Auckland recently welcomed the latest innovation in wine retailing, the Normanby Fine Wine & Spirits experience-driven concept store. Situated in Mount Eden, the store ushers in a new era of retail, reimagining the traditional wine and spirits shopping experience with the introduction of fresh food and beverages.
The store has been masterminded by seasoned wine connoisseur Liz Wheadon, who has infused the space with a unique hybrid appeal. It operates as a retail store, wine bar, and café, supplemented with a private tasting room and an art gallery interior.
At Normanby Fine Wine & Spirits, customers can browse a selection of over 1300 wines, spirits, sakes, and craft beers. Many of the items in their collection are exclusive to Normanby, a testament to the strong industry relationships they’ve cultivated with producers over the years.
Liz Wheadon, who also doubles as the director of wine at Webb’s, shared the inspiration behind the store. She emphasized that the vision was to design a place that hadn’t previously existed, where choosing and buying wine, spirits, and sake could be an enjoyable, approachable, and genuinely intriguing experience, regardless of a customer’s taste or budget. She further echoed the team’s enthusiasm for introducing this innovative approach to fine wine and spirits retail.
The store has been tastefully designed, complete with art pieces and furniture, all curated by The Estate at Webb’s and available for purchase. During the day, the café serves coffee, pastries, and light meals. In the evenings, the wine bar offers pre-batched cocktails crafted by Theo Tjandra, a past mixologist at Panacea.
The private tasting room, named La Cave, can accommodate up to 15 guests and can be booked for intimate events, custom experiences, and private celebrations.
Looking ahead, the brand plans to extend the unique retail concept of Normanby Fine Wine & Spirits to various regional locations throughout New Zealand.
What does Normanby Fine Wine & Spirits offer customers?
They offer a unique retail experience, selling fine wines, spirits, sake, and craft beers. The concept store doubles as a café serving light meals, coffee, and pastries during the day, and in the evening it becomes a wine bar offering pre-batched cocktails.
What are some unique features of the Normanby Fine Wine & Spirits store?
The store operates as a café and wine bar, in addition to being a retail store. It also houses a private tasting room and an art gallery interior, offering curated art and furniture for purchase.
What are the brand’s future expansion plans?
The brand plans to extend the retail concept to various regional locations across New Zealand, introducing the Normanby Fine Wine & Spirits experience to a wider audience.
