Wine: Alpha Zeta Soave 2013, Veneto, Italy — €12.99
TYes, you read that correctly as Waterford’s long history in the wine trade has been brought front and centre by the Medieval Museum which is located in an old wine merchant building and has the oldest wine vault in the country dating from the 15th century. it is a must-visit if you are interested in wine as it is beautifully intact.
Waterford was a major wine importer for most of the medieval period and imported more wine than the other Irish cities combined. There was even a “Wine War” with New Ross that lasted a few centuries and was only settled by the sacking of New Ross in 1518.
Twenty years ago it was difficult to find good wine in Waterford but now you are spoiled for choice, particularly if you take the Dunmore Road where you can visit Ardkeen Stores or World Wide Wines who face each other.
Both have very good selections with no crossover between suppliers. World Wide Wines’ Declan Brady however has the most eclectic collection with a huge range of diverse wines from obscure places including Morocco, Marcillac (SW France) and even Armenia — the excellent Zorah “Karasi” Areni. Visit www.worldwidewines.ie for their new online shop.
Next Door at the Forum is also worth a visit — I spotted the always reliable Coto de Imaz Rioja Reserva for the bargain price of €17 (normally €20). Also at the Forum is David Dennison’s new restaurant which, as you would expect, has a good wine list and also hosts food and wine evenings. My favourite restaurant wine list in Waterford is also probably my favourite place to eat — La Boheme run by Christine and Eric Théze.
The wines below mostly featured in the excellent wine tasting and talk on Waterford’s wine history given by World Wide Wines and Gerry Gunnigan of Liberty wine importers.
Contact Leslie Williams at wine@examiner.ie
Stockists: World Wide Wines, Waterford; O’Donovans; Bean ‘n Berry/Richardsons Wines, Wexford; Sweeneys, McHughs, Dublin.
Soave used to be a byword for dull and insipid but not any more thanks to younger winemakers and modern winemaking techniques. This is fresh and crisp with lime, gooseberries and pine aromas and a creamy touch on the palate.
Stockists: World Wide Wines, Waterford; O’Donovans, Cork; Vineyard, Galway; Redmonds; McCabes; Nolans, Clontarf.
Every butcher I talk to about wine these days talks about Argentinian Malbec as there are few wines that go as well with Irish grass-fed beef. This was also Declan Brady’s top pick and I can see why — it’s rich and smoky with supple fruit. The Selected Vines version (€16.95) is even better.
Stockists: World Wide Wines, Waterford; O’Donovans, Cork; The Vineyard, Galway.
I’m a fan of Vistamar wines but I haven’t mentioned them in a while. I know you probably stopped drinking New World Chardonnay a few years ago well I think it is time to give it another go — this is fragrant and balanced with a fine textured soft palate and a crisp finish.
Stockists: World Wide Wines, Waterford; Bradleys, Cork; Florries, Tramore; The Corkscrew; WineOnline.ie.
Made from old vines (some more than 80 years old) not far from Adelaide this is a real crowd pleaser. I defy you not to love the spice and pepper aromas, elegant fruit (lighter than you would expect from this region) and lingering spicy red and black fruit finish.
Stockists: World Wide Wines, Waterford; The Wine Well, Dunboyne.
Bordeaux was of course the main place Waterford’s wine merchants imported from, and the good stuff always tasted like this I suspect. This is benchmark old-school Medoc with complex cedar, plum and blackcurrant aromas and flavours - subtle, and elegant, perfect to drink with your Sunday roast.
Stockists: Ardkeen Stores, Waterford; Ponte Vecchio, Killaloe; Vintry, Rathgar; McCabes; Redmonds; Martins, Fairview.
A blend of 60% Barbera and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon from the rolling hills of Piedmont, not far from Barolo country. Their white and their Barbera d’Asti are good also but this is the star in the range — rich elegant fragrant fruits on the nose and palate with a ripe plum finish.
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