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
We had a Masterclass from Master Cooper, Ger Buckley, Midleton Distillery who gave a presentation to the students of the 12-week course on the ancient craft of Cooperage. Ger dismantled a barrel using the various ancient tools that are still in use to this very day, and talked us through it stage by stage, and he then re-assembled the barrel. It was a truly fascinating presentation much enjoyed by the students, and our thanks to Ger. Also see our recent visit to Midleton Distillery here
Ballymaloe recently enoyed a tour and tasting of the local Midleton Distillery – just to refresh our memory – and tastebuds, of course! Irish Distillers recently won the award of ‘World Distiller of the Year’ and Best Pot Still Whiskey for their ‘Powers John’s Lane Reserve. Congratulations to all the team in Midleton Distillery – well deserved.
A short photographic tour of a great, educational day for us all in Ballymaloe. Our thanks to Brian, Kevin, Ger, Terry, Dave and all at Midleton Distillery.
Jameson Experience at Midleton DistilleryGer Buckley, Master Cooper and Brian Nation, Whiskey Distiller, pictured with the Ballymaloe team in the Midleton Cooperage - fascinating to learn about this great craft.A visit to the maturing warehouses - Cathrina and Thomas pictured with Ger BuckleyHazel and GerDaphne and Brian NationEnjoying the visit to Midleton Distillery                 with Terry Dancklefsen and Barbara HackettA great Whiskey tasting
Last year, in May 2011, we welcomed to Ballymaloe, Cesar Saldana, Consejo Regulador, Jerez, in association with Wines of Spain and The Irish Times Readers Evening – Cesar gave a fantastic Sherry Masterclass in The Grain Store in Ballymaloe, as part of our on-going series of wine events at Ballymaloe, and also hosted a Sherry & Food matching dinner, with John Wilson, wine writer, The Irish Times.
Pictured below, on his visit to Midleton Distillery, is Cesar Saldana, with Kevin O’Gorman, Irish Distillers, and Colm, pictured alongside some Sherry Butts which along with Bourbon Casks, and Port Pipes, are used also for maturing Irish Whiskey.
Cesar Saldana, Consejo Regulador, Jerez, pictured with Kevin O'Gorman and Colm
