The lowdown
An offspring of renowned fine-diner Amaru, Auterra is all about sophisticated snacks and wine that speaks of place, with less-familiar grower Champagne a specialty.
The nuts & bolts
Opened 2021
Auterra wine bar is a personal expression for chef and owner Clinton McIver. The chef, who opened restaurant Amaru in 2016, decided in 2020 that his loyal audience needed a place to go to enjoy his take on snacks with the chance to explore the extensive cellar of wine selections by the bottle and the glass.
Loosely translating to āfrom the earthā, Auterra is a place of comfort and style, serving quality, seasonal produce treated carefully. The cosy room is built on the simple things in life: good wine, food and each otherās company. And itās upon this foundation that Auterra has quickly found a place in the hearts of the community.
Despite being locked down for much of 2021, McIverās solid following at Amaru meant that he had an enthusiastic tribe, but the more relaxed nature of Auterra has allowed him to extend his reach to a broader audience.
āSit 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,ā says McIver. āWith being unable to visit Champagne right now, what better way to imagine that you are there than indulging in a tipple here?ā
Auterraās wine list is overseen by venue manager and head sommelier Jenna Phillpott. It features a Champagne selection focused predominantly on growers, with boutique Victorian producers and lesser-known international varieties and vignerons, and an ever-changing selection by the glass.
āWeāve 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 ā for us ā best reflect their origin,ā says Phillpott. āThe list will be constantly evolving and changing, and we look forward to sharing it with our regulars and visitors alike.ā
Reservations can be made, but thereās always space for walk-ins, which sums up this stylish, quality new venue ā youāre always welcome.
