Introducing 'The Cellar' – a Venue With French Flair at Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour

'The Cellar'

The Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour launches an exclusive, intimate French-inspired venue this winter with 'The Cellar' doors opening on 23 July.

Available exclusively for high-end private events, the renovation has transformed the area into a rustic wine cellar, providing the ultimate setting for small groups, with a capacity of up to 50 people, cocktail style.

The Cellar features beautiful antique decor combined with a touch of historical elegance, paying homage to the Sofitel brand's French pedigree to offer “le Rituel du Vin”, or high end Wine Rituals.

Sofitel New Zealand's Area General Manager, Wouter de Graaf said, “Our ethos is centered on gastronomy, design and culture and The Cellar certainly embodies all of these elements.

“This wining and dining space will truly showcase the hotel's association with the world's finest wines, characteristic of the best wine each region has to offer. As such, we have worked in close collaboration with a careful selection of acclaimed wineries to ensure that The Cellar features a hand-picked 'library' of only the best New Zealand and French wines to suit every palate.”

The result is an exclusive selection of wines and champagnes that unite and complement the rest of Sofitel's renowned gastronomic brand rituals.

As part of The Cellar's select wine offering, guests will have the opportunity to embark on wine journeys with Sofitel wine flights. Each flight is composed of a tasting of five wines accompanied by the Sofitel bread ritual and artisan olive oil. For champagne connoisseurs, an exclusive champagne flight will be available with Sofitel's knowledgeable sommelier, ready to take guests on a journey through the origins, history and varieties of champagne.

The hotel's signature charcuterie boards and cheese platters will be available in The Cellar offering guests an opportunity to discover the art of French cuisine in rustic, vintage vintner surrounds.

A truly one-of-a-kind space, the venue is available for bespoke events only such as wine tasting and private dinner events. For more details, contact the Conferencing and Events Team on Tel +64 9 354 7455 or visit sofitel-auckland.com

Sofitel, World Class Hotels & French Elegance

Sofitel is the only French luxury hotel brand with a presence on five continents with 120 addresses, in almost 40 countries (more than 30,000 rooms). Sofitel offers contemporary hotels and resorts adapted to today's more demanding and more versatile consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality and excellence. Whether situated in the heart of a major city like Paris, London, New York, Shanghai or Beijing, or nestled away in a country landscape in Morocco, Egypt, French Polynesia or Thailand, each Sofitel property offers a genuine experience of the French “art de vivre”.

Sofitel Legend and & Sofitel So are two labels that come to enrich Sofitel Luxury hotels

'The Cellar'

Sofitel Legend hotels are iconic and mythical; they are often centuries-old listed heritage buildings: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam and Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan, Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena.

Sofitel So hotels are new « boutique hotels » characterized by a stylish focus on contemporary design by famous architects and/or embellished by international celebrities from the world of fashion, design or art: Sofitel So Mauritius Bel Ombre, Sofitel So Bangkok and Sofitel So Singapore (2014).

Find out more about Sofitel at www.sofitel.com.