Festive fizz
Who can say no to free fizz?
Prosecco, champagne, cava, you name it: sparkling wine makes you think of something to celebrate (even if that’s simply 5pm).
Back in 2023 a new wine shop opened in Athlone called Wines Direct, which started as a family-run store in Mullingar. Besides having physical retail locations the company also operates a delivery service.
What sets this business apart is the ongoing partnership with international wine producers and a passion to educate customers on the best wines, which you can experience in person at the stores during their regular wine tasting events.
No time to waste, there’s wine to taste!
Since the opening of the Athlone shop I have been following Wines Direct on social media and I found out that there was going to be a festive-themed sparkling wine tasting event so I went along.
The event gave customers the opportunity to sample a selection of sparkling wines and champagne, have a few nibbles and learn about wineries in France, Spain, Italy and more.
These were the wines I tried:
Wellanschitz Austrian sparkling rosé
Colutta Italian Ribolla sparkling white wine
J. Charpentier French champagne.
That weekend you could also buy wines at 20% off on handpicked lines.
In the J. Charpentier champagnes there were a few to choose from and I tasted the Blanc de Blancs and the Millésime 2018 (vintage year and top of the range). The latter, in particular, was described to me as “creamy” (“buttery” on the website) and I must say the mouth feel when sampling it was like a rich and fruity sauce.
My favourite wine from the ones I tasted was the Ribolla and that has nothing to do with the fact I’m Italian. It had the most interesting flavour profile with a touch of bitterness and sweetness.
What I’ve learned from the wine tasting
Did you know that there are Irish producers who are growing grapes commercially in Ireland to make wine? For example, there are grapes being grown in polytunnels in Skerries that have been specifically chosen for the local conditions. I asked about what type of soil these growers use, as grapes prefer well-draining and nutrient-poor soil, and I was told how the soil mix and the watering schedule are important to mimic to ensure the plants develop strong, deep roots.
I have also learned that staff members in the two shops go out on field trips on a regular basis, both to discover new wine producers and to further cultivate (pun intended) the working relationships with existing producers. This means that when you ask for advice you get to speak with people who are very knowledgeable about where the wines come from and their characteristics.
Finally, I have learned that I don’t have the right budget for fancy sparkling wine (I have champagne taste on a beer budget) but I did manage to stretch my purse slightly to get an unassuming bottle of prosecco at a discounted price. That’s a win for the store’s visual merchandising and for its “try before you buy it” strategy.
Don’t miss next week’s post where we will talk about Christmas in Ireland.
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Wine production in Ireland. Wow!