Christchurch wine bar Cellar Door has again been recognised on the world stage, winning a major international award for its wine list.

The Arts Centre venue received a Best of Award of Excellence at the Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards 2026 in New York last night.

It is the third time Cellar Door has received the accolade, with its wine list again named among the world’s best.

Wine Spectator, a US-based magazine widely regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on wine, launched its restaurant awards programme in 1981 to recognise outstanding wine lists around the globe.

The awards assess the quality, diversity and presentation of a venue’s wine programme, as well as how well the list aligns with the style of the establishment.

To receive a Best of Award of Excellence, a wine list must show strong breadth across multiple wine-growing regions, or significant depth from top producers, along with superior presentation and service.

Cellar Door’s 2026 award highlighted its distinctive wine tasting flights, which the venue says are unique in New Zealand.

More than 20 curated tasting flights are available daily, exploring grape varieties, winemaking styles, regions, terroir, vintage and more. Each flight includes notes, allowing customers to learn more about the wines or simply enjoy the experience.

Head Sommelier Grace Livsey said she was proud of the team’s achievement.

“I am so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish as a team. We are given the opportunity to do what we love by introducing the public to some really incredible wines, which is such a wonderful experience.

“I feel so lucky for everyone that we’re continuing to get international recognition,” Livsey said.

Cellar Door director and founder Tim Ogle said the award reflected the work of the whole team.

“The whole wine experience at Cellar Door is a big team effort. Everyone here is doing our thing as well as we can every day, so it’s super cool for a global publication to acknowledge that,” Ogle said.

Cellar Door opened in the historic Christchurch Arts Centre in early 2020 and has since become a popular spot for Canterbury wine lovers, offering tasting flights, an extensive wine list and a food menu led by chef Zak Osborne.

It is the only Christchurch restaurant to be recognised in the Wine Spectator awards, and one of only two in New Zealand to make the 2026 list.

In six years, Cellar Door has collected a string of local and international awards, including Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence honours in 2024, 2025 and 2026, a Cuisine NZ Good Food Awards One Hat in 2025, World of Fine Wine Magazine’s Best Wine Bar in Australasia in 2025, and recognition in Gourmet Traveller’s World’s Top 50 Wine Experiences in 2020.

It has also received multiple Canterbury Hospitality Awards, including Outstanding Wine and Beverage List in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, and Supreme Award for Best Establishment in 2020 and 2024.