Unoaked white and red wines from Lidl worth tryingWines for the Weekend: Great value and entirely gluggableFri Mar 07 2025 - 06:00
What to do with those exotic ‘holiday’ liqueur gifts? First, open themHow to Drink Better: Establish first whether you like the taste, if not dispose of them, otherwise they’ll sit in the drinks cabinet for yearsSun Mar 02 2025 - 05:00
Rioja is not all about red – try these excellent whites Ninety per cent of production is still red, but the white has been enjoying a renaissanceSat Mar 01 2025 - 05:00
Two sustainable wines from different ends of the worldWines for the Weekend: Nip in quickly to enjoy a range of sustainable wines at discounted pricesFri Feb 28 2025 - 05:00
Could climate change see wine being produced in Ireland?We are likely to see a move to cooler regions and countries including Scandinavia, Britain and, yes, even IrelandSun Feb 23 2025 - 05:00
Ten sparkling, fortified and rosé wines worth every pennyThere is now a far greater range and choice of sparkling wines available at reasonable prices Sat Feb 22 2025 - 05:00
Two wines from neighbouring French regions that offer good value for moneyWines for the Weekend: Both of these bottles are available for €12.99 from AldiFri Feb 21 2025 - 05:00
Why the French will rarely request a ‘Burgundy’ or ‘Claret’ How to Drink Better: These anglicised words were originally used to describe wines made in Bourgogne and Bordeaux Wed Feb 19 2025 - 05:00
‘I will lose 30% of the beers in my fridge, the same with wine and spirits’: traders voice fears over alcohol health-warning labelsSmall batch and artisan wines, beers and spirits may disappear from shelves as producers baulk at labelling every single bottleSun Feb 16 2025 - 06:00
John Wilson’s ten great-value red wines of the last yearThese are the reds that made a lasting impression in terms of both value and tasteSat Feb 15 2025 - 05:00
Is sediment in wine a bad thing? Could it be harmful?How to Drink Better: Sediment can occur in red and white wine and is generally harmless, but you might want to remove itFri Feb 14 2025 - 10:30
Brave new worlds: two wines to try from lesser known regionsWines for the Weekend: These wines from Georgia and South Africa have gained a following in wine circlesFri Feb 14 2025 - 05:00
Ten of John Wilson’s favourite white wines at decent pricesAll of these wines were bought in 2024 and all cost less than €30Sat Feb 08 2025 - 05:00
When in doubt should I order the second-cheapest wine on the wine list?How to Drink Better: Don’t think you’re outsmarting the restaurant by employing this fallbackSun Feb 02 2025 - 05:00
A great value Bordeaux and an excellent Chianti that goes well with foodRefined, elegant reds worth splashing out onSat Feb 01 2025 - 05:00
Two Spanish wines: A classic white that’s light in alcohol and a red to go with roastsWines for the Weekend: Verdejo can taste uncannily like sauvignon blanc, while Rioja Reserva is a favourite of Irish drinkersFri Jan 31 2025 - 05:00
From Spain to Serbia: four wines worthy of your attentionThese wines didn’t feature in the Christmas run-up but are well worth uncorkingSat Jan 25 2025 - 05:00
Wines on sale: refreshing Muscadet and a gutsy Australian shiraz from AldiWines for the Weekend: Big-name wines at hard to match pricesFri Jan 24 2025 - 05:00
What gives red wine its colour?How to Drink Better: The flesh of most red grapes is almost colourless. It’s the skin that brings the rednessSun Jan 19 2025 - 05:00
Return of a grape variety that’s well worth championingGarnacha — or grenache in France — blended with other grapes is a great cold-weather wineSat Jan 18 2025 - 05:00
Wine sale: A lighter Malbec and good value Pinot Grigio the pick of special offersWines for the Weekend: O’Briens post-Christmas sale has plenty to choose fromFri Jan 17 2025 - 05:00
Sicily’s rich tapestry of local wine varieties is full of surprisesLots of sun and low incidence of diseases make Sicily perfect for vine growing and the largest organic vineyard in EuropeSat Jan 11 2025 - 05:00
Where to go for an overseas mini-break taking in wine tastings and good foodHow to Drink Better: Prioritise cities with short direct flights from Ireland, and at most a short connecting train journeyFri Jan 10 2025 - 05:00
Two wines to try: An easy-drinking Italian white and a light, juicy red from ArgentinaWines for the Weekend: Marks & Spencer offers a great range of interesting, well-priced winesFri Jan 10 2025 - 00:00
Which wines age best, and what is the oldest you have tried?How to Drink Better: While most wine has a shelf life of just a few years, some wines do have the ability to age for decades and still taste goodSun Jan 05 2025 - 05:00
Natural drinks for dry January with added gut benefitsKombucha is probiotic and rich in antioxidants, with one Galway-based operation going from strength to strengthSat Jan 04 2025 - 05:00
Two alcohol-free beers for the dry January wagonA new Wicklow Wolf and an extra pale ale from Fierce Mild Brewing , both at 0.5% abv, that don’t compromise on flavourFri Jan 03 2025 - 05:00
Revealed: Ireland’s favourite wine and the most popular wine originsHow to Drink Better: The Irish Wine Market Report for 2023 tells us a lot about our drinking tastes, with a few surprises thrown inSun Dec 22 2024 - 05:00
Christmas digestifs: buckle up for the strong stuff once dinner is donePort and dessert wines are always delicious options but don’t miss some of the best drinks from Irish producersSat Dec 21 2024 - 05:00
Two wines to try over Christmas, now on special at SuperValuWines for the Weekend: A medium-bodied Chardonnay that pairs perfectly with salmon or turkey, and a rich Bordeaux that complements roast red meatsFri Dec 20 2024 - 05:00
John Wilson: The ultimate gift guide for the wine-lover in your lifeHow to Drink Better: It is always better to buy one bottle of good wine than three or four average bottlesSun Dec 15 2024 - 06:00
Classic wines to serve with your Christmas dinnerStarting with bubbles invariably puts everyone in the mood, after which these perennial favourites will go down wellSat Dec 14 2024 - 06:00
Three make-ahead cocktails and one mocktail that will add punch to any Christmas partyHow to Drink Better: These ‘fridge door’ cocktails are perfect to make ahead of timeFri Dec 13 2024 - 05:00
Refreshing and dry wines from Italy’s Gavi regionWines for the Weekend: A Chianti and a Gavi from Tesco to enjoy over ChristmasFri Dec 13 2024 - 05:00
Some wine bottles have labels with scores. What do they mean?How to Drink Better: Scores can be a useful aid to buying wine, but remember they are often based on the opinion of one personSun Dec 08 2024 - 04:30
Christmas dinner wines to get the table talkingDare to be different this year with these alternatives to the tried and trusted favourites - you won’t be disappointedSat Dec 07 2024 - 05:00
Some less expensive bottles of wine can lack flavour, but not this oneWines for the Weekend: These two Italian wines from Aldi offer great value for moneyFri Dec 06 2024 - 05:00
Alcohol-free drinks to celebrate and that won’t seem like an afterthoughtHow to Drink Better: While decent alcohol-free sparkling wines are out there, there are great cider and craft beer versions worth trying tooSun Dec 01 2024 - 05:00
Festive fizz for every budget to get the party startedCrémant and Cava – made in a similar manner to Champagne – can offer great valueSat Nov 30 2024 - 05:00
If you like refreshing unoaked whites and quality reds, try theseWines for the Weekend: Both wines this week are new to Lidl and are on special offer - while stocks lastFri Nov 29 2024 - 05:00
Wines for Christmas party season: What should I serve, and are there non-alcoholic options?You should over-order even if it means you have leftovers, writes John WilsonSat Nov 23 2024 - 05:00
Two French wines that could come in handy in the run-up to ChristmasWines for the Weekend: Typically Picpoul is light and refreshing while the Bordeaux can sometimes seem a little austereFri Nov 22 2024 - 05:00
What are the best wines to choose for a table when entertaining guests in a restaurant?How to Drink Better: It’s a challenge ordering for a mixed group of diners, but there are versatile wines that will always work wellSun Nov 17 2024 - 05:00
New Irish whiskeys that would make great Christmas giftsEmbrace the spirit of the season with these new releases across all budgetsSat Nov 16 2024 - 05:00
Two perennial classic wines at the right priceWines for the Weekend: A chenin blanc and an organic Corbieres are two of the best from South AfricaFri Nov 15 2024 - 05:00
What is the difference between organic, biodynamic, vegan and sustainable wines?How to Drink Better: Organic and biodynamic wines cost more to produce and are generally a little more expensiveSun Nov 10 2024 - 05:00
The future of wine is flatpack and boxed, but will it be drinkable? Packaging and transport accounts for 40% of a winery’s climate emissionsSat Nov 09 2024 - 05:00
Two German wines that are a little bit more expensive, but certainly worth itWines for the Weekend: This Reisling and Pinot Noir are the ones to go for when on promotionFri Nov 08 2024 - 05:00
The Irish wine makers: ‘It is a miracle. Last year we got the same volume as growers in the north of Italy’There are a growing number of vineyards in Ireland, small in scale but big in ambition as global climate change forces the focus away from warmer climesTue Nov 05 2024 - 08:33
