Why you goThis attractive Euro-style wine bar may be in the leafy Ashgrove neighbourhood, but the list on offer at Wine & Larder is anything but suburban. You’d expect nothing less with renowned sommelier Mark Whitaker and wife, Leah Shelton, at the helm. Wines are handily sorted under headings such as “crisp and clean”, where you’ll find the likes of a brisk txakoli from the Basque Country, and “complex, textural whites” for those who fancy a chenin blanc from Margaret River, say. The fit-out is smart, too. A classic timber bar dominates the light, airy space, while tables flank the windows looking out onto a vintage arcade where diners can sit alfresco. The kitchen’s knack with wine-friendly, bistro-style fare lifts it above the everyday, as does owner Whitaker’s presence on the floor. A wine tragic in the best of ways, he’s more than ready to advise on food and wine matches, made easy with an arsenal of 20-plus by the glass.
