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Stewart Mansfield recently launched the thewineshop.ie. I caught up with Stewart and interviewed him about the launch.

How did you get into the wine world – was there a seminal wine moment?

I always had an interest in wine but when my wife bought me a WSET wine appreciation course, it started from there!

I got a grade A with distinction and thought it was great fun. I did the advanced course next and got a grade A again and thought, yes… I’d made a few friends and I’d like to take the plunge into the Diploma.

I didn’t realise it would be so hard though! It was like going back to University what with all the essays and study work.

Towards the end of the Diploma year 2, I gave up my job as an architectural Technician with Scott Tallon Walker Architects as most of my money was going towards childcare for two children.

I split my time with my wife, a successful novelist and Fair City scriptwriter, looking after the kids and revising. I passed the Diploma and won the George O’Malley tasting cup for best tasting results in the exams. All the way through the Diploma, I organised a Monday night tasting group within Mitchells shop for Diploma students.

I knew I wanted to own a shop! I tried locally to set up a specialised wine shop and off licence in Castleknock but the local shopkeepers who owned the management company revolted and voted me out!

So, I decided to go the internet route and have just opened thewineshop.ie and thehampershop.ie.

Your favourite wine of all time and why?

My favourite wine – Ah so many. I like to keep trying all sorts of wines from all regions.

If I had to pick two regions they would be Rioja and Rhone. If I had to pick two wines – Marques de Caceres Rioja Gran Reserva or La Rioja Alta Vina Alberdi Reserva from Spain.

In the Rhone…. Domaine Monteillet, St Joseph, cuvee du Papy. I am hugely impressed by Luigi Boscas Pinot Noir and Malbec too. You see, I can’t just pick one, it’s impossible!

Your favourite “value” wine?

Value wine – around €10 – Cuvee Orelie a lovely white from the Ardeche, a blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc that really works. And for the red, maybe the Alpha Zeta Valpolicella made by Matt Thomsen.

What did you do before launching the new website?

I was a senior architectural technician with Scott Tallon Walker Architects and then the assistant manager of Bailey Wines in Howth for a couple of years to get experience in the wine trade.

Tell me about your customers. What breakdown is there between wine connoisseurs and wine newbies.

We are catering for everyone (over 18 of course), however, our market is 25 – 80.

We have wines on the website that people will know and recognise, like Wolf Blass and Penfolds, and ones that people won’t know.

I have carefully selected all the wines via tasting, and all the wines scored very highly. A wine only gets onto the site with a high score and being good value for money.

We are trying really hard to keep the cost down so that we can appeal to a broader base. Also, we offer wine by the bottle with no real minimum order – this is so that people can buy with confidence and mix and match as much as they want.

The consumer takes a huge risk buying by the case – possibly getting stuck with 11 bottles of wine they don’t really like having bought an unknown wine and finding the wine to be not to their taste.

Any predictions for the wine industry going into Christmas and 2010?

It’s going to be a tough year. People are looking towards value for money wines at the moment and not wanting to trade up. We will expand our wine selection in certain areas when the trend starts to change but until then, the market seems to be in the 8-12 euro bracket.

Who do you most admire in the wine world and why?

Oh that’s easy! Matt Thompson and Ben Glaetzer – both winemakers. Taste any of their wines and see why – they’re all fabulous!

I met Stephane Montez (Domaine Monteillet) in his winery a couple of years ago and loved his enthusiasm and passion for winemaking – his wines are amazing also!

Apart from your new site, who’s selling wine well online in Ireland and abroad?

You expect me to name a competitor? No chance! Actually the guys with the right attitude, in my opinion are The Wicklow Wine Company, Liberty Wines and Searsons – they all have outstanding wines.

Anything else?

I set up www.thewineshop.ie on the back of being completely frustrated trying to find really good wine that was often reviewed but could only be found in a wine shop in the country somewhere.

On the rare ocassion I did find it, it was way overpriced because someone thought that if it was in the Times and difficult to find, then they could bump up the price.

I have brought together a lot of wines reviewed by our top wine writers such as John Wilson, under one roof and we’re proud that we can offer a one stop shop. As I said before, you can just buy a couple of bottles if you want and not have to buy a case.

All of the wines come with tasting notes, information about the wines and winery details. Delivery is normally between 2 and 4 days.

[Lar] Thanks Stewart and best of luck with thewineshop.ie