Saggio Di Vino

In April 1998 Saggio di vino won the 1998 Decanter/Robert Mondavi wine by the glass award for the Far East and Australasia for a wine list which the judges felt " best demonstrated a well chosen range of high quality wines showing value for money on a well-presented wine list."Since September 1999 Saggio di vino holds the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence as well. This award is "honoring it for having one of the most outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world."

Owners Yommi and Lisa attribute some of this success to publicity stemming from the introduction of truffles onto the menu. Early in 1997 the restaurant received inquiries from BBC radio in London and the next day, from newspapers in Sydney. International bookings followed.

The success of the restaurant comes as no surprise to local diners who have known for years that "Saggio" is a restaurant run with an exceptional level of attention to detail from management and is staffed by a highly skilled, friendly and well informed team.

Menu Samples:
- Entrees - House smoked Wairau Valley Salmon with snow pea shoots and fennel salad, horse radish cream
- Mains - Rack of Maredo Lamb (new season) with Pissaladiere tarte, buttered French beans and sauce vierge
- Desserts - Strawberry and Pistachio Parfait with lemon confit

Wine List Samples:
- Aperifits - Sherries - Soft Drinks
- Bio-Gro, organic and Biodynamic Wines, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Viognier, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Blends, Shiraz, Syrah and others - Dessert Wines - Ports, Cognacs, Premium Spirits