Taking a break from wine? Kombucha and kefir are great alternativesJohn Wilson: Irish producers of fermented and unfermented drinks include King of Kefir, SynerChi, Green Beards and SiSúSat Jan 07 2023 - 05:00
France has calvados. Ireland now has its own excellent apple brandy, rum and ice wineLongueville House, Highbank Orchards, Nohoval, Killahora and other craft producers deserve our supportWed Dec 28 2022 - 05:00
Wines and beers to complement the gutsy, strong flavours of winter warmersFind the ideal liquid companion to get the temperature and tastes you want as the weather turns coldTue Dec 27 2022 - 05:00
What is a good present to buy for a wine lover?How to Drink Better: Go for quality rather than quantity, and seek advice from a good wine shopSun Dec 18 2022 - 05:00
John Wilson’s 12 favourite wines of the yearA selection of wines costing from €7.99 to €35 that stood out as offering something specialSat Dec 17 2022 - 05:00
Hollow Leg: At last, alcohol-free wine that tastes really good – and is from an Irish label Wines for the Weekend: This new range of red, white and sparkling wine could be a gamechangerFri Dec 16 2022 - 05:00
John Wilson: The right glasses will actually make your wine taste betterHow to Drink Better: It may be worth investing in some new wine glasses, and there is something for everyone at all price pointsSun Dec 11 2022 - 05:00
Bottles under €20 for budget-friendly Christmas cheerJohn Wilson: Richer and more powerful styles of wine can stand up to the demands of turkey and trimmingsSat Dec 10 2022 - 05:00
John Wilson: Two tawnies to enjoy during the cold spellWines for the Weekend: What better time to enjoy an evening glass of warming port or other fortified wine?Fri Dec 09 2022 - 05:00
Is champagne worth the hefty expenditure?How to Drink Better: Good Champagne is a luxury product that is heavily taxed in IrelandSun Dec 04 2022 - 05:00
Decent party wine for €10? Try these good value whites, a red and a proseccoJohn Wilson: Serve your wine in half-filled large tulip-shaped glasses for the best tasteSat Dec 03 2022 - 05:00
John Wilson: Two good-value wines from Lidl that would go down a treat this ChristmasWines for the Weekend: Both are French. The white is a nicely rounded Alsace Riesling, the red a full-bodied but smooth Plan de DieuFri Dec 02 2022 - 10:24
Should we drink red wine with red meat, or is it down to personal preference?How to Drink Better: `I have a good friend who dislikes red wine and drinks Chardonnay with everything’Sun Nov 27 2022 - 06:00
Vanilla, spice and all things nice: Four Riojas to tryJohn Wilson: Most of us still prefer the traditional style of Rioja, usually a Reserva when we can afford it, especially with our Christmas turkeySat Nov 26 2022 - 05:00
John Wilson: Two wines with particularly ancient lineages to try, both from Aldi Wines for the Weekend: The white, a Greco di Tufo, is from the volcanic mountains overlooking Naples. The red is from Bakaa Valley, in LebanonFri Nov 25 2022 - 09:16
John Wilson: It does not need to be all white on the night if you are having fish for dinnerHow to Drink Better: In general, white wines pair best with fish but in some cases a red that’s light in tannins can be a great matchSun Nov 20 2022 - 05:00
Four must-try Portuguese red and white winesJohn Wilson: At a tasting recently, I came across an old favourite of mine, Pegos Claros Reserva – it’s great value for money and widely availableSat Nov 19 2022 - 05:00
John Wilson: Two star wines from Dunnes Stores that you won’t regret raiding the piggy bank forWines for the Weekend: Markus Huber is one of Austria’s most talented winemakers. His Grüner Veltliner and Pinot Noir are outstanding – and great valueFri Nov 18 2022 - 10:57
Should I always drink red wine with meat and white wine with fish?How to Drink Better: If you don’t know a lot about wine, but would like to know more, this new series will help you get to grips with itSun Nov 13 2022 - 05:00
New Irish whiskeys that would make great Christmas presentsJohn Wilson: Offerings from Dingle Distillery, Wayward Irish Spirits, Lakeview and TeelingsSat Nov 12 2022 - 05:00
John Wilson: Two good-value French wines from SuperValu that go down a treat on winter eveningsWines for the Weekend: A rich, ripe Viognier from Languedoc, and a classic Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon BordeauxFri Nov 11 2022 - 08:33
John Wilson: Here is how to make your cheap wine taste betterHow to Drink Better: Mix good and less good wines together, serve it with food, and use your best glasses even if it’s an inexpensive bottleSun Nov 06 2022 - 05:00
Amarone: a rich red wine that pairs perfectly with winter dishesExpect to pay about €50 for a bottle of good amarone from the Veneto region of ItalySat Nov 05 2022 - 05:00
John Wilson: Two bottles to try from O’Briens’ Christmas 2022 line-up Wines for the Weekend: A Sauvignon Blanc from the Leyda Valley, in Chile, and a red Bordeaux, from FranceFri Nov 04 2022 - 11:16
John Wilson: Does the word ‘reserva’ on the label mean my wine will taste better?How to Drink BetterSun Oct 30 2022 - 05:00
Time to start thinking about Christmas winesJohn Wilson: A keenly priced Bordeaux that will have you reaching for that second glass, and two natural wines to trySat Oct 29 2022 - 05:00
John Wilson: Two star wines to try from your local independent off-licenceWines for the Weekend: A light, refreshing white from Veneto, in northern Italy, and a smooth, rounded Rioja, from northern SpainFri Oct 28 2022 - 11:54
John Wilson: Will wine taste better if I wait a couple of years before drinking it?How to Drink Better: Not all wines benefit from cellar ageing, but some do, even for a year or twoSun Oct 23 2022 - 13:39
Chile steps up with wines for all palates and pocketsJohn Wilson: Cabernet sauvignon-based wines from the South American country fall in style between leaner Bordeaux and the opulent ripeness of Napa ValleySat Oct 22 2022 - 05:00
John Wilson: These two wines are very good value at Tesco — as long as you have a ClubcardWines for the Weekend: This French white and Spanish red are both light enough to serve by themselves this party seasonFri Oct 21 2022 - 10:30
If you find ever-stronger wines hard to handle, choose bottles from cooler climatesGerman and Australian Riesling and Italian Pinot Grigio are usually lower in alcoholSun Oct 16 2022 - 05:00
Avoid big names and fancy labels, spend at least €12: John Wilson on how to find Ireland’s best-value winesPay €8 for a bottle of wine and very little of that money will reach the producer. Increase your budget to find the sweet spot between price and qualitySat Oct 15 2022 - 04:00
John Wilson: Two good-value wines to try from Lidl’s seasonal rangeWines for the Weekend: This red Bordeaux is particularly good value. But don’t pass by the white Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi eitherFri Oct 14 2022 - 10:30
Pinot Noir is perfect for both autumn and winterJohn Wilson: If you enjoy smoother, more elegant red wines, this grape variety is the best choiceSun Oct 09 2022 - 05:00
How to Drink Better: Why does drinking some wines give me a sore head?How to Drink Better: Sulphites are often blamed, but they are unlikely to be the true culpritSun Oct 09 2022 - 05:00
John Wilson: Two great-value Aldi wines to try from one of my favourite regionsWines for the Weekend: This Encruzado white and Touriga Nacional red are both from Dão, in PortugalFri Oct 07 2022 - 08:30
How to Drink Better: Can I give a screw-cap wine as a gift?How to Drink Better: No reason for complaint if given a quality bottle of screw-cap wineSun Oct 02 2022 - 05:00
Bar 1661 leads the way in cocktails with a poitín punchJohn Wilson: Four poitíns to include in your cocktail kit, all available online or from specialist retailersSat Oct 01 2022 - 05:00
John Wilson: Two well-known wines at very keen prices, both from O’BriensWines for the Weekend: A light, fresh Muscadet, from northwestern France, and an unoaked Rioja, from northeastern SpainFri Sept 30 2022 - 08:44
I’m planning a party for a group of 18-year-olds. What’s a good drinks plan?How to Drink Better: Alcohol and partying teenagers - what are the strength guidelines?Sun Sept 25 2022 - 05:00
As the weather turns cooler, it’s time to change what’s in your glassJohn Wilson: Here are some Italian wines that match the season perfectlySat Sept 24 2022 - 05:00
John Wilson: Two very good, well-priced wines from Lidl’s new autumn line-upWines for the Weekend: One of the best dry Rieslings I’ve tried recently, from Germany, and a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva, from ItalyFri Sept 23 2022 - 08:05
John Wilson: Leftover wine? Here’s how to save it for later without deteriorationHow to Drink Better: there are various gadgets to protect against oxygen and prevent loss of flavourSun Sept 18 2022 - 05:00
Four elegant wines perfect for drinking on cool autumn eveningsJohn Wilson: Garnacha can have high levels of alcohol, giving it a sensation of sweetness even though it is drySat Sept 17 2022 - 05:00
John Wilson: You really should try these Albert Glas bargains before SuperValu’s wine sale endsWines for the Weekend: This Riesling Trocken and Pinot Noir are classic examples of their variety, and are very keenly priced tooFri Sept 16 2022 - 08:34
How to Drink Better: When to chill a red wine and warm up a whiteHow to Drink Better: Serving your wines at the correct temperature will make them taste betterSun Sept 11 2022 - 05:00
Wines to conjure up memories of summer in a glassJohn Wilson: Pet Nat are great thirst-quenching wines, best served well chilledSat Sept 10 2022 - 05:00
John Wilson: Two great-value vegan wines from O’Briens to try, a white and a red for €9.95 eachWines for the Weekend: Not all bottles are suitable for vegans or even vegetarians. This pair from Alicante, in Spain, fit the billFri Sept 09 2022 - 08:23
A whiskey of the sea, the land and the fruit: ‘It seems strange, but it really works’John Wilson: Currach Single Malt Whiskey Atlantic Seaweed Cask is unique and deliciousWed Sept 07 2022 - 05:00
Four bargain supermarket wines to ease your September bluesJohn Wilson: We should be thankful that the annual round of supermarket wine sales has startedSat Sept 03 2022 - 05:00
