New Year, New Wines

The new year is here and I am sure you are all compiling list of resolutions, attend the gym more, get fit, drink less, eat healthier the usual. We would suggest another addition which may even fall in with the drink less weirdly. We often hear phases such as drink less drink better and while there is sound reasoning behind this suggestion we would also advocate drinking less but drinking different. The new year offers up opportunities to break old habits and why not break that habit of New Zealand Sauvignon or Rioja and try something different, who knows you may even like it better.

There are so many styles and varieties available in wine that it is a shame not to sample more than the one or two that you love. This January we would propose you drink differently. We have selected a red and a white below neither of which is two wildly different but are a good way to dip your toes into the exciting world of other wines.

Rivera Negroamaro 2016 €14.95

Medium bodied red from the very tip of the heel of Italy,  Puglia. It pours a ruby colour; complex bouquet of bitter cherries and raspberry; medium bodied on the palate with a long complex aftertaste exhibiting the pleasant, bitterish note typical of the negroamaro (the name means bitter black one). Pair this with pork chops in a spicy sauce or a sunday roast.

Quinta do Chocapalha Arinto 2016 €14.95

Hailing from the Lisboa region in Portugal this is a crisp & refreshing white that has
aromas of fresh citrus, tangy lime and minerality lead to a wonderfully brisk and crisp palate. Pair with some spicy sausages.

 

 

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Autumn Wine Classes

We are running our wine classes again this October, Starting Tuesday 3rd of October and running for 6 weeks through until Tuesday 7th Novemeber. Each class begins at 7.30 and runs for about one and a half hours. We will sample between 8 and 10 wines each evening witht the themes as follows.

• Introduction to French Wines          

• Introduction To Australian Wines    

• Introduction To New Zealand, Chilean and Argentinian Wines                                                                                        
• Introduction to Spanish Wines         

• Introduction New Old World ( Austria, Portugal & Germany)       

• Introduction to Italian Wines

LIMITED TO 8  PLACES

€140 FOR ALL SIX EVENINGS.

THIS INCLUDES NOTES ON THE COUNTRY AND WINES AND 8-10 WINES TASTED PER EVENING.

Places can be booked by emailing tadhg@woodberrys.ie or alternatively by calling 091-533706. The course is sold as a complete 6 week course. Further info please email tadhg@woodberrys.ie

Riesling Tasting

As part of our Summer of Riesling promotion we will be hosting an informal Rielsing tasting in the shop. We will have every style of Riesling from bone dry to super sweet open for tasting. The tasting is Friday 7th July between 5pm-7pm in our shop on Middle Street.

Call in and try some of our favouite summer whites.

Cossetti Wine Tasting Evening

We’re delighted to welcome Gabriele Grizotti from Cossetti to Galway, tomorrow evening. Gabriele will be tasting a selection of Cossetti’s excellent wines in our shop. This is a great chance to sample their superb Barbera d’Asti, Gavi and some other more unique wines such as Albarossa and Grignolino.

No tickets or booking required simply call in between 5pm and 7pm on Wednesday 28th June.

We look forward to seeing you.

Summer of Riesling

For the previous two years we have brought you the wall of Sauvignon, but this year we have decide to celebrate the Summer of Riesling. Riesling is a huge favourite of ours here in Woodberrys and we are constantly trying to get the people to try it, usually without much luck as many people are still hing up on the idea of the sweet, cheap and crappy German wines of the 80s, and 90s like Black Tower and Blue Nun and let us not forget liebfraumilch.

But Riesling is so much more than this and while they can be sweet they can also be bone dry. We’re celebrating the diversity of Riesling for the next month and as such will have in shop tasting and also 15% off all Riesling for the next month. Keep an eye on the Blog here, Social Media and email for events and tastings.

Australia Day Suggestions

While Australian wines are going from strength to strength i terms of quality and regional diversity, we have noticed that a great may people have given up on finding that new or exciting bottle from among the ranks of our Aussie selections. They all seem to believe its all about over oaked Chardonnay or big fruit bombs of Shiraz. Well hopefully this post will change your mind we’ve selected 3 of our favourite Aussie wines that move from the classic ingrained idea of what Aussie wine is.

1) Weemala Tempranillo 2012, Mudgee

Delightful aromas of sarsaparilla, tobacco, red berries and cherries. the palate is robust but not heavy with a gentle kiss of vanilla and red cherry fruit on the finish. An interesting take on the Spanish classic variety Tempranillo.

 

2) Logan Pinot Noir 2013, Orange

This red pours a beautifully brick red with deeper hues of crimson towards the centre. Soft, silky flavours of red berries and cinnamon spice over perfumed aromas of cherry, chinotto and dried herbs. Beats many a burgundy in terms of quality and drinkablity even at twice it’s price.

 

 3) O’Leary Walker ‘Polish Hill River’ Riesling 2013, Clare Valley

Produced using organically grown fruit from the picturesque Polish Hll River sub district of the Clare Valley. This is a delightfully seamless white wine with good backbone and aromas of honey blossom, lime and a mineral delicacy. the palate is very fine and long and drinks like a tight Sancerre.

David O’Leary Wine Tasting

This Friday 22^nd of May we are delighted to have David O’Leary

of O’Leary Walker Wines in the shop for a tasting.

David will be tasting some of the great wines that are in their range included some of their awesome Rieslings, Sauvignons and their classic Shiraz and the more gentle ‘Wyebo’ Shiraz which comes from a vineyard purchased by David’s grandfather in 1912. All are welcome to pop in between 5pm and 8pm for some tasters.

For any further information contact Tadhg on 091-533706 or at tadhg@woodberrys.ie.

Galway Food Festival 2015

Our Food Festival 2015 Events

Thursday 2^nd April

Event:  Woodberrys & Dock 1 Present: Craft & Cuisine (A beer and food pairing evening)

Time:               20.00 – 22.00

Location:         Ó Conaire’s Restaurant @ Dock 1

Cost:                €50

Join us as we pair some of the craft beers we deal with exclusively with delightful tasting dishes prepared by the chefs at Ó Conaire’s Restaurant upstairs at Dock 1. Tickets can be purchased from Ó Conaire (091) 562 872. Limited Places available so book early not to be disappointed!!

Saturday 4^th April

Event:  Discover the new Old World

Location:         Thomas Woodberrys

Time:               12.30 – 14.00 &  14.30-16.00

Cost:                Free

An opportunity to discover the exciting but mostly under the radar wines being produced in Europe that offer superb value and drinkability.

Event:  Who needs Champagne…..

Location:         Thomas Woodberrys

Time:               16.30-18.00

Cost:                Free

 Well who needs it? A blind tasting of sparkling wines to see if we are truly victims of Champagnes advertising.

Event:  Woodberrys by the Glass, (One Nigh Only Woodberrys becomes a wine bar for the evening)

Location:         Thomas Woodberrys

Time:               20.00-22.00

Cost:                Entry is Free, Price of wines varies

For one night only we become a wine bar with a selection of our most popular, most interesting and intriguing wines open to try by the glass in our wine bar.

Saturday 4^th April

Event:  Easter Egg & Wine pairing

Location:         Thomas Woodberrys

Time:               14.00 -16.00

Cost:           Free

Join us as we pair a selection of commercially available Easter eggs, for the day that’s in it, with wine

Foodie Forum 2015

Last Tuesday we were delighted to be invited to give a presentation at The Foodie Forum 2015 in GMIT. The Foodie Forum is an interactive one day experience that showcases the abundance and variety of food on offer in Ireland and in particular along the West Coast. The day includes a series of Master classes with leading chefs and food & wine workshops, which we were privileged to be part of. We had lined up a tasting of Spanish wines and you can download our presentation here.

 

Welcome back to some old Friends.

We’re delighted to welcome back some old friends the lovely wines from William Cole Vineyards. William Cole Vineyards lies deep within Chile’s prestigious Casablanca Valley—often called “Chile’s Burgundy.” This cool climate vineyard near the coast, which is comprised of over 129 contiguous hectares, provides a long, warm growing season with cool nights to develop excellent acidity. Owned by Bill Cole and family, the winery specializes in cool climate varieties, and the wines are crisp, clean and complex. We have welcomed back the 3 wines above along with a great Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but today we’ll look at the Bordeaux varieties.

William Cole ‘Colombine Reserve’ Sauvignon Blanc 2014 €17.95

The nose has inviting citrus and tropical fruits followed by notes of peach and white flowers. The palate is fresh and vibrant with crisp lime and citrus flavours over some nice white peach. Excellent cool climate white.

William Cole  ‘Colombine Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 €17.95

This Cabernet Sauvignon has a ruby colour of great depth and intensity of black fruits predominate, such as blueberry and blackberry, with some notes of oak spice. The palate has a round silky feel that is bristling with black currant and damson, fine grippy tannins give and excellent long finish. Great paired with lamb.

William Cole  ‘Colombine Winemakers Reserve’ 2012 €17.95

50% Cabernet Sauvignon 25% Merlot 25% Carmenere. This wonderful blend employs Chile’s “Signature” grape Carmenre. The boquet gives hints of walnut, all spice and red pepper over concentrated cassis and redberry. The palate is juicy with nice oak notes and flavours of tobacco, strawberry and rich blackberry. The tannins are smooth and integrated perfectly, giving this wine a long distinguished finish.