Over the past couple of months, we have been sending out membership renewal notices to those whose active memberships have lapsed. Please check your emails as we will be contacting you individually. Membership renewal ensures that you keep access to your member benefits such as access to Wine Spirit Women members only What’s App group, first access to tickets, member-only events, and much more
Membership costs just €40 per year, or €35 for students and is valid for an entire year from the date of sign-up. If you have any questions please contact Sinéad or Trish directly and we’d be happy to help. Thanks for your continued support.
On the 20th of May, Sherry lovers of Ireland descended on Dublin’s Michelin-star restaurant D’Olier Street to attend a masterclass by Antonia Dominguez. Born in Jerez, the homeland of sherry, Antonia’s passion for this fortified wine is simply infectious. Guests were inspired to delve into the region’s rich history while tasting four incredible sherry wines, new to Ireland. Through her role as Assistant Wine Buyer at O’Briens Wine, Antonia has endeavoured to bring exceptional quality sherries to Ireland while striving to educate consumers about these wines. Antonia is also a Master of Wine stage 2 student and co-host of the popular podcast WINE: The Long and the Short of It, alongside Lynda Coogan.
On the night, we tasted Bodega Baron Xixarito Manzanilla and Xixarito Oloroso in addition to Cayetano del Pino Amontillado VOS and Palo Cortado VOS. Throughout the evening we paired the sherries with Spanish Manchego cheese, delicious olives and an array of charcuterie including chorizo, jamón and other culinary delights.
If you’ve been inspired by our sherry adventures why not learn more about this fascinating wine through the online Sherry Academy. Learn everything you ever wanted to know about Sherry online, at your own pace, and completely free of charge.
Virtual classroom, the Sherry Academy, offers a new 100% online e-learning platform that is free and open to anyone so that both fans and professionals from the world of wine who want to broaden their knowledge of these unique and original wines can study whenever and however they want.
This online distance learning currently consists of two levels:
Basic Course “Wines of the PDO Jerez” and Advanced Course “Wines of the PDO Jerez”.
SommIT 2024 will return this October. SommIT Enthusiast will take place on Sunday 13th while SommIT Professional will take place from the 14th & 15th of October. SommiT is a gathering of food and wine professionals from within the hospitality industry at large.
English Wine Week takes place from 15th – 23rd June. English Wine Week highlights English wines and their wide availability across the country through retail outlets – from supermarkets to independent wine merchants – and hotels, pubs, bars and restaurants. Importantly, vineyards will also be opening their doors to welcome visitors, offering tours, tastings, special offers and many other attractions.
The Brewers of Europe announced the appointment of Julia Leferman as the next Secretary General of The Brewers of Europe. Introduced at Lille 2024, the biggest event in the European brewing calendar, Mrs Leferman will formally take up her position on 1st August 2024. With over twenty years of experience in political advocacy and management consultancy, in the public and private sector, Leferman has served for the last seven years as General Manager of the Brewers of Romania.
Luxury goods company LVMH has collaborated with packaging company Amcor to launch a plastic-free foil to be used on Moët & Chandon Champagnes. The ESSENTIELLE foil is created using paper made in Europe, a material that has a lower carbon impact than other solutions made of plastic on the market. Indeed, by replacing plastic with paper the carbon footprint of this product is 31%* lower compared to standard complex foils. Yannick Magnon, Managing Director of Amcor Capsules commented, “The launch of the ESSENTIELLE plastic-free foil draws attention to the expertise at our Mareuil-sur-Aÿ site, which specializes in the manufacture of foils and is located in the heart of the Champagne region. Amcor Capsules is drawing on ESSENTIELLE to revolutionize the industry by offering a recyclable, plastic-free solution that suits the fast pace of their packaging lines, confirming its major role among wine-growing players, here in Champagne.”
In California, the Stonehouse restaurant at San Ysidro Ranch has secured 138 vintages of the world-renowned Château d’Yquem. Diners can enjoy a bespoke tasting experience for a price tag of $550 per person. The collection comprises every vintage from 1887 – 2008 with some dating back to 1811.
Europe’s biggest BBQ & Food Festival, The Big Grill, returns to Dublin on 22nd – 25th August 2024. To celebrate their 10th anniversary, they’re hosting a second weekend of live fire cooking and entertainment at The Five Points Brewery in Hackney, East London. They are joining forces with From The Ashes BBQ to bring a host of live fire-inspired dishes over two days.
The Sommelier Wine Awards return to Imbibe Live from 1st – 2nd July. This year marks the hotly anticipated return of leading on-trade wine competition the Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA). SWA will launch the comprehensive ‘Gold Book’ for the awards, detailing the rankings for all the wines, trophy presentations, and tastings of the highest-scoring wines from this year’s competition. The two-day event features a programme of masterclasses covering a range of drinks including tequila and mezcal, vodka, lower-alcohol drinks, rum cocktails and much more.
Wine Scholar Guild are opening up their membership events to the public in June. You are invited to attend their June WSG weekly Live Sessions where you will engage with cutting-edge content and topics, learning from the best and most world-renowned experts in the wine industry. Justin Martindale MW has prepared an outstanding line-up that will take you from Ribeira Sacra and the preservation of old vines to a unique behind-the-scenes at Decanter World Wine Awards and more. These Live Sessions take place at 12:00 noon CET. Make sure to follow the link WSG Instagram bio to register or follow us on Instagram where they will post a story every Tuesday with the event link.
Please find the detailed schedule below:
1️⃣ June 5: Why winemakers hold a passion for old vines with Andreas Kubach MW, Viviana Malafarina and Elodie Gassiolle.
2️⃣ June 12: Deep-dive on Ribeira Sacra with Noah Chichester.
3️⃣ June 19: Behind the Scenes at DWWA with Andrew Jefford, Caro Maurer MW, James Tidwell MS.
4️⃣ June 26: Creating New Worlds in Wine with Queena Wong.
Following an official launch party Ireland’s annual Food On The Edge symposium returns for its ninth year, with dates confirmed as 21st – 22nd October. Early bird tickets are now on sale for €275 until June 30th, the price after this date is €325, which includes two-day access to all speaker talks, lunches, masterclasses, producer food village, FOTE bookstore in association with Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop with speaker book signings and wrap party.
Last month we paid a visit to Powerscourt Distillery to take a tour and explore their whiskey and food pairings. Choosing from the finest local artisanal foods to pair with and complement the signature range of Fercullen Irish whiskeys, Santina Kennedy has pioneered the Whiskey Food pairing for Powerscourt Distillery. Ferncullen will be pouring their whiskeys at Taste of Dublin and are offering free masterclasses every day at their stand.
The Chester Beaty Museum will host an afternoon talk and tea by artist and scholar Zhou Changxin from Yunnan, China, a region famous for its tea. Zhou Changxin will share his insights into tea culture, what it means to him and how it inspires his art. He believes ‘the universe in a teapot, the cosmos in a cup’ vividly interprets the cultural essence of ‘tea for harmony.’ There will be a tea tasting and demonstration after the talk. This talk is supported by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Ireland and will be presented in Chinese with an English translation.
A free three-day event, Minding her Business, takes place from 13th – 15th June in Dublin. It considers the overlooked activities of women entrepreneurs in the global dissemination of modern architecture.
- Day 1 will take place at ESB Headquarters, Fitzwilliam Street, on 13 June 2024 with a session on ‘Construction’ followed by a keynote by Nina Stritzler-Levine and a reception at the Irish Architectural Archive.
- Day 2 will take place at the ESB Headquarters, Fitzwilliam Street, on 14 June 2024 with sessions on ‘Social Entrepreneurship’, ‘Developers’ and ‘Making Space’.
- Day 3 will take place at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, on 15 June 2024 with a session on ‘Media’ followed by a viewing of the Eileen Gray collection and a walking tour of work by Grafton Architects, O’Donnell Tuomey, and McCullough Mulvin.
On 13th June a free event, The Future of Food in Ireland: Film Screening, will take place at LexIcon Library in Dún Laoghaire This eye-opening film explores the future of food and how consumer trends, climate change and technology will change what’s on our plates by the year 2050. It’s a fascinating look at food innovation, sustainability, and the choices we need to make for a healthier planet. This is a great chance to unwind, enjoy a thought-provoking film together and maybe spark some discussions about our own food choices. The producer, chef Tadgh Byrne, will be available for any questions or discussions after the documentary.
Plumpton College is hosting an open day on 15th June, ideal for anyone wanting to explore the wine production industry. They are currently accepting applications for their Sustainable Wine Production degree starting in September 2024.
The Echlinville Distillery is launching Echlinville – The Beginning, the inaugural whiskey release from Ireland’s first Single Estate distillery. Echlinville – The Beginning features two field-to-glass whiskeys distilled exclusively from barley grown, harvested and floor malted on the distillery farm. Every step of the production process – from mashing and fermenting the grains to casking and maturing the spirit to filling and labelling the bottles – has been completed on-site at the County Down distillery.
In conversation with…
Therese O’Toole, Head of Wine On Trade at Bibendum Ireland.
From opening her own wine store, embarking on WSET Diploma journey and working in sales Therese shares her industry insights, offering valuable advice for those wishing to start a career in the drinks industry.
On Sunday 9th June, Hi Spirits will launch Ireland’s first African-inspired gin at Airfield Estate.
UNioN and JN Wine have teamed up to host a Ridge Vineyards wine tasting on 12th June. Join Katie Blakely from Ridge Vineyards as she takes you through a selection of wines from this iconic winery.
All The Wine Belfast is heading to Boundry Taproom on the 12th of June with “Fridge Fillers”, a wine tasting that will get you prepared for summer. From crisp whites and rosés to chilled red, host JP McCann will guide you through the evening.
The N.I Wine & Spirits Institute will be hosting its next tasting at the Ramada Encore Hotel in Belfast on 13th June. Hosted by Anne McHale MW, will be presenting a selection of island wines from around the world. Contact NISWI Secretary for more info.
On June 14th, Sheridans and Grape Circus will team up for a cheese and wine tasting at Fumbally Stables.
Join Mine Bennett on 18th June for a summer wine tasting at Roam Belfast. Tickets are £30 per person.
Wine Online’s Meet the Winemaker series continues with an alfresco midsummer food and wine evening at The Woolen Mills. Guests will enjoy a Prosecco reception before sitting down to a three-course meal paired with the wines of Santa Margherita.
On 20th June, Indie Fude will host Irish Spirits & Irish Cheese – Meet the Makers at Echlinville Distillery. Enjoy an unforgettable afternoon of indulgence as your hosts bring together two of the best of Ireland’s culinary delights at Echlinville Distillery. Savour the rich and complex flavours of artisanal Irish cheeses meticulously paired with a selection of exceptional spirits crafted on the Ards Peninsula.
64 Wines will be hosting their Natural Wine Fest on Sunday, 30th June. Tickets are €50 per person.
The UK’s greatest Rum experience is back July 5th – 6th. With nearly 300 rums to sample, masterclasses, cocktails and a main stage, Rum Show is the ultimate celebration of the world’s best sugar-cane spirits and the people who make them.
Join the ladies of Polish Wine Fest for their second outing onboard the St. Bridget on July 6th. It will be a two hour sailing and wine party embarking at 6:30pm. Tickets available here
Ireland
Green Man Wines seeks a food runner (Thursday – Saturday (12 – 15 hours approx). Send CVs to info@greenmanwines.ie or call +353 1 5594234
Dublin’s Afianco is recruiting a ‘ front-of-house staff member to join the team. For more information contact info@afianco.ie m, m,
An opportunity to work in Co. Kerry’s first microbrewery has arisen. West Kerry Brewery is hiring a full-time brewer. Full training provided will be provided. Interested parties must be passionate about beer and hold a full driver’s license. Send CVs to brewery@westkerrybrewery.ie
In Ballycotton Co. Cork, Cush is looking for an experienced candidate to fill the position of restaurant supervisor/assistant manager. This is a 4-day role. Send CVs to reception@cush.ie
The K Club seek an experienced marketing manager. Full job spec here.
Ri-Ra Brewing Company are hiring a Brewery Operations Assistant.
One Society is hiring an experienced front-of-house staff member to join the team. Send your CV to will@onesociety.ie
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