Best of Pinot Noir: This tasting, showing 10 of the very best Pinot Noir from around the world, including Domaine Rousseau, Leroy and many others, has been rescheduled for Thursday, November 12th.
Tickets are €149 each, and include a buffet supper following the tasting. Contact Julie Martin at Julie@donnybrookfair.ie; tel: 01-6683556.
Open invitaton
Mitchell Son will hold a wine tasting on November 4th, in the Merrion Hotel, Dublin, featuring a comprehensive range of their exclusive wines. For an invitation call into any of Mitchell Son wine shops, email lindsay@mitchellandson.com or call 01-2302301.
More online
Stuart Mansfield, who has one of the finer palates in the wine business, recently opened an online store. The range of wines at www.thewineshop.ie is both comprehensive and interesting, with plenty of inexpensive wines available. Unlike many other online stores, there is no minimum order, so you can buy as little as one or two bottles, so long as the total comes to more than €15. Prices seem very competitive, too. With Christmas coming up, it is also worth taking a look at its sister site, www.thehampershop.ie, for an equally interesting range of gift ideas.
Noffla gold star awards
Around this time of year, Noffla, the body representing the off-licences of Ireland, holds a competition to find the best wines from their favoured suppliers, awarding a gold star to the winners in each category. Look out for the gold star tags in your local off-licence. My own favourites include the crisp dry Penfolds Autumn Riesling 2008 (€14.99); the rich mouth-filling Cave de St Dezery Viognier (€12.99) and the full-bodied Museum Real Cigales Reserva (€19.95.) from Spain, a wine with a real following.
