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It’s the awards season and while the Golden
Globes ceremony was cancelled recently there were no such problems at the
Guinness Storehouse on Monday night for the Diageo/NOffLA Off-Licence of the
year awards. Martin will discuss the winners
and their wines with Sean Moncreiff on the afternoon show on Newstalk
106-108FM on Friday January 18th 2008.
The
Diageo sponsored awards are for members of National Off-Licence Association. As
the name suggests, this group represents the nation’s ‘offies’. Although
there are some multiple groups within the organisation the bulk of the
membership is made up of family owned and run shops. Standards are of course
variable but what this competition does is highlight just how wonderfully well
the cream of the crop serves the Irish drinker.
I’ve
been a judge in previous years and so have travelled around the country and
visited most of this year’s 25 finalists and I can assure you that standards
are exceptional. To have reached the final they all have to have a great range,
well presented stores, knowledgeable staff and the X factor which is really a
demonstrable passion for what they do.
Most of us buy our wine in supermarkets most of
the time but while they do a decent job, the little guy offers more. More range,
more service, more time, more fun. The big boys have to stick mostly to the main
stream but these shops can take the time to introduce you to something a little
different and a bit special. Often it will be a wine with a story that you can
share over dinner to make the whole thing more memorable and brings the liquid
to life.
Afterwards
I spoke to some of the winners and asked them to recommend a wine or two for the
show to highlight the kind of thing they sell. Overall winner Evelyn Jones of ]the Vintry in Rathgar suggested I
try 2006
VdP des Collines Rhodannienes Michel & Stephan Ogier Viognier de Rosine,
which she sells at €21.95. Now it’s a mouthful of a name and the sort of
thing you might not pick up without advice but behind this label is the Ogier
family who are highly regarded Cōte
Rōtie
producers in the Northern Rhone. Son Michel is involved in the business and gone
and bought a vineyard on the opposite bank of the Rhōne
near Vienne. By all accounts this part barrel fermented wine is a ringer for
good Condrieu, which makes the price tag good value, as Condrieu is usually
twice that. The wine is imported by Rhōne
specialist Simon Tyrrell and so you should also find it at ‘Wine Specialist
Winner’ Jus de Vine of Portmarnock who have the best selection of Rhōne
wines in the country.
Evelyn
also suggested another wine, this time a red, but from the far side of the
world. It’s a Tittarelli Malbec Reserva 2004,
Mendoza, Argentina at €13.65, imported by Bowes
Wines. Malbec is a very underrated grape so I am looking forward to trying
it. Finally we'll taste a Northern Italian, Zenato
Valpolicella Ripasso 2004, €19.99 recommended by Sinead O’Reilly
of Dicey Reilly’s, Ballyshanon, Co.
Donegal. It’s imported by Searsons, so
has quite good distribution amongst independent shops and restaurants.
Maybe
we shouldn’t call this the Oscars, maybe it should be the Sundance Festival
awards as what we have here is not the mainstream blockbusters but the
independent productions, highlighting wine producers who do it because of a
passion for the grape and not a financial spreadsheet.
Trust
me, if you want to learn more about wine and get more enjoyment start
frequenting a good independent off-licence or wine shop.
The
2008 Diageo/NOffLA Off-Licence of the Year Winners included:
Overall
Off-Licence of the Year 2008 Winner –The
Vintry Rathgar
Munster Regional Winner – World Wine Wines in Waterford;
Connaught/Part Ulster Regional Winner – Dicey’s Bottle Shop, Ballyshannon,
Co. Donegal;
Dublin Regional Winner – Gibneys, Malahide, Co.Dublin;
Leinster Regional Winner- Hollands of Bray, Co.Wicklow;
Wine Specialist Winner – Jus de Vine, Portmarnock. Co.Dublin;
Beer Specialist Winner – Mchughes, Malahide Rd Dublin 5;
Spirits Specialist Winner – Mchughes of Kilbarrack, Dublin 5.
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