Stephen Carrier: Story of an Irish winemaker

Glen Dimplex’s Lochlann Quinn loves wine so much, he bought a vineyard. Roz Crowley talks to Quinn and his winemaker, Stephen Carrier about the Bordeaux, Chateau de Fieuzal    

He refers to the ages of his children in vintages – Gaspar was a 2003, while Jules was a 2001. And his vines are spoken of like children who need nurturing, to be kept cool and warm, dry and protected. Stephen Carrier, winemaker at Chateau de Fieuzal in Bordeaux, lives and breathes wine.

While on a flying visit to Cork to present his much lauded vintages to a wine club, he took time off to chat about his work and relationship with the vineyard’s Irish owner, Lochlann Quinn. A 1961 vintage himself, born on a night when there was a devastating frost in Champagne, Carrier is a third generation grape grower.