The Garnacha grape produces reds with lower tannins and a fruit forward palate making it an amazingly easy to drink wine. Its typical flavour profile include stewed strawberries, plums, and leather.
Originally native to Spain and often blended to add roundness to the more tannic and fuller bodied Tempranillo. It is also immensely popular in the Southern Rhone Valley of France where it is known as Grenache. Here it is also used as part of a blend due to its ability to add more fruitiness without tannin structure.
On the eastern coast of Spain lies the region of Valencia and just a little further inland lies Bodegas Vegamar producing their exceptionally fine and affordable Garnacha. They are grown using organic fertiliser and without the use of chemicals in their vineyards. The climate here is warm and sunny and also benefits from the soft and cool winds that the Mediterranean Sea brings.
Vegamar Huella de Garnacha 2018
TheVegamar “Huella de Garnacha” 2018 is made from 100% Garnacha and has lots of redcurrant with slight oak and black pepper aromas. Full bodied with low tannins and a touch of acidity on the palate leads to a nice dry finish. Be sure to let it breathe for at least thirty minutes and it will become a super smooth red! Recommendations for pairing with food include grilled or roasted red meats such as beef or lamb and grilled pork sausages. So if you are firing up the barbecue this summer and fancy an easy going red, give this a try.
An informal and fun way to discover a whole world of wine!
€160 for 6 Weeks Limited to 10 Places
This course runs for 6 weeks, one evening per week, starting on Tuesday 2nd of October. The Wine Appreciation Course will give a comprehensive overview of the wines of the world. The various styles, vintages and the relationship of food and wine will all be covered. Each evening we will sample a selection of wines, notes will be provide. (Should you wish detail information that can be provide also) Each Class begins promptly at 7.30 pm and will run for one hour and half.
The next course, will begin at 7.30 on Tuesday September 24th, and will run every Tuesday until Tuesday 29th of October.
Wine School Key Features:
Basic tasting techniques including putting words to wine
Choosing from a restaurant wine list
Tasting the major grape varieties
Discovering your favourite styles of wine
The Tasting Schedule
Introduction to French Wines
Introducing the various styles, grapes and wine philosophies of the leading wine producing country in the world. It starts from basics and it covers France’s principal wine regions and grapes.
Introduction To Australian Wines
A country that is emerging from a bit of an identity crisis, now looking to produce regionally distinct wines. We reckon Australia has never made better wines. Come and sample Clare Riesling, Orange Pinot and Mudgee Shiraz among others.
Introduction To Argentinean, Chilean & New Zealand Wines
Much like Australia these countries that boomed for one style of wine and are now looking to attract people with their regionally distinct styles of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Carmenere, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling.
Introduction To New Old World
Fairly new entrants to the Irish market Portugal and Austria are fast become a customer favourites with its fruit driven stylish reds and crisp refreshing whites. We will also take in a selection of German wines.
Introduction to Spanish Wines
Spain the trendiest wine country at the minute. This course will acquaint you with Rioja, Rueda and Rias Baixas along with Tempranillo, Albarino and Garnacha.
Introduction to Italian Wines
This will introduce you to some of the major wine regions of Italy, a country that we could focus a whole six week course on and only cover one region. Areas covered will be Piedmont, Valpolicella and Tuscany.
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 with full payment of €160 required to secure a place.
“We love Garnacha,no matter where is comes from and Rioja is a great exponent of this variety.What is less common however, is to find Garnacha in the cooler, western parts of the D.O.The grapes for this wine were sourced from a vineyard near the village of Canilla de Riotuerto.Planted in 1980, these bush vines produce lower yields than the tempranillo vines, around 2 kg per vine”, Rafael De Haan.
Manually harvested using small boxes of 12-15 kg. The grapes passed along a selection table to remove all berries that were not healthy or properly ripe.
Stems were removed and the grapes lightly crushed, after which they were placed in small stainless steel tanks of 40 Hl. Pre-fermentation maceration was carried out in the cold for 72 hours. Alcoholic fermentation occurred spontaneously between 24-28° C for 9-12 days. Malolactic fermentation in barrel. Then aged 17 months in new French oak barrels, during which 4 rackings were carried out.
The 2015 El Covertido pours a bright crimson colour, this wine is very expressive with notes of red fruits and minerals that leap from the glass. Plenty of fruit on the palate, a touch of complexity and sweet tannins mingle with the spicy oak nuances. This is a Rioja like no other as it has zero Tempranillo.
Normally €24.95 but currently on Promotion at €19.96
An informal and fun way to discover a whole world of wine!
€160 for 6 Weeks Limited to 10 Places
This course runs for 6 weeks, one evening per week, starting on Tuesday 5th of February . The Wine Appreciation Course will give a comprehensive overview of the wines of the world. The various styles, vintages and the relationship of food and wine will all be covered. Each evening we will sample a selection of wines, notes will be provide. (Should you wish detail information that can be provide also) Each Class begins promptly at 7.30 pm and will run for one hour and half.
Wine School Key Features:
Basic tasting techniques including putting words to wine
Choosing from a restaurant wine list
Tasting the major grape varieties
Discovering your favourite styles of wine
The Tasting Schedule
Introduction to French Wines
Introducing the various styles, grapes and wine philosophies of the leading wine producing country in the world. It starts from basics and it covers France’s principal wine regions and grapes.
Introduction To Australian Wines
A country that is emerging from a bit of an identity crisis, now looking to produce regionally distinct wines. We reckon Australia has never made better wines. Come and sample Clare Riesling, Orange Pinot and Mudgee Shiraz among others.
Introduction To Argentinean, Chilean & New Zealand Wines
Much like Australia these countries that boomed for one style of wine and are now looking to attract people with their regionally distinct styles of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Carmenere, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling.
Introduction To New Old World
Fairly new entrants to the Irish market Portugal and Austria are fast become a customer favourites with its fruit driven stylish reds and crisp refreshing whites. We will also take in a selection of German wines.
Introduction to Spanish Wines
Spain the trendiest wine country at the minute. This course will acquaint you with Rioja, Rueda and Rias Baixas along with Tempranillo, Albarino and Garnacha.
Introduction to Italian Wines
This will introduce you to some of the major wine regions of Italy, a country that we could focus a whole six week course on and only cover one region. Areas covered will be Piedmont, Valpolicella and Tuscany.
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 with full payment of €160 required to secure a place.
An informal and fun way to discover a whole world of wine!
€160 for 6 Weeks Limited to 10 Places
This course runs for 6 weeks, one evening per week, starting on Tuesday 2nd of October. The Wine Appreciation Course will give a comprehensive overview of the wines of the world. The various styles, vintages and the relationship of food and wine will all be covered. Each evening we will sample a selection of wines, notes will be provide. (Should you wish detail information that can be provide also) Each Class begins promptly at 7.30 pm and will run for one hour and half.
Wine School Key Features:
Basic tasting techniques including putting words to wine
Choosing from a restaurant wine list
Tasting the major grape varieties
Discovering your favourite styles of wine
The Tasting Schedule
Introduction to French Wines
Introducing the various styles, grapes and wine philosophies of the leading wine producing country in the world. It starts from basics and it covers France’s principal wine regions and grapes.
Introduction To Australian Wines
A country that is emerging from a bit of an identity crisis, now looking to produce regionally distinct wines. We reckon Australia has never made better wines. Come and sample Clare Riesling, Orange Pinot and Mudgee Shiraz among others.
Introduction To Argentinean, Chilean & New Zealand Wines
Much like Australia these countries that boomed for one style of wine and are now looking to attract people with their regionally distinct styles of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Carmenere, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling.
Introduction To New Old World
Fairly new entrants to the Irish market Portugal and Austria are fast become a customer favourites with its fruit driven stylish reds and crisp refreshing whites. We will also take in a selection of German wines.
Introduction to Spanish Wines
Spain the trendiest wine country at the minute. This course will acquaint you with Rioja, Rueda and Rias Baixas along with Tempranillo, Albarino and Garnacha.
Introduction to Italian Wines
This will introduce you to some of the major wine regions of Italy, a country that we could focus a whole six week course on and only cover one region. Areas covered will be Piedmont, Valpolicella and Tuscany.
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 with full payment of €160 required to secure a place.
Vasco Perdigao, born in Paris of Portuguese parents, bought this winery in Sablet in 2007 with his wife, Sonia, after having left his parents’ hotel business in Paris and having worked in Condrieu and Gigondas. Working in Organic viticulture, he makes three major Cotes du Rhone Villages wines and an exceptional red Vin de Pays. His first fully completed vintage – 2010 – earned him high points from Robert Parker and Jancis Robinson MW for his excellent Vacqueryas, some of which we still have. Old vines, maniacal vineyard hygiene, obsessive ground toiling. Cool, sandy soil for Grenache in Sablet, large rolled quartz pebbles and limestone for Rasteau, heavy quartz for Vacqueryas contribute to stunning reds.
Rasteau is an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée for wine in the southern Rhône wine region of France, covering both fortified and unfortified wines. The sweet fortified wines (Vin Doux Naturel, VDN) can be red, rosé or white, and have long been produced under the Rasteau AOC. In 2010 dry red wines (unfortified) were also added to the appellation, effective from the 2009 vintage. Domaine Chamfort’s holding in Rasteau is at an altitude of 300m and overlooks the village itself. At this altitude it benefits from bright sunny days and cool nights along with the mix of pebbles and brown clay to produce a full fruit driven and velvety wine.
The 2012 is a blend of 70% Grenache Noir and 30% Syrah. Deep rich red colour with a bright fruit driven nose of mature red fruits and ripe plummy spice. The palate is silky smooth with intensity and intertwined fruit and mineral notes. Serve with grilled meats. This beautiful wine is normally €19.95 but is currently on sale at 25% OFF until Friday 23rd of January.
Located at the northern borders of the renowned vintage and Gigondas with south southwest exposure, Chamfort’s vineyards located in Sablet, on gravelly and sandy plains village produce a classy fruit driven Cotes du Rhone Red. The 2012 is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah although in some vintages they add some Cinsault. The nose is delicate, beautiful red fruit,with floraland spicynotes.On the palate, the tannins are smooth anda littletight.ThisCôtes du Rhônehas avery nicevolume, a lot of sweetnessin the finala beautifulextensionrevealsnotes of candiedfruit,finesse.
Domaine Gris des Bauries was created in 2004 by a highly reputed mason named Patrick who was in love with both Gina – the daughter of a baker – and vines. The baker had given up his oven for a vineyard and when he retired, he passed it along to Patrick. Luckily, Patrick had learned from his father, a wine grower, how to truly respect vines. In fact, he always dreamed of growing vines himself and was convinced that winemaking was in his genes.
The vineyard is located in Taulignan, in the rolling hills east of the Rhône Valley, the northernmost area where Southern Rhônes are grown. The state spans 12 hectares. Vines are 20 years of age on average, and are always handled with meticulous and passionate care. The soil is carefully tilled, and grapes are selectively thinned in the spring to give the top of the crop all the attention and nutrients it deserves. Harvesting takes place as late in the season as is possible, considerably later than other producers in the area. By allowing excellent drainage, the mix of limestone and clay in the ground provides the wines with good concentration and a high minerality.
The two main varietals of Domaine des Gris des Bauries are typical of the area: grenache and syrah. Grenache grapes provide distinction and charm, with strawberry and cherry aromas; the nearby garrigues, planted with lavender and thyme, probably account for the light herbal scents also found in grenache casks. Syrah grapes bring color, structure and flavours reminiscent of violets and licorice as well as a peppery touch.
We have 3 delightful reds from this quaint producer:
Sous les Cyprès (Cotes du Rhone Villages) a blend of grenache and syrah, is aged in oak barrels to develop a velvety intensity.
Serre de la Dame (Cotes du Rhone) is exclusively made of syrah grapes. A rather deep red wine, it combines fruitiness, mostly blackberries with leather scents and a touch of pepper.
Les Chaix (Cotes du Rhone) is made from old grenache grapes, which grow on a plateau that gently slopes southward. Our aim is to produce a delicate wine, one that reveals the subtleness of the noblest of southern varietals.
Vasco Perdigao, born in Paris of Portuguese parents, bought this winery in Sablet in 2007 with his wife, Sonia, after having left his parents’ hotel business in Paris and having worked in Condrieu and Gigondas. Working in Organic viticulture, he makes three major Cotes du Rhone Villages wines and an exceptional red Vin de Pays. His first fully completed vintage – 2010 – earned him high points from Robert Parker and Jancis Robinson MW for his excellent Vacqueryas, some of which we still have. Old vines, maniacal vineyard hygiene, obsessive ground toiling. Cool, sandy soil for Grenache in Sablet, large rolled quartz pebbles and limestone for Rasteau, heavy quartz for Vacqueryas contribute to stunning reds.
altitude it benefits from bright sunny days and cool nights along with the mix of pebbles and brown clay to produce a full fruit driven and velvety wine.
renowned vintage and Gigondas with south southwest exposure, Chamfort’s vineyards located in Sablet, on gravelly and sandy plains village produce a classy fruit driven Cotes du Rhone Red. The 2012 is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah although in some vintages they add some Cinsault. 
Domaine Gris des Bauries was created in 2004 by a highly reputed mason named Patrick who was in love with both Gina – the daughter of a baker – and vines. The baker had given up his oven for a vineyard and when he retired, he passed it along to Patrick. Luckily, Patrick had learned from his father, a wine grower, how to truly respect vines. In fact, he always dreamed of growing vines himself and was convinced that winemaking was in his genes.
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