Michael Flatley on his new whiskey: ‘named after my father and my father’s father and his father before him’ The former Riverdance maestro created the five-year-old whiskey with hugely experienced master blender Noel SweeneyTue May 14 2024 - 11:00
I’m having an Italian-themed dinner party. What wines should I serve?How to Drink Better: there are plenty of really interesting Italian wines to choose fromSun May 12 2024 - 05:00
Native Italian wines to provide a break from the norm, one for less than €8John Wilson: Timorasso has become something of a cult favourite in ItalySat May 11 2024 - 05:00
I am never sure how to match food with wine. Can you suggest some fail-safe pairings? John Wilson: I believe that most wine tastes better with food and most food tastes better with a glass of wineFri May 10 2024 - 06:00
Two well-priced French wines for summery al fresco eveningsWines for the Weekend: Both wines, under the Sophie Valrose label, are available from SuperValu for €12Fri May 10 2024 - 05:00
What is amaro and what should I do with it?How to Drink Better: This original Italian aperitif can often be found in cocktail ingredients tooSun May 05 2024 - 05:00
Four alchemists creating very special ciders and wines - and three of them are IrishCraft makers here are using local produce to create fascinating complex drinks of a very high qualitySat May 04 2024 - 05:00
Supermarket wines: Two great Italian wines to tryWines for the Weekend: A white Sicilian to try with shellfish and a classic smooth Chianti RiservaFri May 03 2024 - 05:00
What is chardonnay and why does everybody hate it these days?How to Drink Better: This fine white grape has yet to recover from falling out of favour in the 1990sSun Apr 28 2024 - 05:00
Looking for the perfect summer wine? The almost forgotten Valpolicella hits all the right notesNo longer a staple of get-togethers, Valpolicella still deserves its time in the sunSat Apr 27 2024 - 05:00
Two €10 French summery wines worth trying Wines for the Weekend: Aldi’s Coteaux de Beziers wines come from warm sunny Mediterranean climate that is perfect for ripening grapesFri Apr 26 2024 - 05:00
What’s so special about Chablis and why is it always so pricey?How to Drink Better: Good news is most supermarkets will have a decent Chablis for €18-€20Sun Apr 21 2024 - 05:00
Why the 1990s were good for wine in IrelandJohn Wilson: It’s worth celebrating the elder lemons among Irish wine expertsSat Apr 20 2024 - 05:00
Two well-known Italian wines to savour, both at reduced pricesWines for the Weekend: A superior pinot grigio and an easy-drinking redFri Apr 19 2024 - 05:00
Only in the very top category of wines does the year matterHow to Drink Better: Any bottle of wine can be picked from your supermarket shelf without looking at the vintageSun Apr 14 2024 - 05:00
John Wilson: Two great-value wines from LidlWines for the Weekend: The Austrian wine in particular is worth trying if you like light whitesFri Apr 12 2024 - 06:00
Four lighter wines to put a spring in your stepJohn Wilson: Two whites, a sparkling wine and an almost summery red offer interest and good value for moneyFri Apr 12 2024 - 05:00
Six benchmark wine types to improve your palateHow to Drink Better: The best way to learn about wine is also the most fun way - drink itSun Apr 07 2024 - 05:00
The Irish who use their time in France to produce good wineJohn Wilson: Here are four wines from different areas and price ranges but with an Irish connectionSat Apr 06 2024 - 05:00
Two refreshing French wines from DunnesWines for the Weekend: A Silver Moki Sauvignon Blanc and Baron de Baussac Carignan for less than €10Fri Apr 05 2024 - 05:00
How to pick a good bottle of rosé – darker wines will not necessarily be sweeter How to Drink Better: Rosé is made by macerating the grapes and juice together for any length of time from a few hours to a few daysSun Mar 31 2024 - 05:00
Wine for the weekend: A roast of lamb will go nicely with just about any red wineYou could choose a cabernet or merlot from California, South Africa, Chile or Australia, but this week I concentrate on BordeauxSat Mar 30 2024 - 05:00
There are reasons why holiday wine always seems to taste betterHow to Drink Better: Producers are keen to sell their wine to anyone and everyoneSun Mar 24 2024 - 05:00
An Irish sparkling wine and three more bottles to try from cooler climatesJohn Wilson: Amid climate change, we could see wine lists in restaurants feature some unfamiliar varietiesSat Mar 23 2024 - 05:00
Supermarket wines to try: Two German whites and an unusual Malbec rosé Wines for the Weekend: highly regarded producer from the Mosel in Germany is producing good value winesFri Mar 22 2024 - 05:00
Rosé has a reputation as being fun and frivolous. And who couldn’t use a bit more of that?How to Drink Better: Snobbish wine drinkers have always had a problem with the pink-hued inbetweenerSun Mar 17 2024 - 05:00
Sláinte: Four wine and beer pairings to go with your Irish stew or roastJohn Wilson: Three bottles of wine and a Galway Bay red aleSat Mar 16 2024 - 05:00
Wines from South Africa to try: a surprising Stellenbosch white and a Swartland ShirazWines for the Weekend: Over the last decade a new generation of younger winemakers have shown Swartland has real potentialFri Mar 15 2024 - 05:00
French wine bottle labels can be confusing. Here’s how to navigate them How to Drink Better: The AOC system guarantees a wine comes from a defined geographical area and should also be a guarantee of qualitySun Mar 10 2024 - 05:00
Four great new Irish whiskey releases to tryJohn Wilson: Another fine Midleton Very Rare for the collectors plus three other top toastsSat Mar 09 2024 - 05:00
John Wilson: A crisp white and a warming red from O’BriensWines for the Weekend: South African and Portugese wines offering good value for moneyFri Mar 08 2024 - 09:44
Where to find good value when choosing a bottle of wineHow to Drink Better: There are many things to consider when selecting a wineSun Mar 03 2024 - 05:00
Four wines to celebrate International Women’s Day in styleJohn Wilson: Heidi Schröck, Beatrice Contini Bonacossi, Lynne Coyle and Barbara Boyle are at the top of their gameSat Mar 02 2024 - 05:00
Supermarket wine: A white and a red from sunny south of France worth seeking out Wines for the Weekend: The warm climate and granitic soils produce full-bodied rich red winesFri Mar 01 2024 - 05:00
Bottles are bad for the planet. What’s a conscientious wine lover to do?How to Drink Better: Buy your beer in cans, your everyday wine in bag-in-box and your expensive age-worthy wines in lightweight glass bottlesSun Feb 25 2024 - 05:00
Happy 50th birthday: How Marlborough sauvignon blanc became a wine classic John Wilson: From just 1,600 hectares of land on the northern tip of the South Island of New Zealand, the region has grown to 30,000 hectares of vinesSat Feb 24 2024 - 05:00
Supermarket wines: top class Rioja Reserva is a steal at €20Wines for the Weekend: a full-bodied biodynamic red and a good value Alvarinho are worth seeking out in SuperValu saleFri Feb 23 2024 - 05:00
You should be able to bet on the house when ordering wineHow to Drink Better: There is no shame attached in ordering the house red or white, which should be carefully chosen options to suit the restaurant’s foodSun Feb 18 2024 - 05:00
Ireland’s best independent off-licences pick their favourite wine, beer and spiritJohn Wilson: Four winning independent off-licences pick their favourite wine, beer or spiritSat Feb 17 2024 - 05:00
Four fizzy Valentine’s Day wines to fall in love withJohn Wilson: The two most flexible, food-friendly wines of all are rosé and sparkling winesTue Feb 13 2024 - 05:00
What’s all the fuss about craft beer and why should I try some?How to Drink Better: Although some drinkers are put off by the higher price tag, craft beers offer greater flavour and complexitySun Feb 11 2024 - 05:00
John Wilson: Two full-bodied wines to enjoy over the last days of winter weatherWeekend wines: these wines have more texture making them ideal companions for richer foodFri Feb 09 2024 - 05:00
What are the best wines to serve with a Valentine’s Day meal at home?Avoid the sea of tables for two, and plan a special meal at home, with Champagne to start, and wine pairingsFri Feb 09 2024 - 04:00
Why is Irish whiskey so much more expensive in Ireland than overseas?How to Drink Better: We have one of the highest rates of excise duty on alcohol in EuropeSun Feb 04 2024 - 05:00
Four fine wines with strong Irish connectionsJohn Wilson: Producers in Spain, France and Slovenia fly the flag in styleSat Feb 03 2024 - 05:00
John Wilson: Two wines from O’Briens to kickstart your springWines for the Weekend: A gentle yet freshing sauvignon blanc and a fruity but smooth MonastrellFri Feb 02 2024 - 05:00
Want to know more about Irish whiskey? There’s never been a better timeHow to Drink Better: There are events, tours and tastings around the island for those who have a taste for moreSun Jan 28 2024 - 05:00
Robust red wines to chase off the last of the winter chillJohn Wilson: A hearty beef, lamb or bean stew will taste immeasurably better with a full-bodied red wineSat Jan 27 2024 - 05:00
Two French wines for €12: a fresh and zesty white and a full-bodied fruity redWines for the Weekend: The wines here come from a warm climate and tend to be rich and softFri Jan 26 2024 - 05:00
