Matthew Nugent

1 month ago | thesun.ie | Matthew Nugent

A BIG fan of “nicely oaked” Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Marianne Clarke, of Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, wants to know about the difference between wine aged in French oak compared to those aged in oak from America. The use of oak in the winemaking process goes back a long, long way - but it wasn’t until the early 19th century that winemakers realised that barrels could actually add flavour, aroma and complexity.

2 months ago | thesun.ie | Matthew Nugent

SUSTAINABILITY has become a rather important, and necessary, buzzword in the wine world. Many Irish importers now work with wine makers and vineyards that use practices to protect the environment, support social responsibility, and maintain economic viability for future generations. And these good practices begin in the vineyard, with eco-friendly farming techniques, like biodynamic or organic farming.

2 months ago | thesun.ie | Matthew Nugent

AFTER the mayhem of Christmas and New Year festivities subsided there has come a continuous series of spring wine tastingsBy the end of February there will have been sixteen major trade tastings showcasing wines, including many new arrivals to the Irish market. These will appear on shelves this spring. Last week it was the turn of the well-established Findlater ‘Give Wine A Future’ tasting event and that of Classic Drinks, one of the real rising stars of the Irish wine industry.

2 months ago | thesun.ie | Matthew Nugent

IN ancient Rome wine was an important part of celebrating the many festivals of Bacchus, the god of wine. It was also linked with love and romance, with many believing that drinking wine helped to bring couples closer together. The tradition of giving wine as a gift to a loved one dates back to those times, and it became common right across Europe to present a bottle to a lover as a symbol of affection.

2 months ago | thesun.ie | Matthew Nugent |Craig Farrell

MONDAY last saw a unique event in Dublin, a wine tasting co-promoted by Australia, and New Zealand. It proved to be an extraordinarily successful day, for winemakers, importers, and wine lovers who attended the consumer tasting that evening. It’s a while since we have had the chance to welcome the Australians back, while New Zealand have been an annual fixture on the tasting calendar for many years. The wines from some 86 wineries were on show, 44 from Australia and 42 came from New Zealand.