Local wine bar celebrates a year under new owners

Emma Aitken Alexander and Rob Alexander are celebrating one year of providing exceptional wines, beverages and tapas at Archers Torquay.

The pair, who moved back to the area during the COVID pandemic, saw an opportunity to take on what was then called Mr Archer Wine Bar, at the end of 2023.

Twelve months on, the owners have made the local venue their own.

“I think the wine region down here is only going to get better and become more established. It’s starting to rival the Yarra Valley or Mornington or any of those,” Ms Aitken Alexander said.

“We came in and changed the wine list. We’ve got about 170 bottles of wine at the moment and we try to keep it about 40 per cent focusing on Geelong and Geelong surroundings.

“Ultimately our main goal is to support the local businesses and that’s through obviously the wine, beer, spirits and food.”

The bar is a reflection of the two owners and their experiences travelling together, with Archers Torquay featuring Spanish-inspired food, steak from Bordeaux and a bar influenced by those in London.

The small kitchen at Archers dishes up fresh, high-quality food, cheese and charcuterie, while the dinner menu, presented by Ayala at Archers, can be enjoyed in the bar’s beautiful setting or while listening to live music on Friday and Sunday nights.

The curated selection of wine featured on Archer’s list changes every three months, with Ms Aitken Alexander saying the three month timeframe was enough time to enjoy the wines and keep it fresh.

During the next 12 months, Archers Torquay will host a Benchmark Evenings, an event for wine lovers to enjoy a variety of drops and learn about their properties.

“We’re always going to be striving to offer great wine, that’s ultimately what we’re here for,” Ms Aitken Alexander said.

Archers Torquay is open Wednesday to Sunday. For more information, head to archerstorquay.com.au