Month: December 2019

John Wilson one of Ireland’s best known wine writers recently gave a wine talk and tasting to the 12-week certificate students on the wine regions and wines of Spain. John Wilson is the Irish Times wine & drinks correspondent and has 20 years of practical experience in the wine trade under his belt. He is author of the annual wine guide ‘Wilson on Wine – Wines to drink this year’.

His other wine writing including editing ‘The Wine Guide’ Ireland’s best ever selling wine book. Most of all as he says himself he likes a glass of decent wine!

Wine talk and tasting – via Skype – with winemaker Kosie Van Der Merwe, Elgin Ridge Wines, Elgin, South Africa

Kosie spoke to the 12-week certificate students about organic and biodynamic work in the vineyard and making wine with minimal intervention in the winery. The students also enjoyed the tasting of Elgin Ridge Sauvignon Blanc.

Irish owner Marion Smith (Marion’s family are originally from Co.Cavan, and Marion lived in Dublin before moving to London), explains why she wanted to farm organically: “Having sold our successful IT business in London we decided it was time to pursue a dream we had always nurtured: to make outstanding wines in small quantities that reflected our passion. We searched most of the wine growing regions in Europe, but eventually concluded the Elgin Valley in South Africa was the ideal place to realise this dream”Elgin Ridge also has Dexter cattle, the miniature cattle breed native to Ireland, along with Dorper sheep, Peking ducks and chickens.