Wines of Veneto, with Gerry Gunnigan

Gerry Gunnigan, of Libertry Wines Ireland – European Wine Merchant of the Year 2011 www.libertywines.ie , gave a masterclass on Wines of Veneto, Italy, to the students. The students tasted the wines of two of the iconic producers of this area, Pieropan and Allegrini, including Pieropan Soave and Allegrini Valpolicella, Allegrini Palazzo della Torre, Corte Giara Amarone della Valpolicella, and the amazing sweet red, Recioto della Valpolicella.

Christie Schulz, Turkey Flat Vineyards, Barossa Valley, South Australia

Christie Schulz, Turkey Flat Vineyards, Barossa Valley, South Australia Turkey Flat is more than just a vineyard and home of the best Barossa wines, it is a family business that forms a vital part of the region’s rich cultural history and heritage

It was here, on the banks of Tanunda Creek where bush turkeys once roamed, that pioneer Silesian settler Johann Friedrich August Fiedler planted the first Shiraz vines in 1847. His vines flourished and the land – Section One, in the Hundred of Moorooroo – was bought in 1865 by Gottlieb Ernst Schulz, a successful butcher who established a thriving retail business among the vines

Christie Schulz, Eileen O'Donovan, Suzie O'Connor

Butchering developed into dairying, but the vineyards were always kept, and eventually transformed the historic bluestone butchers shop into the cellar door and heart of their Turkey Flat wine business, and made sure that the vines that Fiedler planted so long ago, now gnarled and twisted, are still a vital part of the process

And with good reason, for it is the intense, concentrated fruit from these ancient vines that set Turkey Flat wines apart and have made them sought after the world over. With thanks to Susie O’Connor, Classic Drinks for arranging this visit www.classicdrinks.ie

Cesar Saldana, Consejo Regulador, Jerez

We were delighted to welcome César Saldaña, Director of DO Jerez, Manzanilla and Brandy of Jerez, to Ballymaloe.  He also is the General Manager of both CRDO Vinos de Jerez and CRDE Brandy de Jerez, the institution for Spain’s most important spirit.

His visit to Ballymaloe was a busy one -with three seperate events, in association with Wines of Spain and The Irish Times Readers Evening. See the Wines of Spain blog here on his visit, and also Billy Lyons ‘Restaurants and Food in Cork’ Blog here

This was a great opportunity for the students to learn more about the unique special wine that is Sherry. He is an expert on Sherry – its wines, food, culture and history, and a great Sherry ‘Ambassador’, on what is becoming a very fashionable drink once again – Sherry. www.sherry.org  . Ballymaloe Cookery School also run a ‘Tapas & Sherry’ course, three times a year – further details here.

 

Cesar Saldana pictured here with Darina Allen

Pascal Rossignol, Le Caveau, Kilkenny

Pascal Rossignol, of Le Caveau, Kilkenny (and originally from Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy) gave another of his masterclass wine presentations to the students, on wines from Burgundy and The South-West of France. A great wine class and tasting was much enjoyed and appreciated by the students. Our thanks once again to Pascal www.lecaveau.ie

Next time you are in Kilkenny City, do drop in to Le Caveau- a small, but lovely wine shop on the Market yard 

Le Caveau – Market Yard – Kilkenny Tel: 056 775 2166 Fax: 056 775 2101

Cristobel Socias, Santa Alicia, Chile

Santa Alicia have been producing wines in the heart of Maipo Valley since 1954. With grapes from three select communes, a state of the art winery, and judicious use of the finest American and French oak barrels, the wines represent  good price/quality ratio.

In 2007, they were named Chilean Wine Producer of the Year for “best overall results from a Chilean winery” in the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition in London.

Cristobel Socias, Santa Alicia, Chile, pictured with Michael Kane, Curious Wines, Cork www.curiouswines.ie

Enrique Garcia, Bodegas Pingon, Ribera del Duero, Spain

The Ribera del Duero is probably the most exciting area of Spain from a wine perspective. There are many similarities between Rioja and Ribera del Duero. While the wines are quite distinctive as a result of significant differences in terroir, both regions produce wines selected for long aging with highly complex vinification procedures, producing intense, extremely long-lived wines. Wines are classified as much for their longevity as their grape quality, and Ribera del Duero produces some extremely fine wines capable of aging for many years. Bodegas Pingón is one of the best producers in the Ribera del Duero consistently producing  award winning wines.

Visit of Enrique Garcia, Bodegas Pingon, Ribera del Duero, Spain  pictured here with Darina Allen and Billy Forrester, Bubble Brothers Wine Merchants, Cork www.bubblebrothers.com

Sherry Talk and Tasting with César Saldaña, Consejo Regulador, Sherry at the Grainstore at Ballymaloe House.

Wine Event at Ballymaloe

Sherry Talk and Tasting with César Saldaña, Consejo Regulador, Sherry

 

For a world class presentation & tasting of different styles of Sherry, on his first ever visit to this part of Ireland, in association with Wines of Spain.

 

The Grain Store at Ballymaloe,  Wednesday 25th May, 7pm,  €10

 

César Saldaña is a passionate and expert speaker on Sherry – its wines, food, culture and history. He is the Director of Sherry – the Consejo Regulador, and is without doubt the worlds best speaker on Sherry – a world renowned Sherry ‘Ambassador’, on what is becoming a very fashionable drink once again – Sherry. A great opportunity to learn more about the unique special wine that is Sherry, and taste its many different styles, including Manzanilla, Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso, Pedro Ximenez.  An evening not to be missed. All welcome.

The Grain Store at Ballymaloe,

Ballymaloe House, Shanagarry, Co. Cork,

Mob: 083 3631468.    Tel: 021 4652531

e-mail: thegrainstore@ballymaloe.ie

 

 

 

Also:

Thursday 26th May, 8.00pm – Sherry Dinner at Ballymaloe House

Sherry Dinner with César Saldaña in association with The Irish Times Readers Evening, and John Wilson, wine writer, The Irish Times, and also in association with Wines of Spain. A specially selected menu will be matched to specially selected Sherry at each course. Please note that booking for this Sherry Dinner, on Thursday 26th May, at Ballymaloe House, will have to be made directly through The Irish Times Readers Evening office.

Neil Ellis Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

We were delighted to welcome Neil Ellis, owner & winemaker, Neil Ellis Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa.  www.neilellis.com (pictured here with Pascal Playon and William Tindal)

Mindful that no single vineyard can satisfy the needs of all grape varieties, Neil Ellis set out to identify distinct terroir in which individual varieties will excel. He placed the emphasis not only on the environment but also on caring viticultural practises by a dedicated team of growers which extends through to the winemaking practices, to make distinctive, refined wines that are expressive of their terroir and rank amongst South Africa’s finest.

Today the journey of Neil Ellis Wines is not only of Neil Ellis anymore, but a team of young, dedicated winemakers harnessed in their pursuit of quality winemaking. After four decades of making wine, the next stage of the journey has begun with Neil’s son, Warren, sharing responsibilities as winemaker and viticulturist.

Our thanks to William Tindal and Pascal Playon of Tindal Wine Merchants for organizing this visit. www.tindalwine.com

Felix & Aura Meyer, Meyer-Fonne, Alsace, France

 Our thanks to Pascal Rossignol, of Le Caveau Fine Wine Merchant, Kilkenny - Pascal is well-known to students of the 12-week Cookery Course at Ballymaloe Cookery School for his fantastic wine presentations and tastings.  Our thanks to Pascal for aranging this visit www.lecaveau.ie
Within few years, Felix Meyer has built a solid reputation in Alsace. Working extremely hard in the vineyard, keeping yields ridiculously low, the immense quality of the granitic soils of Katzenthal is reflected in every single of Felix wines. No other grower in the area produces wines with such precision, purity and expression of terroir.

Vinification takes place in traditional large “foudres”, on fine lees similarly to Leonard and Olivier Humbrecht with whom Felix worked for several years before returning to his 11-ha family estate.

“Felix Meyer is one of the more ambitious and successful young vignerons of Alsace”. Wine Advocate

“…one day at my place in the south of France, in the company of Domaine Tempier’s Daniel Ravier, I was tasting through an assortment of samples from all over the country. We lowered our noses into glasses of a Pinot Blanc. Hmm,  old vines, who’s that? Meyer-Fon … We looked up at each other, eyes widening. HEY, that smells great. Wow, the stuff wine dreams are made of. We continued through the domaine’s samples with huge smiles and oohs and aahs, enjoying that rare thrill of recognition that you experience when you discover something crucial in your glass.

Not long after that, there I was in Katzenthal near Ammerschwihr, tasting with Monsieur Meyer: impeccable vinification, purity of expression, depths of interest, a strong sense of terroir, stylishness, class, and pure hedonistic pleasure, too. Grosse tête is French for egotistical, blinded by self-importance, conceited. Félix Meyer is the opposite of a grosse tête. He still has humility, still has a sense of wonder, and is still capable of self-criticism. He is a seeker and a perfectionist. Quantities are limited because while he makes several different cuvées, the domaine has only eleven hectares of vines” Kermit Lynch.

Pictured during their recent visit to Ireland, at Ballymaloe Cookery School, Felix & Aura Meyer, owner/winemaker, Meyer-Fonne, Alsace, France, with Florence Bowe.

David Ling, Hugel, Alsace

Hugel wines, established since 1639, and in the same family ever since, are one of the best known and longest established family wine names in France. We were delighted to welcome David Ling back to Ballymaloe, and our thanks to Richard Magnier and all the team at Findlater Wine and Spirit Group for arranging this visit, and for their continuing sponsorship of the prize for the wine exam of the 12week cookery course.

David Ling, Richard Magnier with Darina Allen