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What will you be drinking this Paddy’s day?
Green lager perhaps? Hopefully not. Or maybe a good auld pint of plain is your
only man. Many people will do just that but
what are the wine options for the patriotic drinker? Martin discusses them with
Sean Moncreiff on the Afternoon Show on News Talk 106FM on Friday 14th
February.
What will you be drinking this Paddy’s day?
Green lager perhaps? Hopefully not. Or maybe a good auld pint of plain is your
only man. Many people will do just that but what are the wine options for the
patriotic drinker? It is possible, just, to drink Irish wine as there are a few
tiny vineyards in Ireland. Best known are David Llewellyn’s ‘Fruit of the
Vine’ farm in Lusk, Co. Dublin and the Thomas Walk Vineyard in Kinsale, Co.
Cork, but both are hard to find beyond the farm gate.
The next closest to Irish grown is where the
wine is made by an Irish winemaker or owned by an Irish family. Easiest to find
is probably Provencal wine Ch. de Vignelaure 2000/1, made by David O’Brien of
the horse-racing dynasty and available, where else but at O’Briens at
€21.95. He has recently sold the property but is still a consultant.
O’Briens also sell a crisp, dry Sauvignon/Semillon based Bergerac Blanc, Haut
Garrigue, €10.99 by former Dublin residents Sean & Caroline Feely. Rosé
fans should grab Domaine des Anges 2006 at €14.99, owned by Gay McGuinness and
made by Ciaran Rooney and sold at Redmonds,
McCabes or Bin No. 9.
Ryan’s Granddaughter
Another step removed from Irish grown is to drink a wine where, like our
international footballers, there’s a granny connection. Step forward Gina
Gallo from the eponymous Californian company that you thought was founded by
Italians. Maybe it was, but it turns out her granny, name of Ryan, was from
Dingle, which makes her ‘Ryan’s Granddaughter.’ The range has improved in
the last couple of years by becoming drier and fruitier and most are perfectly
drinkable if not inspiring. Try the widely available Gallo Turning Leaf
Zinfandel at €11.49. Failing all of this you could pick up a bottle of €5.99
Tesco Vinho Verde, it’s Portuguese for ‘green wine’.
On the show we tasted Llewellyn's Cuvée No.
1 2005, (for availability contact 087-2843879) from the vineyard, Domaine des
Anges Rosé 2006, €14.99 from good independents such as Redmonds of Ranelagh
or McCabes, Foxrock or Bon No.9,
Goatstown and Ch. de Vignelaure 2000, €21.95 from O’Briens.
Martin Moran
MW
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