We were delighted to welcome back Jean Smullen to the cookery school. Jean gave a tutored tasting on wines from Chile and New Zealand. Our thanks once again for another fantastic wine presentation.
She began her wine career in 1991 with the Wine Development Board where she was instrumental in the development of a countrywide wine education programme. Since 1999 she has been working in a freelance capacity offering a unique consultancy service to the wine trade.    Â
In 2006, 2007 and 2008 Jean was invited to participate as a wine judge in Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, one of the wine world’s best known international blind tasting competition. This year she also participated as a wine judge in the 2009 Concours Mondial which took place in Valencia in April 2009.  She has been invited to participate in the 2010 event in Palermo, Sicily. Â
Jean held the position of secretary to the Irish Guild of Sommeliers from September 2007 to January 2009 and is currently a member of the Council of the Irish Guild of Sommeliers.     Â
Jean is a member of the international Circle of Wine Writers and writes a monthly column for Retail News, one of Ireland’s retail trade magazines. She presents a regular wine slot with the national news station, Newstalk as part of the Sean Moncrieff Show, which broadcasts a nationwide “Movies and Booze” feature on a Friday afternoons from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Jean’s website www.jeansmullen.com features the wine diary for the Republic of Ireland which highlights forthcoming trade and consumer events. This site provides a key planning role for all wine events taking place in Ireland.  Â
Photo attached – Jean Smullen with some of the students.