Recommendations this week include some Chilean reds and fragrant Albariños from Rias Baixas

Ireland is a small country that drinks a relatively modest amount of wine per head of population — around 17 litres per year compared with 24 litres in the UK and 53 litres per head in France.

For most wine-exporting countries Ireland is strictly of minor interest, but not for the wine makers of Chile given that around one in every four bottles consumed here is Chilean.

Two of the better producers were in town recently Mario Pablo from Casa Silva and Marcelo Papa of Concha y Toro and both spoke enthusiastically about Chile’s relationship with Ireland (well with its wine drinkers at least!).