Why are some wines from the most famous regions so disappointing?How to Drink Better: It’s worth forming a relationship with your local wine shop staff so they can advise you on the smartest optionsSun Feb 15 2026 - 06:00
It’s easy to find the perfect wine for Valentine’s Day if you follow these tipsJohn Wilson: Remember though, a drunken partner is never an attractive prospectSat Feb 14 2026 - 05:00
Celebrate Galentine’s with these two variations on roséWines for the Weekend: The Provence rosé comes in a magnum to add drama to any gatheringFri Feb 13 2026 - 05:00
Why can’t I rely on my favourite wine always being on the shelves of the local supermarket? How to Drink Better: The price keeps changing too – why is this?Sun Feb 08 2026 - 05:00
Hungarian wines aren’t only about Bull’s Blood you know. Here are John Wilson’s picksWhen we think of Hungary’s wines, we’re usually limited to two names. There’s much more to exploreSat Feb 07 2026 - 05:00
Two blended wines from Aldi, including an orange optionWines for the Weekend: Blended wines don’t have the best reputation but this is usually not justifiedFri Feb 06 2026 - 05:00
Which wines go best with vegetarian or vegan food?How to Drink Better: The main thing to get right is matching the weight or power of the dish with that of the wineSun Feb 01 2026 - 05:00
John Wilson’s wine picks for drinking any time, with any food or any companySometimes, you just want a wine that will reliably please everybodySat Jan 31 2026 - 05:00
Two Chilean wines for €7.50 to suit your January walletWines for the Weekend: These may not be the finest wines you’ve ever tasted, but they’re decentFri Jan 30 2026 - 05:53
How much should you pay for a bottle of wine?How to Drink Better: John Wilson has done all the important research so you don’t have toSun Jan 25 2026 - 05:00
John Wilson’s wine predictions for 2026, plus four recommendationsWine consumption is falling in general, but I expect these slightly different options to be on the rise this yearSat Jan 24 2026 - 04:26
A refreshing white wine and a warming red to enjoy on a winter eveningWines for the Weekend: These two wines are both discounted at O’BriensFri Jan 23 2026 - 05:00
John Wilson’s January wine quiz: how much do you know about what’s in your glass?How to Drink Better: We all know a ‘wine buff’ who deserves to be testedSun Jan 18 2026 - 05:55
Italian discoveries: four exciting wines from the north of ItalyJohn Wilson: Alto Piemonte has passed through cycles of fame and failure, but it’s now definitely on the upSat Jan 17 2026 - 05:00
Two wines to pick up in the O’Briens January saleWines for the Weekend: Grapes used in this white wine were traditionally used in Cognac and ArmagnacFri Jan 16 2026 - 05:00
How to combine your summer holidays with a winery visitHow to Drink Better: Remember to bring a dedicated driver to your tastingSun Jan 11 2026 - 05:28
John Wilson’s pick of Languedoc reds for chilly January eveningsWarm reds match well with the darker nights and hearty meals of deep winterSat Jan 10 2026 - 05:00
Two Lidl wines for less than €10 to drink all year roundWines for the Weekend: These wines – a pinot gris and a Haut-Médoc –both offer great value for moneyFri Jan 09 2026 - 05:00
Have you tried the world’s most popular grape variety?How to Drink Better: Not all grapes planted around the world are used to make wine, but plenty areSun Jan 04 2026 - 05:30
Four lower-alcohol wines for the new yearDefinitions of low alcohol vary, while it’s becoming increasingly harder for producers to keep down alcohol levelsSat Jan 03 2026 - 05:00
Two easy new year wines from Lidl, both for less than €12Wines for the Weekend: The Mucho Más from Spain would drink well on its own before dinnerFri Jan 02 2026 - 05:52
Why not try a glass of something sweet this Christmas?How to Drink Better: Dessert wines vary in style, so it’s good to work out what you enjoySun Dec 21 2025 - 05:49
Pop your cork: four alternatives to Champagne to enjoy this ChristmasDid you know you can find very fine sparkling wines in England?Sat Dec 20 2025 - 05:46
Two Aldi wines to consider for ChristmasWines for the Weekend: Both of these bottles would match well with forthcoming feastsFri Dec 19 2025 - 05:00
Which wines work best with vegetarian Christmas food?How to Drink Better: Depending on the dishes you plan to serve, one of the wines below should sit perfectly on your festive tableSun Dec 14 2025 - 05:00
John Wilson picks the best wines for Christmas Day from all the main retailersAll the major retailers and independent wine shops have some treasures to offer for the festive periodSat Dec 13 2025 - 05:00
Two Wine Buff bottles suitable for Christmas dinnerWines for the Weekend: Both the Rueda and Dão regions can offer good value for moneyFri Dec 12 2025 - 05:00
Christmas: Should I drink red or white wine with turkey?How to Drink Better: Decisions on which wine to drink when and with which foods are personal and should be respectedSun Dec 07 2025 - 06:00
John Wilson’s favourite 30 wines of 2025, some priced at less than €10There’s something for every taste here with every single bottle a winnerSat Dec 06 2025 - 05:00
Two Lidl wines from South America to consider for ChristmasWines for the Weekend: Some Chardonnays pair really well with turkey, prawns and smoked salmonFri Dec 05 2025 - 05:20
How does Irish wine consumption compare to other countries?How to Drink Better: The biggest consumer of wine per capita in the world is PortugalSun Nov 30 2025 - 06:00
It’s whiskey season and John Wilson recommends these four bottlesWhether it’s a gift or not, these whiskeys will never fail to impress a tasterSat Nov 29 2025 - 05:29
John Wilson’s pick of wines to buy at O’Briens this monthWines for the Weekend: These options all offer good value at the momentFri Nov 28 2025 - 05:00
Blessed are the Irish craft cider-makers: ‘Most Irish people don’t know what cider is’The artisan cider market is growing, with clever innovation and hard work at its core. But consumers still have some learning to doFri Nov 28 2025 - 05:00
Why are Americans drinking less wine and will the same thing happen here?How to Drink Better: A recent Gallup poll found that 54% of Americans did not drink any wine in 2025Sun Nov 23 2025 - 05:00
Favourite picks from Dublin’s longstanding independent wine shops We profile three of the capital’s growing band of independent wine outlets, with the owners each recommending a favourite bottleSat Nov 22 2025 - 05:00
Two good-value Tesco wines using familiar grapes Wines for the Weekend: You’ll get both these bottles at lower prices with Tesco’s loyalty cardFri Nov 21 2025 - 05:00
Party time: five simple but delicious cocktails to make with sparkling wineHow to Drink Better: There’s no need to use expensive Champagne in most sparkling cocktailsSun Nov 16 2025 - 05:00
John Wilson’s top picks from smaller Irish wine importersOne of these four wines left me struggling for superlativesSat Nov 15 2025 - 05:00
Two familiar wines from France, including a Bordeaux bargainWines for the Weekend: If you’re a fan of Bordeaux, stock up on this wine nowFri Nov 14 2025 - 05:04
How much wine will one vine produce?How to Drink Better: There are a lot of factors at play but it’s accepted that some grapes have a much greater yield than othersSun Nov 09 2025 - 05:40
Four prize-winning wines to buy right now in your local off-licenceThese bottles are all winners in the Star Awards run by independent wine shops and off-licencesSat Nov 08 2025 - 05:00
Two great French wines from Lidl to drink on their own or with foodWines for the Weekend: This white is a favourite of Irish wine-drinkers while the red is a good-value Burgundy Fri Nov 07 2025 - 05:07
What is Port and why is it so popular in winter?How to Drink Better: This Portuguese fortified wine is warming, cosy and sweet. And it matches with lots of foodsSun Nov 02 2025 - 06:00
Portuguese picks: Move on from Vinho Verde, try Dão, Lisboa or AlentejoJohn Wilson: We all know about Vinho Verde, but how about Dão, Lisboa or Alentejo?Sat Nov 01 2025 - 05:15
We all love Rioja Reserva, but there’s so much more to the regionTry this white oak-aged Rioja and a Rioja CrianzaFri Oct 31 2025 - 05:00
John Wilson’s guide to German wines: did you know that most of them are now dry?How to Drink Better: The days of cheap and very sweet German wines dominating the Irish market are long goneSun Oct 26 2025 - 06:00
Go alcohol-free with John Wilson’s pick of wines, beers and more With Dry November just around the corner, now might be a good time to familiarise yourself with more alcohol-free or low-alcohol drinksSat Oct 25 2025 - 05:11
Forget sweet liebfraumilch, this riesling is the German wine to trySuperValu also has a rich and smooth red from a small region in Catalunya on promotionFri Oct 24 2025 - 05:00
Just a small one: Is it time to give sherry another try? How to Drink Better: It’s best to forget the drink served to our parents and grandparents in the 1960s and 1970s Sun Oct 19 2025 - 06:00
