Rannach is a stunning boutique vineyard, definitely worthwhile visiting on a leisurely Sunday drive…read moreor after a morning at the local Clevedon Farmers market. They produce a fantastic Merlot which is available for tasting and purchase. The property is magically serene, and feels a million miles away from the hub bub of Auckland city. Pro Tip, pack a picnic to enjoy with your wine!

After lunch at The Local next door, we decided to pop in and do a wine tasting to get a taste of…read morewhat Waiheke Island's wine scene had to offer. While the whole concept of serve-yourself wine dispensers seemed cool, it wasn't as much fun reading the description card next to each wine versus having someone giving me a live description and education. The samples we tried were great, but you're better off just going to the actual wineries.

This is so much more than an excellent wine store. Their selections of wines from around the world,…read moreand of course specializing in Waiheke wines are excellent, and prices are most fair. This package store takes a fantastic tasting concept and excells at implementation! You give them your credit card and they give you a store card which allows you to taste any of their tasting wines (about 36 wines which change monthly) in 25 ml pours. Again, prices for tastings are very fair; in fact cheaper than at the wineries. Service and attitude are great.

I've only been to Happy Liquor Store but just had to comment on the service. This guy was probably…read morethe friendliest liquor store salesperson I've seen. This could be attributed to the fact that it was 10:30am on a Friday morning (we were stocking up before heading to the Coromandel), but I was still a bit taken aback. I was picking up a few bottles of Rekorderlig (can't really go wrong at $6 a bottle!), and I was having a little trouble holding them all, so he came over, asked which ones I was after and took them to the counter for me. He asked my partner at the counter if wanted a mixer to go with his whiskey, and despite the conversation we had in the car before coming in that we would stop at the supermarket for this, he ended up grabbing his mixer of choice. I only witnessed it but as someone who is also in retail, he did an awesome job- he was very conversational and even when he tried to add on the mixer it wasn't at all forced. I haven't had a chance to come back here yet, but this place was definitely worth the shoutout.

If you're after a good night out then pop on into LK Ponsonby where they have everything from beer,…read morewine and spirits. LK is a Lion owned liquor store. Here they predominantly specialise in Lion products such as Speight's, Mac's, Steinlager, Becks, Corona, Little Creatures, Emersons, Guinness, Smirnoff, 42 Below, Appletons, Bacardi, Coruba, Jose Cuervo, Wild Turkey, American Honey, Isaac Cider range, and much MUCH more. Not to worry, you'll find all other alcohol brands here at LK as well. At LK they also have party supplies on offer to hire. These include ice bins, glass trays, punch bowls and ladles and much more. At LK you also have the option to buy gets. This involves giving a $30 keg deposit free which you get back once the keg is returned. Another perfect addition when having a party. With so many gift ideas for others ....or yourself....as well as party supplies and some snacky food, pop on into LK Ponsonby or jump on their website and get ordering for your next event.

Located right next door to Nosh so very handy: Nosh Ponsonby do not have a liquor license so you…read morecan just pop next door, for all your wine needs! I have been here a few times to purchase red wine namely Pinot Noir & Vodka. The staff are very knowledgable and helpful. They asked me if I needed assistance with choosing anything - have offered to carry my alcohol to the counter and chatted to me all the way through! They have regular offers & discounts on many brands so that's appealing! They sell soft drink, have a separate refrigerated beer room and stock all snack food too - at a premium price. I never feel under pressure to choose what I want (there is a big selection), which is good! Easy parking, open 7 days.

Nestled alongside the swanky Elliot Stables, you will this beautiful little store. There isn't an…read moreextensive range of accessories but the selection of whisky here is amazing. Scotch, bourbon, even New Zealand whiskey and then a selection of gin and vodkas for good measure. The quality of the product in The Whiskey Shop is first class and they offer tasting and appreciation experiences along with helpful tips on their website. The staff in-store were a little preoccupied during our Sunday excursion there however it is a great little specialist shop in the CBD.

Money can't buy you happiness but it can buy you whiskey which is pretty much the same thing. Never…read morea truer statement I don't reckon. The Whiskey Shop is a real mans man sort of store. Dark wood veneers, sumptuous leather couches. All you need is a cigar in one hand and a tumbler of whiskey in your other and you could be the perfect picture of the country squire. They stock all imported and hard to find bottles of whiskey here, many of them aged to perfection. And if whiskey ain't your thing, you can find a mixture of other alcoholic drops in their Spirit Store. I found a 21 year old bottle of Appleton rum here which was so out of my price range to be laughable, but I coveted it anyway. For an interactive experience they do whiskey tastings that cater to whiskey newbies to self proclaimed connoisseurs. I'm planning on attending the next friend bring a friend event!

Very handy location for those who live in the heart of the city . Courthouse Lane Grocer stock's a…read moregreat range of grocery products from Fresh fruit and veg to toilet paper, plus an awesome range of international wines and craft beers. Staff are also very friendly and always keen to help. Sort of place with the friendly warmth you would only expect to find in a small town but located in the concrete jungle.

An efficiently run store Very handy near Chancery/Freyberg…read moreSquare Try it You will like it

Being a loyal Milford resident I am chuffed that we have such a great local bottle shop. Flag…read moregeneric supermarket wines, here you'll find interesting wineries from New Zealand and further abroad. What's more, I've always found the staff to be friendly and knowledgable. They're happy to recommend a bott or two based on your tastes.

Frog in a Barrel is a really good local independent wine shop. The staff are very friendly and…read moreknowledgeable and they often have a few reds and whites open for a quick wine tasting while you are deciding what to buy. A good variety of NZ wines coupled with a wide variety of French wines - not surprising as the owner is French - which you can try when you are feeling adventurous. Overall a definite place to pick up something different on your way to a dinner or a friends place

OMG. I love this place!!! It is so cute. We came here yesterday when it was pouring down. Not that…read moremany people inside. They sell lots of different products that you would not often see in central Auckland. I think the guy serving everyone had had a rough day as he didn't seem very cheery. Service was still good though but a happy face would have made it top notch. I ordered a soy hot chocolate which was yum but I guess you can't really mess that up. He had a long black which was made very well. I ordered the curry of the day (Thai chicken) and it was ok, I have had better as the chicken was dry and the courgette flavour was strong, quite fusion. He had their big breakfast which apparently was a lot nicer than any other one he had back in Auckland. I thought they are all the same hahaha. When leaving was I tempted to try their cabinet food so I got a cheesecake brownie and a strawberry brownie to take away. LOVED IT. He usually doesn't like sweet food (like most guys) but he loved it too! Kitchen closes at 2.30pm but cabinet food goes until close. I would highly recommend this cafe and then you could stop by clevedon coast oysters before or after = perfect day

So you've gone on your country drive down south and you're feeling parched. Perhaps you are on the…read morehunt for fresh veges, fruit or a jar of jam? Well, Ciao Bella has both a nice, homey looking country cafe with an Italian twist, as well as all your farmer's market needs. They hold the Italian Country Market here every weekend, but don't hesitate to venture here another day. They also have the most amazing bathroom, covered in multi-coloured tiles. Feels like an acid trip from the 60s. Basically, it's a breath of fresh air on your journey to Clevedon or beyond.