I don’t usually recommend wines that cost less than €7, but this is an exceptionWines for the Weekend: Most of the time bottles selling for less than €7 don’t offer great value for moneyFri Jul 19 2024 - 05:00
What wines go best with a burger?How to Drink Better: A proper barbecued burger makes a good match for serious red wines. Don’t be afraid to open a good bottleSun Jul 14 2024 - 05:00
Four easy drinking Italian whites for summer eveningsSome lowish-alcohol Italians at affordable prices - though remember, the more you pay, the better the flavourSat Jul 13 2024 - 05:00
Two wines to try: A light white for fish and an organic Rioja are both good valueWines for the Weekend: Two wines on special offer at O’Briens this month offer value for moneyFri Jul 12 2024 - 05:00
How does wine become ‘corked’ and why are the best corks so expensive?How to Drink Better: Strips of thick bark can only be harvested every 10 years or so without damaging the treeSun Jul 07 2024 - 05:00
Chilean wines: four lesser-known bottles worth seeking outThere’s more to the wines of this South American stronghold than great valueSat Jul 06 2024 - 05:00
One wine to drink chilled on a warm day, and another to enjoy with cheeseWines for the Weekend: One to drink well chilled on a summer’s day, and another to enjoy with grilled red meatsFri Jul 05 2024 - 06:00
What does Grand Cru mean on a wine label?How to Drink Better: the categories Grand Cru and Premier Cru can provide an accurate guide to the best wines of the areaSun Jun 30 2024 - 05:00
Four Californian wines to try – including one the critics love to hateJohn Wilson: Napa Valley Cabernets are among the finest in the world. Cooler coastal regions produce excellent chardonnay, pinot noir and syrahSat Jun 29 2024 - 05:00
Two supermarket wines under €10 to get fired up forWines for the Weekend: Fresh aromatic white and a full-bodied red from Bordeaux are worth your timeFri Jun 28 2024 - 05:00
Could I grow my own grapes and make my own wine?How to Drink Better: All the celebrities are doing it, why can’t I?Sun Jun 23 2024 - 05:00
It may not be the largest producer, but Austria turns out world-class winesJohn Wilson: The native grüner veltliner grape is great to drink on its own, but also pairs excellently with foodSat Jun 22 2024 - 05:00
Two Italian wines at reduced prices to try — a classic Chianti and dry whiteWines for the Weekend: Orvieto is the best-known wine of the Umbria region and while Chianti is a reliable choiceFri Jun 21 2024 - 06:00
John Wilson’s top 20 summer wines to quench your thirstLighter wines with vibrant fruit should be the order of the day during the warmer monthsTue Jun 18 2024 - 05:00
What are the best wines to drink in summer?How to Drink Better: In warmer weather look for wines with less oomph and more aciditySun Jun 16 2024 - 06:00
What are Pét Nats wines, why are they so expensive and are they worth it?John Wilson: These effervescent, joyous and thirst-quenching wines have gone mainstreamSat Jun 15 2024 - 05:00
Two light Italian rosés to drink in the garden this summerWines for the Weekend: These light, fresh summery rosés are both from Aldi and are perfect for the warmer monthsFri Jun 14 2024 - 06:00
Did you know there are more than a dozen vineyards in Ireland?How to Drink Better: With climate change increasing temperatures, it seems likely that Irish wine production is set to increaseSun Jun 09 2024 - 06:00
Delicious Douro: four fine wines full of Portuguese promiseJohn Wilson: Producers from this port wine stronghold have started to make unfortified red and white winesSat Jun 08 2024 - 06:00
Try these very good value rosés for excellent summer drinkingWines for the Weekend: O’Briens’ summer rosé sale includes strong offerings from established red wine producersFri Jun 07 2024 - 06:00
John Wilson: Why do some wines taste better than others?How to Drink Better: Tastes differ but it depends on where wine is made, and where and how wine is consumedSun Jun 02 2024 - 06:00
From easy drinking to structured wines: Crozes-Hermitage has it allJohn Wilson: Wines from the Northern Rhône vary hugely in price and quality but the overall standard is impressiveSat Jun 01 2024 - 06:00
Supermarket wines: a white and a rosé on special offerWines for the Weekend: The two wines below will be on offer in Aldi from May 30th until June 12thFri May 31 2024 - 06:00
What does appellation contrôlée on French wine labels mean?How to Drink Better: The AC system gives a good indication of the style of wine you can expectSun May 26 2024 - 06:00
There’s more to Spanish wine than Rioja - here are four from very different regionsJohn Wilson: The best-known grapes are Tempranillo and Garnacha but there are plenty of others tooSat May 25 2024 - 05:00
Two New Zealand Marlborough wines to try: Classic sauvignon blanc and a light, fruity pinot noirWines for the Weekend: Both of these bottles are perfect for summer drinkingFri May 24 2024 - 06:00
How did Marlborough Sauvignon become a global wine favourite?How to Drink Better: The distinctive combination of green and exotic fruits took wine world by storm in the 1970sSun May 19 2024 - 05:00
Four Spanish wines to brighten a summer’s afternoonJohn Wilson: All are lighter in alcohol and will provide refreshment on sunny days – either here or in SpainSat May 18 2024 - 05:00
Two great-value Portuguese wines perfect for summer tablesWines for the Weekend: White wines from the higher altitude vineyards can be fresh, light and fruityFri May 17 2024 - 05:00
Michael Flatley on his new whiskey: ‘named after my father and my father’s father and his father before him’ The former Riverdance maestro created the five-year-old whiskey with hugely experienced master blender Noel SweeneyTue May 14 2024 - 11:00
I’m having an Italian-themed dinner party. What wines should I serve?How to Drink Better: there are plenty of really interesting Italian wines to choose fromSun May 12 2024 - 05:00
Native Italian wines to provide a break from the norm, one for less than €8John Wilson: Timorasso has become something of a cult favourite in ItalySat May 11 2024 - 05:00
I am never sure how to match food with wine. Can you suggest some fail-safe pairings? John Wilson: I believe that most wine tastes better with food and most food tastes better with a glass of wineFri May 10 2024 - 06:00
Two well-priced French wines for summery al fresco eveningsWines for the Weekend: Both wines, under the Sophie Valrose label, are available from SuperValu for €12Fri May 10 2024 - 05:00
What is amaro and what should I do with it?How to Drink Better: This original Italian aperitif can often be found in cocktail ingredients tooSun May 05 2024 - 05:00
Four alchemists creating very special ciders and wines - and three of them are IrishCraft makers here are using local produce to create fascinating complex drinks of a very high qualitySat May 04 2024 - 05:00
Supermarket wines: Two great Italian wines to tryWines for the Weekend: A white Sicilian to try with shellfish and a classic smooth Chianti RiservaFri May 03 2024 - 05:00
What is chardonnay and why does everybody hate it these days?How to Drink Better: This fine white grape has yet to recover from falling out of favour in the 1990sSun Apr 28 2024 - 05:00
Looking for the perfect summer wine? The almost forgotten Valpolicella hits all the right notesNo longer a staple of get-togethers, Valpolicella still deserves its time in the sunSat Apr 27 2024 - 05:00
Two €10 French summery wines worth trying Wines for the Weekend: Aldi’s Coteaux de Beziers wines come from warm sunny Mediterranean climate that is perfect for ripening grapesFri Apr 26 2024 - 05:00
What’s so special about Chablis and why is it always so pricey?How to Drink Better: Good news is most supermarkets will have a decent Chablis for €18-€20Sun Apr 21 2024 - 05:00
Why the 1990s were good for wine in IrelandJohn Wilson: It’s worth celebrating the elder lemons among Irish wine expertsSat Apr 20 2024 - 05:00
Two well-known Italian wines to savour, both at reduced pricesWines for the Weekend: A superior pinot grigio and an easy-drinking redFri Apr 19 2024 - 05:00
Only in the very top category of wines does the year matterHow to Drink Better: Any bottle of wine can be picked from your supermarket shelf without looking at the vintageSun Apr 14 2024 - 05:00
John Wilson: Two great-value wines from LidlWines for the Weekend: The Austrian wine in particular is worth trying if you like light whitesFri Apr 12 2024 - 06:00
Four lighter wines to put a spring in your stepJohn Wilson: Two whites, a sparkling wine and an almost summery red offer interest and good value for moneyFri Apr 12 2024 - 05:00
Six benchmark wine types to improve your palateHow to Drink Better: The best way to learn about wine is also the most fun way - drink itSun Apr 07 2024 - 05:00
The Irish who use their time in France to produce good wineJohn Wilson: Here are four wines from different areas and price ranges but with an Irish connectionSat Apr 06 2024 - 05:00
Two refreshing French wines from DunnesWines for the Weekend: A Silver Moki Sauvignon Blanc and Baron de Baussac Carignan for less than €10Fri Apr 05 2024 - 05:00
How to pick a good bottle of rosé – darker wines will not necessarily be sweeter How to Drink Better: Rosé is made by macerating the grapes and juice together for any length of time from a few hours to a few daysSun Mar 31 2024 - 05:00
