The Irish Wine Page

No, the site is not about Irish wines (that would be a very small site surely?), but the collected wit and wisdom of a group of Dublin-based wine-loving friends. It bills itself as ‘a resource for the Irish wine lover', but the bulk of information is relevant to oenophiles everywhere. There are a number of contributors to the site, as well as many pieces collected from a variety of publications, which means the quality of writing is variable, though in general remarkably high. The tone is down to earth and often light-hearted and many of the longer features make fascinating reading.



This site mimics frames, with the popular format of a navigation panel down the left-hand edge of the screen. This has links to the site's half dozen sections and the links are repeated at the bottom of the page in longer sections. A simple layout and minimal use of graphics ensures that load speeds are quick.



The site is updated at least monthly with the group's tasting notes, and other sections are added to on a fairly frequent basis.


SPECIAL FEATURES


The Tasting Resource An attempt to remove any stuffiness from the business of formal wine tasting. The rituals of wine tasting are examined and explained with an amused eye on the occasional pretentiousness of it all: ‘Formal tasting is for consenting adults only, involving peering, swirling, sniffing, slurping, gargling, spitting and other noisy and unglamourous activities'. The advice on how to taste is pragmatic and reliable enough, and includes a glossary of useful words and a list of grapes and where to find them: Chablis is chardonnay; Sancerre is sauvignon blanc and so forth.


Tasting Notes A sizeable collection of notes from the monthly meetings of the Preamble Club in Dublin: a long-standing group of oenophiles which meets once a month to taste and discuss wine, as well as have fun. The notes go back to 1996 and are entertaining and informative. Prices and stockists for wines are quoted and the group awards between zero and three stars as a handy reference to each wine.


Features A rich collection of longer articles on aspects of wine, penned by the site's author or extracted from other publications. Subjects include Investing in Wine, Exploring Alsace, a historical explanation for wine bottle sizes and the origins of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. There are also pieces of more localised interest, such as a piece on the wine and cheeses of Kinsale.


Quotes An amusing collection of wine quotations, from the true but anonymous ‘Good wine ruins the purse; bad wine ruins the stomach' to the rather forbidding ‘Some of the most dreadful mischiefs that afflict mankind proceed from wine; it is the cause of disease, quarrels, sedition, idleness, aversion to labor, and every species of domestic disorder.' (François de Salignac de la Mothe Fénelou 1651 — 1715).



There's a rebellious spirit of mischief and lack of snobbery about this site that is quite infectious. Having said that, these Dubliners know their stuff and obviously have a passion for both the subject and for spreading the good word about the joy and fun of wine. As a repository of good information and as an ongoing diary of the lives of some down-to-earth wine nuts, it is worth a visit.