Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine

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!

http://guides.ie/megabites/jancis-robinson-mw-ballymaloe-litfest-leslie-williams

http://www.jancisrobinson.com/tasting_articles/ta20130508.html

http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/a201305091.html

http://www.corkbilly.com/2013/05/the-ballymaloe-litfest-not-book-just.html

 

Jancis Robinson MW Wine Grapes presentation and tasting at the Literary Festival
Jancis Robinson MW Wine Grapes presentation and tasting at the Literary Festival

 

olm pictured with Jancis Robinson MW at Ballymaloe Literary Festival
olm pictured with Jancis Robinson MW at Ballymaloe Literary Festival
Ger Buckley, Master Cooper, Midleton Distillery pictured with Bill Yosses, Pastry Chef, The White House
Ger Buckley, Master Cooper, Midleton Distillery pictured with Bill Yosses, Pastry Chef, The White House

 

Tom Doorley and John Wilson 'Wine & Words'
Tom Doorley and John Wilson ‘Wine & Words’
Peter Corr and Literary Festival wine & drinks crew
Peter Corr and Literary Festival wine & drinks crew

 

Douro - still and fortified with Maurice O'Mahony, Wine Alliance
Douro – still and fortified with Maurice O’Mahony, Wine Alliance

 

Mary Dowey and Pascal Rossignol 'Going Natural - New Trends'
Mary Dowey and Pascal Rossignol ‘Going Natural – New Trends’

 

Ger Buckley, Master Cooper, Midleton Distillery
Ger Buckley, Master Cooper, Midleton Distillery

 

Sherry with Leslie Williams, wine writer, the Irish Examiner
Sherry with Leslie Williams, wine writer, the Irish Examiner

 

Rieslings to be Cheerful with John McDonnell, Wine Australia Ireland
Rieslings to be Cheerful with John McDonnell, Wine Australia Ireland
Nick Lander, Joe McNamee, Paul Flynn and Niamh Shields
Nick Lander, Joe McNamee, Paul Flynn and Niamh Shields
Single Pot Still Whiskey from Midleton Distillery matched with Irish Farmhouse Cheese by L Mulligan
Single Pot Still Whiskey from Midleton Distillery matched with Irish Farmhouse Cheese by L Mulligan

 

A Wine Goose Show with Susan Boyle
A Wine Goose Show with Susan Boyle

 

Pierpaolo Rapuzzi, Ronchi di Cialla, Friuli
Pierpaolo Rapuzzi, Ronchi di Cialla, Friuli

 

Penfolds Grange and The Rewards of Patience with John McDonnell, Wine Australia Ireland
Penfolds Grange and The Rewards of Patience with John McDonnell, Wine Australia Ireland
John Wilson, The Irish Times and Juan Gil, Albarino, Rias Baixas
John Wilson, The Irish Times and Juan Gil, Albarino, Rias Baixas

 

Tom Lynch, El Comandante Wines, Mendoza
Tom Lynch, El Comandante Wines, Mendoza
Wine & Literature with John Wilson, wine writer, The Irish Times
Wine & Literature with John Wilson, wine writer, The Irish Times

 

 

William O'Callaghan, Longueville Irish Apple Brandy and Cider
William O’Callaghan, Longueville Irish Apple Brandy and Cider
Maurice, Pascal and Geraldine checking the wines for Wine Grapes with Jancis Robinson MW
Maurice, Pascal and Geraldine checking the wines.
Sherry in The Big Shed
Sherry in The Big Shed
Daphne launching the literary festival with Nyetimber
Daphne launching the literary festival with Nyetimber
John Bowman with the box office crew - Nicola, Aoife and Ka
John Bowman with the box office crew – Nicola, Aoife and Ka

 

 

Sacha with delicious Iberico Ham for the Sherry
Sacha with delicious Iberico Ham for the Sherry

 

The Big Shed Fringe at the literary festival
The Big Shed Fringe at the literary festival

 

 

Clos des Papes, Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Delighted to recently welcome back to Ballymaloe, Paul-Vincent Avril, Clos des Papes, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhone. Clos des Papes needs little introduction in Ireland – his brother-in-law is Bill Kelly of Kellys Hotel Rosslare, and indeed, Clos des Papes needs little introduction in the world of wine, being much enjoyed by people who enjoy good wine, along with great reviews, including respected wine writers, Jancis Robinson MW here where she is writing about the 2010 vintage in the Rhone, and Mary Dowey here (Mary is a renowned expert on this part of France – Southern Rhone and Provence, and her blog is well worth following www.provencefoodandwine.com Clos des Papes also were awarded in 2007 ‘Wine of the Year’ by Wine Spectator and Producer of the Year 2010 by Le Grand Guide des Vin de France – Brettane & Desseauve.

Paul-Vincent Avril, Clos des Papes
Paul-Vincent Avril, Clos des Papes, at Ballymaloe

 

 

Easter tasting at Ballymaloe

Our annual Easter wine tasting for guests of the house, at Ballymaloe, was this year given by Fionn Little of Bubble Brothers Wine Merchants, Cork.

The guests enjoyed what was a fantastic line-up of wines from Bubble Brothers,  including Chateau Beaucastel and Avignonesi including their rare Vin Santo

André Clouet Grand Cru Réserve Brut NV
André Clouet Grand Cru Réserve Brut NV

 

 

Avignonesi line-up of red wines
Avignonesi line-up of red wines

Avignonesi Rosso di Montepulciano 2009

Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Grande Annate 2006

Avignonesi Desiderio Cortona 2006

 Château de Beaucastel "Coudoulet de Beaucastel" Côtes du Rhône 2007  & 2009
Château de Beaucastel "Coudoulet de Beaucastel" Côtes du Rhône 2007 & 2009

 

Avignonesi Vin Santo 1997
Avignonesi Vin Santo 1997

Avignonesi Vin Santo 1997 – this was  a real, rare treat – the reputation preceding the tasting of this unique Vin Santo, lived up to its expectations in the glass! Please see the link here to learn more about the Avignonesi Vin Santo

Fionn Little with his grandmother, Mrs. Myrtle Allen, and some of the guests enjoying the tasting.
Fionn Little with his grandmother, Mrs. Myrtle Allen, and some of the guests enjoying the tasting.

Simon Tyrrell, Tyrrell & Co

Delighted to welcome to the cookery school, Simon & Emma Tyrrell of The Wine Store, and Tyrrell & Co wine merchants – five times winner of ‘Wine Merchant of the Year’ Award in Ireland. Simon is also an acclaimed winemaker,  making wine in the Rhone Valley.

Simon spoke to the students, ahead of his presentation and tasting tonight in Cork – at L’Attitude 51, Corks new Wine Cafe, where Simon will be presenting a Rhone tasting this evening at 7.30pm

Simon & Emma Tyrrell with Rachel Allen
Rachel Allen, and Simon & Emma Tyrrell
Simon Tyrrell and Darina Allen talking to the students
Simon Tyrrell and Darina Allen talking to the students