What I love most about wine is that I never stop learning. There are always new vintages, new wines, and even new wine regions to explore.
The trade tastings I attend are not open to the general public unfortunately, but there are many wine events open to consumers so do bookmark JeanSmullen.com and keep an eye on her wine diary if you want to expand your knowledge in 2025.
Your local wine shop or wine bar is likely hosting events during the year so make friends with them.
L’Atitude 51 in Cork for example already have events planned including a Wine Fundamentals Course beginning in February. For more details visit Latitude51.ie and click on ‘wine events’.
Similarly, Daróg Wine Bar are planning a series of wine talks this year and I bet your nearest wine bar is doing similar.
The beginning of the wine year for the trade always brings a focus on New Zealand and Australia, so that is my wine focus today.
Australia Day is celebrated on January 26th and New Zealand’s national day is on February 6th (Waitangi Day), and both countries have traditionally held their annual wine tastings around those dates.
This year they will host a joint tasting for the first time ever on January 27th, with a trade tasting in Dublin during the day and a consumer event open to the general public that evening; details below.
Australian wine sales here have declined in recent years and the offering has become significantly more commercial which is a pity, I’m hoping this year’s tasting will have some new quality producers on show.
New Zealand is holding steady and is as consistent as ever.
For the Diary: Australia & New Zealand Consumer Wine Fair, Alex Hotel, Dublin; January 27 2025, 18.30-20.30. Tickets €20 on Eventbrite.
Nugan Estate Single Vineyard ‘King Valley’ Chardonnay, Australia, €12
Nugan Estate Single Vineyard ‘King Valley’ Chardonnay, Australia, €12
SuperValu and Centra stores nationwide
SuperValu’s Nugan range is fairly priced and always worth trying.
The Wally’s Hut range is down to €7 this month and their McLaren Vale Shiraz is also at €12.
I loved this Chardonnay when I tasted it earlier this year, peachy and textured, full and rounded, with length, character, and a crisp, balanced finish.
Willunga 100 Shiraz Viognier, McLaren Vale, Australia €20
Willunga 100 Shiraz Viognier, McLaren Vale, Australia €20
Matsons; Village Greengrocer; 1601; Whelehans, whelehanswines.ie
Willunga 100 specialise in supple complex old vine Grenache wines and I have featured their Blewit Springs and Clarendon single vineyards on this page before.
Their Shiraz-Viognier however is classic McLaren Vale and a bargain, ripe and fruit-forward with violets and spice notes, cooked plums and liquorice notes with a pleasing savoury complexity.
Tohu Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, €25
Tohu Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, €25
JJ O’Driscolls; 1601; Worldwide Wines; Cass & Co.; Cashel Cellar; Vintry; WineOnline.ie
Tohu and sister brand Kono were the first Maori owned wineries in New Zealand and guardianship of the land is central to everything they do.
Based in the Southern Awatere Valley this has more passionfruit and tropical aromas than grassy notes, apple and lemongrass flavours are balanced by freshness and texture.
OBrother Brewing ‘Eachtra Stout’, 4.2% ABV, 440ml €2.49
OBrother Brewing ‘Eachtra Stout’, 4.2% ABV, 440ml €2.49
Aldi stores while stocks last
OBrother brewing in Wicklow brewed over 100,000 cans of this for Aldi and unsurprisingly it is selling well, Stout suits January well.
Eachtra means ‘journey’ as gaeilge and this has aromas of coffee, chocolate and dark malts, a creamy palate with balancing acidity and bitterness, and light carbonation.
Also watch for Clann IPA.