The London International Wine Fair

This week I’m off to London for three days to visit the London International Wine Fair

Lots of great wineries exhibiting there and I have a hectic schedule ahead of me meeting with existing suppliers and lots of potential new ones.

Its been a couple of years since I’ve been to the London show – I tend to alternate with the massive Prowein show in Germany.

Some exciting meetings ahead including some French, Italian, Australian, German, Spanish and Portuguese wineries. You never know when you are going to find that next wine gem !

A quick update and the stunning São Leonardo da Galafura

I’ve been on Facebook, Twitter and the blog a little less of late due to a very hectic travel schedule. I’ve been driving the highways and byways of Ireland spreading the Wine Alliance gospel, doing customer tastings, selling wine and looking after the day to day running of the company.

I’m just back from visiting two of my Portuguese suppliers and will be doing a proper blog on the trip shortly, once I’ve caught up on the backlog !

People have been asking me if its a nice place to visit. So to answer the question, look at this very short video of São Leonardo da Galafura near the Quinta Do Judeu Covelinhas vineyard in the Douro Valley.

(Apologies for the camerawork, I was conscious of not falling off the wall. Bit of a drop on the other side !)

The Riesling Revolution

The Riesling Revolution

Journey to the heart of this great Variety

Ballymaloe, 7pm on Thursday 17th May 2012 €25

Riesling presents a conundrum. For some it produces the greatest white wines in the world, yet by others it is often misunderstood and ridiculed. This unique presentation, organised in association with John McDonnell, Wine Australia Ireland,  with three winemakers from around the world, chaired by Irish Times wine writer, John Wilson, and 12 wine tasting, aims to resolves these two disparate points of view.

Joining us to present the evening are 3 winemakers from 3 of the great Riesling growing regions of the world.

‐ Tim Adams is based in Australia’s Clare Valley and since establishing Tim Adams wines in 1984 has developed a reputation as a brilliant and fiercely independent winemaker.

‐ Based in Germanys Rheingau, Carl Ehrhard expertly marries tradition with innovation in making and packaging his delicious range of wines.

‐ Owing some of Alsace’s most respected vineyard sites, Séverine Schlumberger of Domaines Schlumberger is custodian of both this famous house and it’s vineyards.

Although from different parts of the world, Séverine, Carl and Tim share a passion for Riesling, a passion they will share with us on Thursday May 17th at Ballymaloe. The evening will be hosted by John Wilson, Irish Times Wine Scribe, and self confessed “Riesling disciple”.

The cost per person for the tasting is €25 Euro and bookings can be made direct with Ballymaloe House res@Ballymaloe.ie and 021 4652531.

A sense of place

Little Beauty Vineyard - Marlborough, New Zealand. (Kevin Judd)

Have you ever stopped to think about a bottle of wine ?

Where it’s from ?

What kind of a place is it ? Big ? Small ?

Some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to have been vineyards

Whats the climate like there ? Cool or hot ? Is it reflected in the wine style ?

And what about the people who grow the grapes and make the wine ? Whats their story ?

How cool would it be to sit down after a long days work and drink a glass of your own delicious wine. A wine perhaps, know all over the world.

Thats what I like about good wine. For me, its a reflection of the place its from and the people who make it. And its alive. Its always changing. And the people who make it, they really care about it. Passionately.

Quinta Do Judeu, Douro, Portugal.

The world has become a smaller place and its getting smaller and its natural that we sometimes take wine for granted. Its readily available. But every now and then when I have a glass of really good wine, I stop for a moment and think about whats gone into making it and I’m thankful for the wonderful diversity of wine thats available to us now and for the people who spend their lives making it.

You Little Beauty

Beverley, Fleur and Emma

What a cracking week last week. The highlight though was a wonderful Little Beauty Wine Evening in Latitude 51 in Cork’s city centre. Over thirty wine lovers assembled in the beautiful tasting room upstairs and were treated to a wonderful talk and tasting by Fleur McCree, owner of Little Beauty. More than two hours of stories and talking about the five delicious limited edition wines (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir) on show that evening. Fleur and the crowd were in flying form and it was great fun. And very educational too !

One of the guests, Cork’s own Billy Lyons was kind enough to write a lovely piece on his site. Thanks Billy ! Here’s the link

A huge thanks to Fleur for coming over. In addition to a wonderful tasting, we also had a great series of meetings with customers in the Cork area. Thanks to Beverley and Emma for being such wonderful hosts. Their beautiful wine bar is a must visit. Do yourself a favour and call in for a glass of wine, a craft beer, some delicious food and / or some gourmet coffee/ tea.

Photo used with thanks to Billy Lyons 

L’Atitude 51 “Meet the Winemaker” Evening with Little Beauty from New Zealand

Its an honour for Wine Alliance to be part of L’Atitude 51′s first event in their “Meet the Winemaker” series

Fleur McCree, owner of Little Beauty of Marlborough, New Zealand will present a flight of five of her limited edition wines in a guided tasting in the newly opened L’Atitude 51 Wine Workshop (on the first floor) of . . . .

L’Atitude 51.

1 Union Quay,

Cork City 

021 2390219

Thursday February 9th From 7.00pm – 9.00pm

Entrance Fee is just €12 and places are very limited.

The line up includes a tasting of  . . . . .

• Little Beauty Sauvignon Blanc
• Little Beauty Riesling
• Little Beauty Pinot Gris
• Little Beauty Gewurztraminer
• Little Beauty Pinot Noir

Canapés & Snacks will also be served on the evening

Fleur will walk us through the New Zealand wine landscape and will then focus on her beloved Marlborough and her privately owned vineyard. If you want to read up on Little Beauty, check out their website here

L’Atitude 51 is the perfect location for a tasting. Centrally located in in the heart of Cork’s city centre, the owners Beverley Mathews and Emmanuelle Legrand offer a beautiful selection of wines (including a big selection by the glass), craft beers and gourmet coffee and tea. They also offer a delicious selection of homecooked food in a lovely relaxing setting on the banks of the lovely Lee across the road from Cork’s City Hall.

So why not come along and sample each of these beautiful limited edition wines for yourself

Thursday February 9th From 7.00pm – 9.00pm

To book a place, call L’Atitude 51 on 021 2390219

Little Beauty of New Zealand Wine Dinner in Partridges, Gorey on November 24th

DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THEIR CONTROL, PARTRIDGES HAVE HAD TO POSTPONE THE SCHEDULED WINE DINNER THIS THURSDAY. IT WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR ANOTHER DATE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. APOLOGIES TO THOSE WHO BOUGHT TICKETS FOR THE INCONVENIENCE CAUSED. PARTRIDGES WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH ALL CONCERNED. THANK YOU.

Partridges of Gorey would like to invite one and all to a special wine tasting and dinner in their wonderful restaurant on the 24th of November. Fleur McCree of “Little Beauty” will come from New Zealand to present her beautiful selection of wines. Partridges are creating a special menu for the night to match each wine perfectly. Fleur will tell stories of her homeland, the wine trade and perhaps the odd reference to being Rugby World Champions !

Partridges have only 38 places, so do not wait to book your table. Tickets for an evening cost €40 per person and will include a superb three course dinner and five Little Beauty wines to try including a single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ; Riesling ; Pinot Gris ; Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir.

As an extra incentive, Partridges would like to offer a 10% discount on any wines bought or ordered on the night.

For more info phone 053-9484040 or email info@partridges.ie

All photos are copyright of Little Beauty & Kevin Judd

Another cracking wine tasting event in Ballymaloe. I’ve booked my ticket !

Wine event at Ballymaloe House

Learn about the heritage, culture and wines of Yalumba

with Jane Ferrari, from Yalumba Wines, Barossa Valley, Australia

Thursday 29th September, 2011

The inimitable Jane Ferrari, is simply one of the of the world’s best wine speakers, reflecting her wine knowledge & experience, heartfelt infectious passion, and expansive personality, coupled with that laid back, straight talking, down to earth wit & humour, open soul Australian approach. Jane’s interests also include a lifelong passion for horses & racing, and she also makes her own olive oil from her treasured gum-studded block of Barossa land.

Yalumba was founded in 1849 by Samuel Smith, purchasing a 30-acre parcel of land just beyond the southern-eastern boundary of Angaston, Smith and his son began planting the first vines by moonlight. Samuel named his patch “Yalumba” – aboriginal for “all the land around”. Six generations and 160 years later Yalumba is Australia’s oldest family owned winery.

7.00pm Wine presentation and tasting in The Grain Store at Ballymaloe House. Jane will give a wine presentation and tutored tasting on various wines that are made by Yalumba. A great evening not to be missed. €10, booking advised.

8.30pm Wine dinner with Jane Ferrari at Ballymaloe House. After the wine tasting, Jane will give a wine dinner at Ballymaloe House – with the wines matched to the Ballymaloe Dinner menu. Over dinner, Jane will introduce and speak about the wines as they are served with each course. €75, booking essential.

Ballymaloe House, Shanagarry, Co. Cork, Ireland

Tel: 021 4652531       res@ballymaloe.ie

www.ballymaloe.ie

 

Lonely Planet Top 10 Wine Weekends

Georgina Campbell Wine Award of the Year 2010

The wine style of Kangarilla road

In the last of our video series with Kevin O Brien of Kangarilla Road, he discusses his style of winemaking

Enjoy

 

 

Kangarilla Road Cabernet Sauvignon

In todays video, winemaker Kevin O Brien discusses his Kangarilla Road Cabernet Sauvignon.

Over to you Kevin,