Hi everyone,
Some exciting news on the wine front. I’ll let Beverley from Latitude 51 explain . . . . .
In association with The Gathering Ireland 2013 and Cork City Council, we will be “Bringing the Wine Geese “ home for a series of wine-related events that will take place over the course of the next 12 months throughout Cork city and county (see press release below for more details). These events will be open to the public and will involve winemakers with an Irish connection coming to Cork to share their wines in a guided tasting and talk about the history of their wineries and their connections with Ireland.
The aim is to hold one event per month (1 winemaker per month) at different venues across the city and county: so far L’Atitude 51 and Ballymaloe have been made available and other venues are still to be confirmed. Already a big event has been scheduled for March 10th in Ballymaloe with Jean-Charles Cazes of Chateau Lynch-Bages – one of the best-known of the Irish Wine Geese. More events are in the pipeline and will be announced shortly.
The initiative is being led by L’Atitude 51 with support from Colm McCann of Ballymaloe and Maurice O’Mahony of Wine Alliance. We are looking to engage as many venues, suppliers, members of the hospitality trade and the media as possible to make the event as successful as possible.
Press Release . . . . . . .
WE’RE BRINGING THE WINE GEESE HOME
For such a small county whose climate is so totally unsuited to the production of wine, have you ever thought it odd that so many chateaux bear Irish names? Well, it’s no happy coincidence that Ireland, small and viticulturally-challenged as it is, has had an influence on the global wine trade that is nothing short of remarkable – many famous vineyards and wine-making practices today owe their success to the exploits of some of our wandering ancestors.
It’s a subject that has generated much interest at home and abroad and has been chronicled in great detail both by author Ted Murphy and wine correspondent Tomas Clancy. Given the year that’s in it with The Gathering Ireland 2013 attracting many of the Irish diaspora home from around the globe, we thought it only fit that The Wine Geese be invited home in recognition of the important role they have played in putting Ireland on the world’s Wine Map.
In association with The Gathering Ireland 2013, we will be hosting and organizing a series of “Meet the Wine Geese” events throughout 2013, which will be open to the public – the goal is to hold one event a month. Wine Geese from across the globe, ranging from some of the more famous Bordeaux players to the smaller less-well known producers will be flying home to meet wine (and history) enthusiasts and share their stories and wines – they’ll recount their winery’s history and connections with Ireland and give a guided tasting of their wines – they talk, you taste!
Events will take place throughout the city and county and a number of venues in Cork have already been made available (some of the more intimate events will take place in L’Atitude 51 with bigger events taking place in Ballymaloe, and more venues to be confirmed shortly) and it is hoped that a number of historical buildings will also open their doors for some of these events to mark the occasion. (On an interesting side note, Plumpjack Winery – a boutique winery in Oakville, California was founded by the current Lieutentent Governor and former Mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, who is a direct descendent of Edward Newsom who was Lord Mayor of Cork in 1822. Cork was twinned with San Francisco in 1984.)
These events are the perfect opportunity to showcase the best of Irish and will tie in with masterclasses in cheese & wine and food & wine pairing.
Events are open to the public and information of upcoming events will be posted to The Gathering Ireland website along with details on how to purchase tickets. http://www.thegatheringireland.com/Attend-A-Gathering/Individual-Gathering.aspx?eid=1999#.UP1yC6Fq1Vc
Further information also available from info@latitude51.ie
Hopefully I’ll make it to a few of these!
For sure. Its all about getting people interested and talking about wine. And it will be great fun too of course. See you at the upcoming events Warren !!