How to get cured & curious in Mt Eden

They’re talking cured and curious at Molten in Mt Eden.

The popular neighbourhood eatery’s wine bar is introducing Cured & Curious Tuesdays hosted by the resident sommelier or a winemaker or even a celebrated brew master.

It’s an opportunity for patrons to broaden their wine and beer palates in one of the few genuine wine bars in Auckland.

Molten Wine Bar has an extensive wine list with several hundred varieties available by bottle and more than a dozen by glass. The wine list is fundamentally based on value for money and somm and Molten co-owner Sven Nielsen rotates the list regularly.

And to assist imparting the wine literacy, Molten has appointed Swedish-born Adam Wirdahl as somm alongside Nielsen.

The Cured & Curious concept involves selected beverage experts hosting evening events where patrons can taste and discuss interesting aspects of a wine or a beer. Patrons will also be able to choose from around 20 different cheese and charcuterie options tailored to their preferences.


Photo courtesy of Pead PR.

“It’s designed as a fun, informative and informal evening,” Nielsen says. “Wine should not and does not need to be intimidating and yet we know some people feel uncomfortable putting their hand up when they want to know more.

“So we are taking the anxiety out of the process and at the same time demonstrating how wines and beer can be paired with the best charcuterie and cheeses. And it all happens in relaxed, unpretentious surroundings and at affordable prices.”

Nielsen says Wirdahl brings to the restaurant a diverse career in the hospitality industry.

“Adam has more than 20 years’ experience backed by a Swedish sommelier qualification from (Vinkällan Dryckesutbildningar) where he went from student to later become a teacher.

“He has also worked the floor at Merediths in Auckland and other establishments internationally, managed cocktail bars, worked on cruise ships and even studied sports journalism in the US,” Nielsen says.

He and Wirdahl will both work on the Cured and Curious evenings. Each event will be themed with such delights as a charcuterie trail, Nielsen’s guide to cold meats in various territories and the wines that go well with them.

Other themes planned include ‘raise a glass to the regions’, ‘fabulous French reds’ and the history behind wine and charcuterie, one of the world’s oldest pairings.

Nielsen says the wine bar is “an accessible haven away from the chaos of the city”.

“Patrons will enjoy a relaxed evening with one of our beverage experts helping select charcuterie and cheeses tailored to their tastes.  We will help out with wine or beer suggestions and try to encourage a little adventure in our guests’ choices,” he says.

"At Molten we don't provide 'paint-by-numbers' beverage matches with our menu. The reasons are many, but mainly because tasting wine when you’re enjoying rather than assessing always has subjective elements to it.

“We don't have hard and fast rules around what goes with what, rather a set of fundamental guidelines we reference when making suggestions which will also take in to account the weather outside and your personal tastes. Give us a try - we might even be able to match a beverage to the kind of day you've had.”


Photo courtesy of Pead PR.

There is no entry charge for the Cured & Curious evenings which are scheduled to begin on Tuesday 11 August. Molten Wine Bar also has a full menu from bar snacks and traditional thin based pizzas to main dishes prepared in the award winning Molten Restaurant next door.

Event details are posted on Facebook every Friday for the following week’s Cured & Curious evening - https://www.facebook.com/moltenrestaurant

Sven Nielsen Dip WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) was awarded Outstanding Wine Service Professional in the 2013 Lewishams. He has previously written award winning wine lists at O’Connell St Bistro and Andiamo.

Molten was awarded Metro Magazine’s Best Value for Money restaurant in this year’s Metro Restaurant of the Year Awards where is it also included in the Top 50 Auckland Restaurants guide.    

On the web: www.molten.co.nz