Pinot Noir ($19)
• 2017 McLaren Vale, South Australia, Koomilya, Tempranillo/Touriga Nacional
($18)
Auterra will open serving more than 40 sparkling wines from around the world by the bottle; a considered list of reds, whites and rosés; and a small selection of beers, cocktails and spirits.
McIver and Auterra Head Chef Steven Harry (formerly Cumulus Inc.) have created a short menu of snacks designed to complement the drinks and to be eaten with your hands. These include:
• Blue mussel, XO, fermented radicchio ($8)
• Organic radish, Alpine walnuts, finger lime ($5)
• Great Ocean Road duck, quince, buckwheat ($12)
• Doughnut, spanner crab, salted cucumber, celery ($13)
• Hot dog, boudin blanc, Japanese pickles ($12)
• Eclair, Marcel Petite Comté, pear, caraway ($10)
• Shiitake mushroom sundae ($9)
Much like the wine and the snacks, every design detail of Auterra has been carefully considered, right down to the table settings. Ceramics have been locally sourced and handmade along with hand-blown glassware by Gabriel gold glasses.
Designed by IF Architecture, the fit-out is based on a gradual blending of colours and textures, reminiscent of wine regions and their terroir, from the Yarra Valley to Burgundy, the colours and textures change as you progress through the venue.
“Auterra is all about wine, and the space has been conceived to deliver a deeply visual journey. Inviting guests to explore the subtlety and complexities of the wine experience through colour, texture and theme, revealing a unique and personal experience at every corner,” says Iva Foschia, founder and principal at IF Architecture.
Auterra’s main space will seat 35, with a trellised outdoor courtyard accommodating up to 25 guests in the summer. For those looking for a more intimate experience, a private dining area upstairs that seats up to 12 guests is set to be completed in early August.
Open weekly from Wednesday to Sunday, Auterra is set to be a welcome addition to High Street, Armadale.
Auterra
1160 High Street, Armadale VIC 3143
03 8529 2660
Opening hours:
Wednesday to Friday from 3pm–late
Saturday from 12pm–late
Sunday from 12pm–6pm
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Images: Anthony Hart