Fine wine tasting evenings with the Irish Wine Board
Posted on April 9th, 2008
Saved in Sour Grapes recommends, Wine books, Wine talk
The Irish Wine Board are running another series of wine tastings, starting next week. Back in November, I went to the Burgundy tasting, which was definitely worth it. Not only do you get to taste some great juice, but you also get Nigel Donnan along with it. He’ll give all the background and insight you’ll never need on the wines.
Here’s the bumpf…
Due to popular demand we are delighted to offer another opportunity to taste many of the best and most famous wines in the world. All wines will be presented by Nigel Donnan, who has been lecturing for the Wine Board for over ten years. These tastings will be held in the Wine Board, 14 Whitefriars, Peter’s Row, Aungier Street, Dublin 2 on Friday evenings commencing at 7.00 pm and will last approximately 2 hours. Each tasting will cost €65 per person.
Details are as follows:
1. Spain—Friday 18th April 2008
We will be examining the two worlds of Spanish wine, namely those wines from the traditional world and those from its modern world. Present will be some of the best from the following regions Rioja, Priorato, Toro and Ribera del Duero.
2. Pinot Noir—Friday 25th April 2008
This will be an opportunity to examine and compare some of the best red wines of Burgundy along with some of the finest that The New World has to offer. At the tasting will be a selection of village, Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines from Burgundy as well as offerings from Australia, New Zealand and California.
3. Northern Rhone—Friday 2nd May 2008
The northern part of the Rhone Valley produces only 5% of the region’s wine production but nonetheless most of the best wines are given birth on the steep slopes here. We shall be looking at some of these including wines from Cote Rotie, Hermitage and Cornas.
4. Bordeaux—Pauillac—Friday 9th May 2008
An examination of the wines of Bordeaux’s most famous commune, Pauillac. At the tasting will be a selection of the top wines from here including, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Lynch Bages and Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste.
5. White Burgundy—Friday 16th May 2008
To taste the great wines of Burgundy is to gain an understanding of it that is not possible otherwise. We will be looking at the various white wine expressions of this great region though wines from some of its most famous villages, premier cru and grand cru vineyards.
6. Tuscany—23rd May 2008
We will be looking at many of Tuscany’s best wines including Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti Classico Riserva and well as some of the great supertuscan wines, culminating in the most famous of them all, the legendary Sassicaia.
7. Champagne—30th May 2008
This is an opportunity to compare some of the most famous names in Champagne along with some of the best small growers. Wines to be tasted will include Bollinger, Jalmart, Andre Jacquart, Henri Goutorbe, Pol Roger and culminating with the most famous champagne of all, Dom Perignon.
I think these look like great evenings! I’m hoping to make along to at least 1 of them. I love the way that they sneak in at least 1 super wine into each of the tastings to make them more appealing (e.g. Mouton, Dom Perignon). The timing is quite nice too as finishing at 9pm leaves scope to move on for a fine dinner in town afterwards and to continue the vinious theme.
What was the format at the last tasting? Was it very formal or was it quite relaxed? Was it fun or was it quite stuffy? How many people were there? How big were the pours of wine, was their options for extra pours if requested?
These sounds like wonderful evenings. It’s just a shame they are on Friday evenings. I am in the restaurant industry and would love to attend. I would also love to send some staff, but unfortunately for those of us in the industry Friday night will never be a feasable time. Perhaps if any of you attend, you could pass on this feedback – seems silly and short sighted to exclude such a large and profitable audience!
Hi Will,
it was kind of an informal lecture-type with discussion, so relaxed. Definitely a education-theme with many of the participants (about 15-20) studying for their WSET Diplomas.
In terms of quantity, there was about two standard tasting glasses per person, per wine, not a huge amount, but enough to form an opinion.
There was some left over if people were interested in more, but not a huge amount
Hi Eoin,
Very good point and I’ll pass it on to the wine board
Lar