Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour invites oenophiles to its November L'Heure du Vin (The Wine Hour), its quarterly wine dinner celebrating the art of French-inspired hospitality through curated wine and gastronomy experiences.
Hosted in collaboration with Cable Bay Vineyards, the dinner will take place on Friday 27 November 2026, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in La Maree Restaurant at Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour. Guests are invited to an intimate evening of culinary artistry and wine discovery, set against the backdrop of one of Auckland’s most celebrated luxury hotels.
Sofitel Auckland’s Executive Chef Maninder Singh has created a five-course dinner to complement a selection of wines from Cable Bay Vineyards. The menu begins with raw white fish with melon, tomato gazpacho and basil, paired with a 2026 Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc, followed by pan-seared snapper with confit leek, courgette and orange alongside the 2025 Waiheke Blanc. Roast chicken breast with asparagus, parsley and chive purée and chicken jus is matched with the Cable Bay Vineyards Waiheke Chardonnay 2021, while seared duck breast with butternut, blueberry and onion compote and black pepper jus is served with the Waiheke Island Syrah 2022 and Waiheke Island Five Hills Merlot Malbec 2022.
The evening concludes with petit fours of yuzu curd, lemon, mandarin and raspberry white chocolate cheesecake, paired with the Waiheke Island Sweet Gloria LH Viognier 2024. Pairing stories and tasting notes will be shared throughout the evening by a Cable Bay Vineyards winery representative.
Achut Dhungana, Food and Beverage Manager at Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour, said, “It is a pleasure to welcome Cable Bay Vineyards to the L’Heure du Vin table. Chef Maninder has crafted a menu designed around these Waiheke wines, and having the winery with us to guide guests through each pairing promises an unforgettable evening for anyone who appreciates great food and wine at the same table.”
L’Heure du Vin is a quarterly wine dinner series designed to celebrate Sofitel Auckland’s commitment to art de vivre, the art of living well. Each wine dinner features a different winery partner, presented in partnership with leading wine specialists Vinarchy, alongside a culinary journey crafted to complement the selected wines.
Tickets are priced at $185 per person and include the multi-course dinner, the paired wines and guided tasting notes from the winery representative. Bookings are available via sofitel-auckland.com.
