Introducing… Château Nouveau

If you’ve explored Château Nouveau’s social media, visited their website, or been to the bar yourself (in which case, bonus points to you!), one thing might’ve stuck out to you. There’s a big emphasis on exploration – and with eighteen pages of wine, spirits and charcuterie to enjoy, that’s hardly a surprise. It stems from the wine tastings they previously held at CAVAVIN, Château Nouveau’s now neighbour just a few arches over;

“We realised that people really enjoyed the experience, and it made me think about creating a bigger space where people could spend more time enjoying wine, rather than simply coming in to buy a bottle,” says Ash.

“I wanted to create somewhere that brings together quality wine, excellent service, a relaxed atmosphere and the opportunity to learn. Somewhere people can enjoy themselves, discover new wines and leave with a little more knowledge than when they arrived.”

Before long, Château Nouveau was born... But what does Château Nouveau that even mean? Don’t worry, we asked Ash exactly the same question. “Château” translates to castle, and is strongly associated with wine in the French language. “Nouveau” means new. Together, the words are Ash’s own interpretation of “NewCastle”, nodding to both the Toon and the wine experience Château Nouveau brings to the city.

There’s something undeniably warm and welcoming about stepping into Château Nouveau. The burgundy walls, leather features and natural oak features all contribute to its atmosphere. It almost feels, as Ash puts it, “like stepping into a bottle of wine itself.”

“The inspiration comes from both nature and wine culture,” he continues, “I wanted the interior to feel distinctive without losing that sense of comfort, creating somewhere people can relax, enjoy a glass of wine and feel immersed in the experience.”

And naturally, if Château Nouveau feels like stepping into a bottle of wine, we had to ask exactly what wine it would be.

“If I could create a blend of personalities, I would take the elegance of Burgundy, the character and heritage of Bordeaux, and the celebratory spirit of Champagne,” Ash says. “Each represents something I love about wine and something I wanted to bring into Château Nouveau. But if I had to choose one wine, honestly, I would probably say a complex Bordeaux.”

But it’s not just the interiors that makes Château Nouveau such an inviting locale – it’s the staff too. Variety, quality, service and knowledge are at the heart of everything they do, and whether you’re basically a sommelier or don’t know your malbec from your moscato, they’re on-hand to make sure you’re feeling comfortable, relaxed and well looked after.

“Our team is there to help people discover new wines, understand what makes them special and, most importantly, enjoy the experience. Ideally, guests leave having enjoyed great wine and service, while learning something new along the way," says Ash.

With over 70 bottles of wine on offer, you’re absolutely spoilt for choice. There’s even a range of wine flights if you’re feeling particularly indecisive. But Ash’s best advice? “Always drink what you enjoy, whenever you enjoy it. With the variety we offer, there is always something new to discover.”

But if you’re still feeling stumped, then here’s an exclusive: from November, Château Nouveau will be launching their Wines of the Month series alongside wine tasting events which Ash describes as “giving guests more opportunities to explore the selection and discover something different.”

And how could we forget the food? Wine and spirits are very much the focus of Château Nouveau, but that doesn’t mean there’s no picky bits to indulge in after a couple of glasses. From classic charcuterie boards to tapas and tapenades, there’s really something for everyone… and a couple of desserts for good measure too!

Ultimately though, when you head home from Château Nouveau, Ash is hoping you’ll be left with a deeper appreciation for wine and its culture in Newcastle. As he puts it:

“We are certainly not the first people in the city to share a passion for wine, and we will not be the last. There are already many people here who appreciate wine and are helping to build that culture, and I am proud to be part of it.

“At Château Nouveau, we bring our own experience and passion, along with wines from more than 150 exclusive vineyards and producers we work with and import from. Wine has a history stretching back around 10,000 years, and there is so much to discover beyond simply what is in the glass.”

We’ll certainly say cheers to that. Santé!

Château Nouveau is located at Arch 7 on Westgate Road and is open from 12pm Friday-Sunday and from 3pm Wednesday and Thursday. For more information, visit https://chateaunouveau.co/ 

Image credits: NE1

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