We were delighted to join in with the week long celebration of Sherry for World Sherry Day (week)
We had a Sherry talk and tasting here in the school for the students on all things Sherry, We were delighted to be joined by Rafael Salazar, of Vinostito, who is orginally from Cadiz, Andalucia, so Rafeal and Colm were delighted to introduce the students to Sherry – its culture, history, tradition, food, and of course Sherry.
Some photos here to capture a day, which we all really enjoyed. More details to follow on the Sherry and tasting notes.
Some previous Sherry events at Ballymaloe are listed here
Colm, Rafael and all the students. Salud!Rafael and Darina raise a glass of Manzanilla to toast World Sherry DayPam and Rafael
The inaugural international Literary Festival of Food and Wine took place at Ballymaloe House, Grainstore and Cookery School over the May Bank Holiday wekend, 3 – 6 May. A magical weekend was had, with many wine & drinks events, and here are a selection of photographs and some links to write-up on the weekend. We are already looking forward to 2014 Literary Festival!
Jancis Robinson MW Wine Grapes presentation and tasting at the Literary Festival
olm pictured with Jancis Robinson MW at Ballymaloe Literary FestivalGer Buckley, Master Cooper, Midleton Distillery pictured with Bill Yosses, Pastry Chef, The White House
Tom Doorley and John Wilson ‘Wine & Words’Peter Corr and Literary Festival wine & drinks crew
Douro – still and fortified with Maurice O’Mahony, Wine Alliance
Mary Dowey and Pascal Rossignol ‘Going Natural – New Trends’
Ger Buckley, Master Cooper, Midleton Distillery
Sherry with Leslie Williams, wine writer, the Irish Examiner
Rieslings to be Cheerful with John McDonnell, Wine Australia IrelandNick Lander, Joe McNamee, Paul Flynn and Niamh ShieldsSingle Pot Still Whiskey from Midleton Distillery matched with Irish Farmhouse Cheese by L Mulligan
A Wine Goose Show with Susan Boyle
Pierpaolo Rapuzzi, Ronchi di Cialla, Friuli
Penfolds Grange and The Rewards of Patience with John McDonnell, Wine Australia IrelandJohn Wilson, The Irish Times and Juan Gil, Albarino, Rias Baixas
Tom Lynch, El Comandante Wines, MendozaWine & Literature with John Wilson, wine writer, The Irish Times
William O’Callaghan, Longueville Irish Apple Brandy and CiderMaurice, Pascal and Geraldine checking the wines.Sherry in The Big ShedDaphne launching the literary festival with NyetimberJohn Bowman with the box office crew – Nicola, Aoife and Ka
With Eric Narioo of Les Caves des Pyrène and Pascal Rossignol of Le Caveau
Talk and wine tasting of a selection of artisan wines, at Ballymaloe House, Sunday 26th May, 6pm
Eric from Les Caves de Pyrène, Surrey, and Pascal from Le Caveau, Kilkenny, both specialise in artisan wines sourced from individual growers, that are ‘true to where they come from, which are made by hand with minimal interventions in the vineyard and winery, and which show maximum respect for nature and the environment’.
Vino Bellotti Bianco 2011, Cascina Degli Ulivi (Piemonte, Italy)
Vouvray ‘la Dilettante’ 2011, Pierre et Catherine Breton (Loire Valley, France)
Vitovska Amphora 2007, Vodopivec (Friuli, Italy)
Cheverny Rouge 2011, Clos Tue-Boeuf (Loire Valley, France)
Vino di Anna 2011, Eric Narioo and Anna Martens (Etna, Sicily, Italy)
Peza do Rei 2010, Adega Cachin (Ribera Sacra, Spain)
Villalobos ‘Wild Vineyards’ Carignan Reserve 2010 (Colchagua Valley, Chile)
This is a great opportunity to listen to two passionate and experienced wine experts in this area, over a very pleasent, informal, yet educational talk, and a tasting of different artisan wines.
Sunday 26th May, 6pm, at Ballymaloe. €15
To reserve places, please contact Colm colm@ballymaloe.ie  Tel 086 0859034
We held a Sherry Dinner in the Big Shed at Ballymaloe, showcasing the Sherry from Gonzalez Byass, on the Friday evening, 3rd May, for the Bord Bia Taste Council Summer School, during the weekend of the Literary Festival of Food and Wine.
Ted Berner, of Wildside Catering (and sherry fan!) and his team of chefs created a wonderful dinner matched with Gonzalez Byass Sherry, including Tio Pepe Fino, Tio Pepe En-Rama Fino, AB Amontillado and Palo Cortado Leonor. Thank to Oscar Bayo and all at Gonzalez Byass for their great support, and to all at Barry & Fitzwilliam for their fantastic support as always. We also had a traditonal venencia on hand for people to try their hand at pouring their own Sherry.
The inaugural wine served in the Big Shed was Sherry – won’t be the last time….
During her Wine Grapes presentation at the Literary Festival, Jancis Robinson MW showed a Equipo Navazos La Bota Palo Cortado as one of the seven wines shown, and a show of hands at the end of the night, showed just how well recieved it was, being one of the most popular in the show of hands. Sherry on a roll?
Leslie Williams, wine writer, The Examiner, also very kindly presented the Fino & Manzanilla tasting during the weekend, and that was also very well recieved, along with Sacha Whelan’s Iberico Jamon. Simply Delicious!
Some pictures capturing the set-up for the Sherry Dinner in The Big Shed at Ballymaloe
Sherry and BarrelsTasting the Tio Pepe Fino En-Rama. Thumbs-up!
Setting up for Sherry & Tapas in Big ShedPour your own Sherry using a traditional venenciaSally, Con, Ivan and John – all Sherry fansAll set up for Sherry & Tapas
Some other recent Sherry events at Ballymaloe include visit of Oscar Bayo from Gonzalez Byass and also the visit of the Consejo Regulador Jerez in assoc with Wine of Spain, and a pop-up Sherry bar at Cork Food Festival. There is a Tapas & Sherry course, run three times at year at the cookery school, and we have a Sherry module during the 12-week cookery course.
We are also planning an event to mark World Sherry Day/Week here on Wed 22nd May – pls e-mail colm@ballymaloe.ie if you are interested in this.
