This past March Wine Spirit Women and Findlater & Co hosted a special event for International Women’s Day, celebrating some of the world’s most accomplished female winemakers. The lineup featured Cara Lee Dely (Bolney Estate, Sussex), Lucie Depuydt (Moreau Chablis),  Laura Brunelli (Gianni Brunelli, Italy), Marimar Torres (Marimar Estate, California), Myriam Ambuzer (Lyrarakis, Greece),  Mireia Torres Maczassek (Jean Leon, Penedès), Paola Medina Sheldon (William Humbert, Cádiz), Róisín Curley MW (Róisín Curley, Burgundy), Sue Hodder (Wynns, Australia).

Wine Spirit Women Corporate member Boutique Wines will host a portfolio tasting tasting on Monday 29th April, from 11am – 5pm in Row Wines in Dublin. Boutique Wines are delighted to announce 50 new wines with sustainable practices from Piedmont, Priorat, Loire Valley, Lombardy, South Africa, new bubbles from Jura France, high-end Burgundy, and more. RSVP avril@boutiquewines.ie

Kinsale Mead released the 8th edition of their award-winning mead, this iteration is called Wild Forest Honey Mead and has been aged in Irish oak casks from Midleton Distillery.

Wine Spirit Women corporate member WineOnline.ie have announced the first dinner of their Meet the Winemaker series, featuring Australia’s Yalumba winery on 18th April. The event will take place in Bang restaurant in Dublin. Tickets cost €100 per person and include a three-course meal and six premium Yalumba wines.

Food writer Ali Dunworth has announced the launch of her new book, A Compendium of Irish Pints, exploring the culture, customs and craic of pints. Illustrations are designed by illustrator Stephen Heffernan @hephee. The official publishing date is 7th May but you can pre-order your copy today.

Wine Scholar Guild has launched “new essentials” certification programs. These programs provide aspiring wine professionals and inquisitive enthusiasts with a solid foundation in the wines of France, Italy and Spain. With Essentials, learn the “need to know” regions, grapes and wines in just weeks.

The Corkscrew officially launched their Bottle Your Own Whiskey service in an exclusive partnership with Hinch Distillery, allowing whiskey lovers to bottle their own whiskey straight from the cask in the shop. Choose from a selection of three different releases, each with a bespoke label design that reflects its distinct price point. And the best part? You can personalise the label with your name, fill date, cask type, and bottle number. Every label will be unique, making your bottle truly one-of-a-kind.

Drinks Industry Ireland sat down with Roe and Co’s head distiller Lora Hemy about her journey. Lora speaks about her journey with Roe & Co and the many women in the drinks industry who inspire her every day Catch up here.

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Following on from their hugely successful “Coffee & Connect” morning, held at Diageo’s Masonry Office in February, Wine Spirit Women and our corporate member, Diageo, have announced their latest initiative, a Mentorship Programme.

The programme is designed to pair up experienced women working in the drinks trade with women new to the industry or who want to gain more experience in their field. The programme aims to provide guidance, support and knowledge transfer, allowing participants to learn and grow in this dynamic industry.

The role of mentees is open to Wine Spirit Women members only (you can become a member here), while the role of mentors will be open to anyone working in the drinks trade (they do not have to be Wine Spirit Women members). Anyone interested in becoming a mentor or mentee can fill out the declaration of interest form here, and more information about the programme will be sent at a later date.

Deadline for applications is 15th April 2024.

Mine Bennett has joined Vinspire Academy, founded by Philip Dunne, as Senior Wine Educator. Originally from Istanbul, Mine studied Hospitality for 2 years before continuing her studies on Classical Philology in Istanbul University. Since 2001, Mine has been living in Belfast and has gained vast experience in leading wine establishments over the past 20 years. Throughout her hospitality career, she has spent time working for Michael Deane managing Deanes Deli and the Vin Cafe, and then running the wine bar Ox Cave for the One-Michelin starred Ox restaurant. Mine holds regular private wine tastings for corporate and private companies, as well as offering her own monthly wine tastings in venues around Belfast.

One of the UK’s oldest wine and spirits merchants Berry Bros. & Rudd has opened its first spirit shop in London, selling nearly 1,000 global products in the category. Read all about it here.

WSET have launched a new course covering beer. You can study level 1 and 2 in the subject. Both are a fantastic introduction to the world of beer. Learning through sight, smell and taste, you’ll become familiar with a range of beer styles and how they are made. The Pub Show spoke to event partner Natalya Watson, Business Development Manager – Beer and Beer Educator, at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), about the organisation’s new beer qualifications – read here.

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Looking for a fun day out in Dublin? Visit Stillgarden Distillery to find out the ginspiration behind their range of beautifully crafted modern Irish gins. This experience will bring you through the history of distillation and their wall of 120 botanicals. You will taste 4 of their signature expertly crafted gins, followed by a luscious afternoon tea with a selection of decadent cakes and sandwiches. Tickets include a welcome drink plus a 4 gin tasting flight, afternoon tea. The duration is 90 mins. All sessions end with a Q&A from one of their liquid experts. Tickets from €55 per person.

WSET are inviting people from across the UK drinks industry to a consultative meeting on 16th April at Vintners Hall from 1pm – 4pm. This is in response to the issues raised in a survey commissioned by Queena Wong (Curious Vines) and run by PROOF Insight, with the first aim of the programme being to tackle safeguarding.

The Corkscrew will host a Teeling Masterclass April 5th. They will be joined by Adam Wall in their newly refurbished cellar for a Teeling Masterclass. This is a free event but places in the cellar are limited so booking is essential. Adam will guide guests through a selection of unconventional Irish whiskeys with an extraordinary spirit. This is a wonderful opportunity to discover some of their range.

On Monday 8th April Vinostito will host their spring portfolio tasting in Dublin. There will be two sessions during the day. The morning session will take place between 10:00 and 13.00. The afternoon session will take place between 14:00 – 16:00. Register here *trade and press only

ELY Wine Bar celebrates their 25th Anniversary on 11th April with a tasting of organic Cava entitled ‘Beyond the Bottle’ lead by Mireia Pujol-Busquets Guillén of Alta Alella Winery. The event takes place at 7pm at ELY Wine Bar, Dublin 2. More information and tickets here.

On 11th April the Irish Whiskey Society invites you to their event “Setting Sail with Grace O’Malley: A Guided Tour Through Irish Whiskey”. The event will start at 7:30pm and takes place in Wynn’s Hotel, 35-39 Abbey Street Lower, Dublin 1, D01 C9F8. More information and tickets here.

A Wine Idea will host a Spanish Tasting on 12th April in Bewley’s on Grafton Street, Dublin. Included in the guided Wine Tasting Experience is four glasses of wine and a Spanish themed cheese & charcuterie board. Tickets cost €65 per person.

Stillgarden Distillery will be hosting a Cocktail Masterclass at Airfield Estate on 12th April. And on the 15th of April they will be hosting a Charity Spritz Showcase at  Revolution Waterford. Check out their events page for more info.

JN Wines will host a mini masterclass“A Taste of the Iberian Peninsula”on 13th April from 2-3pm. Tickets costs just £7.50. Following the tasting you will have the opportunity to speak to Jeremy Shaw from Iberian Wine Tours about their upcoming, exlusive wine-focused tour of Rioja and San Sebastian. On 16th April they will host Fined & Filtered – A Blind Tasting. You will be given 6 wines blind and allowed time to taste and make your own notes before the wines are discussed as a group. The tasting will take place from 6.30pm to 8pm. Tickets cost £15 per person.

Mine Bennett will host a Welcoming Spring wine tasting at Roam Restaurant in Belfast on 16th April. Guests will taste through 6 wines from around the world, and discuss the perfect food and wine pairings. To book email mine@wine-and-yoga.com, or direct message on Instagram.

To celebrate World Malbec Day The Corkscrew will run a Malbec tasting on 17th April. The tasting will feature styles from around the world. There will be 10% discount on the wines open on the evening and some antipasto platters. They will also be hosting a Vincent Girardin Burgundy Masterclass with Guillaume Vavasseur on April 18th.

Dingle Distillery is joining forces with renowned Dublin cocktail spot Bar 1661 for a Dingle Whiskey Tasting on Wednesday 17th April. Brand Ambassador David Cummins will guide you through this tasting. Tickets cost €35 per person.

Wine Spark will host a spring tasting on 25th April. You will have the chance to meet the winemakers and taste their wines, try 40+ wines from the WineSpark range and enjoy some light bites that complement the wines. Tickets cost €40 per person.

Polish Wine Fest will host their first Wine & Camping Weekend on Saturday 27th April at Wicklow Way Camping. Click here for more information and tickets.

On Sunday the 28th of April 64 Wine will host a Sushi Festival. Guests will enjoy over 40 wines plus sake and sushi. There will be two sessions throughout the day,  2.00pm – 3.45pm and 4.15pm – 6.00pm. Tickets cost €35 per person.

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Boutique Wines will host their spring portfolio tasting on 29th April In Row Wines, Dublin. *trade and press only

On 29th April JN Wines will host a trade tasting from 14:00pm – 17: 00pm at The Westbury Hotel (*trade and press only). Additionally, they will hold a consumer tasting on Monday 29th April in The Westbury Hotel, Dublin and on Tuesday 30th April in The Merchant Hotel, Belfast. Tickets cost €30 per person.

Wine Shop Lanzarote Brand Ambassador Sinéad Smyth will host the first wine tasting in Dublin on Friday 3rd May. Tickets cost just €50 and inlcudes 5 wines, cheese boards, a virtual vineyard tour and a guided tasting. More information and tickets can be found here.

Join 64 Wine on Wednesday the 8th of May, for a tasting of the wines from one of the most ancient producing regions, Greece. Hosted by Jennifer Thompson. Tickets cost €80 and include a wine and food pairing.

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Ireland

Neighbourhood wine shop Pete’s are looking to add to their team. Email Darren for more information/send CV’s to info@petesprovisions.ie

Green Man Wines are looking for someone to join their wine bar team. The role will be 15 – 20 hours per week, from Thursday to Saturday. Email info@greenmanwines.ie

Sweeney’s are hiring a wine lover to join their shop team. The role is 20/30 hours per week, including evenings and weekends. Send CV’s to info@sweeneysd3.ie

Ampersand are recruiting a Wine Sales Representative to join their team. To apply for this position please send your CV to recruit@ampersandsales.ie

Fidelity Bar are hiring both a floor supervisor and floor staff. Email CVs to hi@fidelitybar.ie

Wexford’s Kelly’s Café seek waitstaff to join their team. Apply to cafe@kellys.ie

JN Wines require a Digital Marketing Executive to join their award-winning team, based at our Head Office in Crossgar. 

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join 1 Michelin star House Restaurant, based in Cliff House Hotel, Co. Waterford as Assistant Sommelier. The successful candidate will be a trained and knowledgeable wine professional who will be responsible in assisting our Sommelier in every aspect of the wine service, starting with the creation of the restaurant wine list and ending with floor service to restaurant patrons.

Sheen Falls Lodge are hiring a Bar Manager to lead the front of house Bar team at Sheen Falls Lodge. The role focuses on supporting the day-to-day activities in food & beverage outlets. This role is accountable for the service standards and hygiene standards and the total beverages sales budget in the hotel (not including wine).

Lynchpin in Holywood are looking for a part-time barista/waiter. Drop your CV in to Lynchpin directly (Wednesday – Saturday). If you have any questions about the positions please send a DM or email lynchpinholywood@gmail.com

Global

Ritz Paris are hiring a sommelier as part of an internship. Duration of the contract is 4 to 6 months. Salary range is dependent on experience.

Copenhagen’s Gro Spiseri are looking for an experienced restaurant manager. Send your application (1 max 1 A4) and CV and individual cover letter to: steffen@groorg.dk titled with the position you are applying for.

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