EAST DRINKS LIST

When Kim told me East had a dish on the menu called Bang Bang Mushrooms, and that it was her “dish of the year so far”, my brain kind of crumpled into cabbage. Picturing it in my mind and imagining how amazingly tasty it sounded had me slurring “baaang baaaaaang muuuuusshhhhrooomms” in drooling, Homer Simpson, fashion. Eleven minutes later I snapped out of my delirium for just long enough to evaluate the drinks list. As is appropriate for East’s plant-centric and mostly gluten-free, vegan menu, the wines are also vegan-friendly, organic and even biodynamic where possible. If you’re not a fan of those skinsy, funky, feral, “natural” styles then fret not. They’re all clean as a whistle. The other great thing is that they’re ALL available by the glass. Hallelujah! It’s a compact list, tight, unfussy. From fabulous fizz from organic pioneers Huia and prosecco powerplayers Serenello to chardonnay by Greenhough, funky appearances from Pacific Potion pinot gris and more classic gris from Fromm. One of my all-time favourite white blends, the Chiaroscuro from Seresin, a blend of pinot gris, gewurztraminer and riesling, makes an appearance and rocks the casbah. The reds list is a little more random and I’m scratching my head that there are two syrahs, one from Italy and one from Marlborough? Hardly syrah hotspots right? Although including lighter styles like gamay (Mt Edward) is always a good thing where spicy food is concerned, the reds list could do with a rev-up.