It’s that time of year where we field lots of questions on choosing wedding wines so we decided to put down our tips, having done it quite a few times over the years for couples.
The key factors couples have are around picking wine for their wedding are around budget, quantity and matching with the food served on the day. Corkage also comes in to play if choose wines (Read more...)
Vorgeschmack, Martin Arndorfer, Kamptal 2011
This unconventional wine seems to break way too many rules – A Gruner Veltliner blended with barrel fermented Riesling ??? However, one taste will dispel and doubts. The 80:20 Gruner Riesling works brilliantly – the dry, vibrant and lightly spicy Gruner is lifted by the citrus and mineral Riesling. The tiny amount of oak is almost (Read more...)
A great work of literature is a wonderful thing, and always a pleasure when you get to visit where one was set, or to possibly re-enact it, in as much as modern life allows. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra wrote about Alonso Quijano and his fantasied alter ego Don Quixote, the wandering knight.
Last week I became Don Quixote and with a fellow wine importer in tow to play the part (Read more...)
Having returned from a two week trip to Italy where lots of good wine was consumed, The Vine Inspiration is getting a bit of a makeover. The reason for the makeover is really that I’ve learned how to work the focus lens and other knobs and buttons on the camera, so from now on you can expect less of the blurry Instragram enhanced images and more of the fancy bottle (Read more...)
We’ve just added 91 new wines to our website. Phew! There’s quite a bit of work in it, enough to bring on a thirst!
There’s really good representation from Italy and Portugal but to be honest, we’re thrilled with them all, they’re almost like children, you can’t have favourites!That said, I couldn’t bring myself to copy all 91 of our new wines, so here are a mere 20 of (Read more...)
Delighted to be asked to give a a talk and tasting at Ballymaloe’s Litfest. The whole event promises to be amazing and I’m really looking forward to attending the Jancis Robinson talk and tasting.
So what about my Douro talk and tasting . . . . .
Well it will take place in “The Big Shed” and will be about the Douro Valley – Still & Fortified
Its a (Read more...)
May’s mixed box of treats features 4 wines from Down Under, 4 new wines from Galicia and Castilla/La Mancha in Spain and a pair each from Maipo, Chile and the Languedoc, France. As usual, this is a super chance to give the new wines a bash while reacquainting yourself with the established ones – all for just €9.50 per bottle including delivery!
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Endless blue skies, long days at the beach, everyone with sun-kissed skin – that’s how summers are in other countries. Here in Ireland we have only great wine deals from Curious Wines to enliven the May to July period – how bad!
Our summer specials kick off today and will run for the next three months with tempting promotions on wines from Australia, Chile and two stellar Languedoc châteaux (Read more...)
Want to seduce your crush or impress that special lady in your life with your knowledge of the finer things? Start by enhancing your experience with first-class dining, particularly in the fine wine department. Though it may be a bit challenging and intimidating to navigate the world of wine, the best way to learn how to choose a splendid bottle is to jump right in, test it out, and familiarize yourself with its subtle nuances and tastes.
Firsthand exposure is the prime method to learn about wine and better appreciate this enjoyable beverage. Here are a few tips to help you get acclimated to exceptional vino and awe her with your newly developed knowledge.
There’s no better way to learn about wine than by seeing the process used to make it. Many vintners host visitors and provide detailed tours that educate their guests on the production of their wines. Because each vineyard is different and offers a range of wines, most wineries describe what makes their wines so unique and special. Vineyard tours also commonly include samples of certain wines that they produce. Good vintners take pleasure in discussing the nuances of each of their bottles and will be more than helpful in providing stellar suggestions for food pairings. Wine tours also make exceptional getaways, so on your next holiday or weekend, travel to one of the vast wine regions of the world. Taking a wine tour through California’s Napa Valley or through Northern Italy is a great way to travel and develop a new appreciation for wine.
Skip the usual place where you go to pick up a simple bottle of wine before a party or dinner and visit a serious wine shop. Lavish wine shops are ideal places to purchase wine and increase your wine knowledge because they employ people who really know about the products they sell, unlike larger stores where most clerks can barely point you to the correct wine aisle. Come prepared with significant questions like what wines work best with which foods, what are some of the popular or seasonal wines they have in stock, what wine the clerk recommends based on a description of your likes and dislikes, and why he or she has selected a certain type of wine for you. Try to make it a point to seek out a new wine every week or so. Also, remember to research the varietal, the bottle, and the right foods to pair with it before purchasing your bottle of choice. Many wine shops offer regular wine tasting events, as do some restaurants and wine bars. In addition, there are many cooking classes that offer accompanying wine and food pairing tutorials. Once you get your bearings in the world of fine wines, you may want to even host a date night where you don your best wears and she charms you in a lovely dress from Marks and Spencer, or throw your own wine tasting gathering.
Lovely email in this morning from our dear friend Aynard from Clos du Porteau. His gorgeous Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, Le Courlis, has picked up a Silver Medal at the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon 2013.
We’re not that surprised. It’s been our bestseller every year since we started importing direct from Aynard.
I’ll leave you with some words from Aynard,
We take this opportunity to thank all the people who have (Read more...)
Following a good few discussions with The Wine Buff team, we are proud to announce that our charity of the year for 2013 will be the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is Ireland’s national charity dedicated to helping others who are blind or vision impaired and families of children with autism to achieve improved mobility and independence.
The Irish Guide Dogs for the (Read more...)
Arguably Ireland’s most successful export when it comes to food blogging, Niamh Shields’ Eat Like a Girl blog has some brilliant recipes.
One that took our fancy around St. Patrick’s Day was the Tagliatelle with Squash, Spinach, Goat’s Cheese & Pul Biber, particularly the inclusion of Pul Biber (or Aleppo pepper).
So, lot’s of textures, tastes and the buck of the Pul Biber to contend with for a wine match.
While (Read more...)
