One wet dreary Saturday afternoon, shortly after I’d moved north from Dunedin, I went to see what they had done with my old place of learning the University of Canterbury, recreated as the Arts Centre of Christchurch. Exploring was fine but after a while what I really needed was a welcoming place to have a quiet glass of wine: none.

Meantime I had been informed by current Cantabrians that if you wanted a white wine you should go to Marlborough and, in search of a red, Australia was the place.

However, I could see from the then quality of Canterbury wines and with perceived emerging sophistication of both local winemakers and the drinking public, it would not be long before the local wines would have their place on the shelves of prestige.

“Someone should be selling and promoting Canterbury wines - the wines needed an outlet and the Arts Centre needed the wines.”

The Building
The space that is now Annies became available and Annies Wine Bar & Restaurant came into being. My son Neil helped get us on our feet. We ascertained that the previous restaurant was not getting a lot of custom, so we needed to recreate the interior... Plaster came off the walls exposing original brickwork complete with graffiti from Arts School days which regretfully had to go in the great clean-up, the fireplace was built, the serving bar cut through to the kitchen, the bar was modelled by Wayne Whiston of Old Timber & Transport and recycled rimu tables and chairs and centrepiece were made by David Thurston of Takamatua. Everything was new or redone except the floor, and we haven’t changed it since.

Originally our building was part of the School of Fine Arts - The Restaurant, the Sculpture Room. In 1958 when the Art School was the first faculty to move out to the new University site at Ilam, the University Library moved in and the Restaurant became Issues & Returns. By the end of the ‘70s the fate of the fine old Gothic buildings was hanging by a fine thread which was finally drawn tight with the enthusiastic help of local stalwarts and the buildings became the Arts Centre of Christchurch instead of being demolished to make way for new office blocks. Since then Annies site has been The Sorbonne, The Jambalaya, Double Ds and The Arts Centre Restaurant. Annies Wine Bar & Restaurant was opened 22nd November, 1992.

Our People
One of Annies’ original employees was a young winemaker, Chris Green. Fresh from the vineyards of France, California, Dry River of Martinborough and finally from Giesens of Canterbury, Chris had trained as a schoolteacher but was quickly and fatefully lured into the vinous world on a world trip. Later he took his higher learning to Lincoln College where he was one of the original Diploma of Oenology students, Chris came on board as a wine specialist and as such has shared his wide knowledge delightfully with MW and novice alike. A large part of Annies success is due to Chris. He is now not only Annies’ and the premier sommelier of Canterbury but also is our General Manager.

Annies' Head chef is Dean Armstrong, a chef of considerable experience who has come up through the ranks in Annies' kitchen and now continues the tradition of original cuisine with a definite local flavour. Dean competently heads a cheerful and enthusiastic team - the results can be seen on your plate!

I am blessed with outstanding staff both in the kitchen and front of house. Most have been with Annies for some time, some several long times - they go away for greener grass and OEs, and then come back to Annies.