Casina Bric 460 Mesdi Rosso, from a place that “respects nature in every aspect.”

 Casina Bric 460 Mesdi Rosso Serralunga D’Alba 2023, 14.0% ABV

RRP €21.15. Stockists: Le Caveau, 64 Wine, Greenman Wines, Bradleys Cork

from a place that “respects nature in every aspect.”

From a hilltop farm in the hamlet of Vergne, close to the more famous Barolo commune, comes this superb wine produced from 100% Nebbiolo fruit. Quite a medley of aromatics includes red berries, roses, and herbs. Can be described as earthy! And so it continues on the palate, all those flavours plus a touch of liquorice, maybe chocolate,  right through a lingering finish. 

This Nebbiolo is a power-packed wine that is fresh and fruity with moderate tannins and a balanced acidity. Piemonte makes some super wines, and the Mezdi is an ideal and well-priced introduction to the area.

Importers Le Caveau say it is excellent with roasted butternut squash, wild mushroom risotto or Gorgonzola cheese. “Just the job too for grilled rib eye”, according to Brigid O’Hora’s new no-nonsense book “The Home Sommelier”. “The wine we drink every day at lunch paired with piatto di pasta or with a selection of salami and cheese,” say the producers.

In a nod to Piedmont's history and to portray the wines at their best, Casina Bric uses the Poirinotta bottle, which dates back to the 1700s. This bottle used to be produced near the village of Poirino, just a few kilometres from Turin, but it was later abandoned in favour of other containers from nearby France.

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Check out our Top 2023 Wines here.

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Check out the Good Value Wine List here

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• This post is part of a series on Italian wines made from native grapes and produced by usually small or medium-sized organic wineries. Taking some “guidance” here from the recently published VINO. They mightn’t always net the hat trick, but I hope to score two from the three each time. I have quite a few lined up, but I’m happy to consider any suggestions or help. #OrganicItaly
• See our expanding list (with short reviews, prices and stockists) of #OrganicItaly wines here

Sika brings new life to old venue in the heart of Blarney

Sika brings new life to old venue

 in the heart of Blarney.

Chicken Burger (17.50)

Sika, the relatively new café in Blarney, is superbly located in the heart of the old village, within walking distance of

Wicklow Wolf Mammoth IPA. The big, bad wolf is Beer of the Week

Wicklow Wolf Mammoth IPA 6.2% ABV, 440 ml can 

Beer of the Week!

the big, bad wolf of West Coast IPAs.

The Mammoth, big and bad, is one of the Alpha pack, the core range of Wicklow Wolf beers.

The colour is close to amber and clear, and it has a nice fluffy head that sinks quite slowly. It gets its name because "a mammoth amount" of Strata, Simcoe, Chinook, Cascade, and

Blarney Castle Gardens. November Sunshine

Blarney Castle Gardens

November Sunshine

(Pics taken 12th Nov 2023)

Blarney House

Fern Tree Garden

The Irish Executive Committee of Les Clef d'Or hosts the Executive Committee of Great Britain over a two day event at Fota Island Resort

 The Irish Executive Committee of Les Clef d'Or hosts the Executive Committee of Great Britain

over a two day event at  Fota Island Resort

 

Fota Island Resort was honoured to host the Irish Executive Committee of Les Clef d'Or who welcomed members of the Executive Committee of Great Britain to Cork on Monday, 11th November. The two-day event highlighted the five-star Fota Island Resort and the spectacular

Plaimont “La Table Du Malin” Madiran. From under the gaze of the Pyrenees. And, they say, "heart friendly"

Plaimont “La Table Du Malin” Madiran (AC) 2017, 13.5% ABV

Gift from France

 From under the gaze of the Pyrenees.

A Basque vineyard, near Saint Etienne de Baïgorry

Our 2017 Madiran, made from the Tannat grape, has one of the darkest

Adrift at Dunmore House takes top prize at prestigious Food&Wine Hotel Restaurant of the Year Awards

Adrift at Dunmore House takes top prize at prestigious  

Food&Wine Hotel Restaurant of the Year Awards

There were big celebrations for the family owned and run Dunmore House in Clonakilty on Sunday as Adrift, the fine dining restaurant at the 30 bedroom hotel, was announced as

Taste of the Week. Bó Rua Farm Cheddar with Fenugreek Seeds

Taste of the Week. 

Bó Rua Farm Cheddar with Fenugreek Seeds

Bó Rua Farm farmhouse cheese is made from cow’s milk, on Tom and Norma Dineen’s family farm in Ballynoe, Fermoy, Co. Cork.  The cheesemaking is seasonal, while the cows enjoy a grass diet outdoors. The cheddar is carefully produced, using traditional methods, and gently aged to develop a firm yet delicately creamy texture and a full, approachable flavour. Creamy, full, and approachable is an apt summation of this multi-award-winning cheese.

They have found a lot of truth in the old farmers' saying, “Look after the cows, and the cows will look after you. "This goes to the heart of everything we do at Bó Rua Farm, from raising and grazing our herd of Montbeliarde and Friesian cows to handcrafting our artisan, farmhouse cheese." See more at https://boruafarm.ie/.

And, now, just in time for Christmas, you can enjoy their Bó Rua Farm Cheddar with Fenugreek Seeds. While their superb regular Cheddar is widely available, this particular version, our Taste of the Week, is presently exclusively available at Simply Better at Dunnes Stores. 

 

Blond or Blonde? Lough Gill Irish Abbey Belgian Blond

Lough Gill Irish Abbey Belgian Blond: A Taste of Abbey Life

Blond or Blonde? 

Looking to get away from IPAs for a spell? Why not try a

Barnahown B&B, Star Of RTÉ’s At Your Service, Seeks Support For Crowdfunding Campaign To Help Part-Finance Its Phase Two Regenerative Tourism Project

 press release

Barnahown B&B, Star Of RTÉ’s At Your Service, Seeks Support For Crowdfunding Campaign To Help Part-Finance Its Phase Two Regenerative Tourism Project

Ciara gazes at the nearby mountains.

The luxurious low-Impact guesthouse in Mitchelstown, Co Cork aims to generate €50,000 via cash donations, gift voucher sales, and bookings for its bespoke ‘Run Your Own B&B’ and ‘Interiors Immersion’ experiences that will finance its Spring 2025 site preparations.

Acting on the expert advice given to her by the

The Silver Restaurant at Newbridge Silverware Wins Prestigious “Café of the Year” at the Good Food Ireland Awards 2024

 The Silver Restaurant at Newbridge Silverware Wins Prestigious “Café of the Year” at the Good Food Ireland Awards 2024

Darina Allen (Ballymaloe) with Newbridge Silverware's
Natasha Pivovarjonokam Restaurant Supervisor and Ronan Mackey, Restaurant Manager

 

The Silver Restaurant at Newbridge Silverware in Co Kildare has been crowned Café of the Year at the renowned Good Food Ireland Awards 2024. Sponsored by Ballymaloe Foods, this prestigious award celebrates The Silver Restaurant's commitment to quality, innovation, and the authentic Irish food experience that has captured the hearts of both locals and international visitors alike.

 

The award ceremony took place in the opulent

Gallina de Piel Ikigall Penedes. Enjoy it wherever, however, and with whomever you want.

Gallina de Piel Ikigall Vino Blanco Penedes (DOC) 2022, 13.0% ABV

RRP €21.95. Stockists:  Barnhill Stores, Martins Off Licence, The Granary Foodstore, McHughs Off Licences

enjoy it wherever, however, and with whomever you want.

With its eye-catching label art, the producers of this Spanish white wine exhort us to “enjoy it wherever, however, and with whomever you want.” And indeed, that kind of “permissiveness” applies to its making. Gallina de Piel does not have a vineyard but works “with local growers, selecting the best vineyards planted with indigenous grape varieties to create wines that emphasize elegance and freshness.”

Gallina de Piel is an exciting winemaking project by David Seijas, the former Head Sommelier at the three Michelin-starred restaurant El Bulli. David aims to

Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins at Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel Named "Hotel Restaurant of the Year" at Good Food Ireland Awards 2024

 Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins at Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel Named

 

"Hotel Restaurant of the Year" at Good Food Ireland Awards 2024

Oyster and Caviar at Forbes Street

 

Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins, located within Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel, has been awarded the prestigious title of "Hotel Restaurant of the Year" at the Good Food Ireland Awards 2024. Sponsored by Wine Consultants Ireland, the award celebrates excellence in Irish hospitality, recognising Forbes Street as a distinguished