Brave New World

A diary date for Dublin wine nuts: McCabes seventh wine festival will be held on Wednesday November 11th from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Blackrock Rugby Club, Stradbrook. Although this year's theme is the New World (keep a special look-out for Australia's Cape Mentelle and New Zealand sister Cloudy Bay, plus Plaisir de Merle from South Africa), the Old World will be in there fighting for recognition (e.g. Chateau Palmer and Bollinger Grande Annee. There will be plenty of more affordable bottles, too, among the 200 on offer, and three masterclasses. Tickets £6 from McCabes, 51-54 Mount Merrion Avenue, tel 01-288 2037.