The world of wine is a large place and columns like this I hope help distil it down to a manageable size.

Metalman Heat Sink Smoked Chilli Porter , 5.0% ABV; 330ml — €2.80

One of the great ironies of the ‘Edible Erin’ calendar is that the arrival once more of a new school year coincides with the busiest time of the year for food festivals, the season really beginning around now.

Having three fine sisters himself, The Menu is a great man to hymn the praises of supportive female siblings so reckons the alliance of ‘Three Sisters’ from the South-East, Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny.

From starters to the end-of-the-day movie, Christmas can be a long haul but with the perfect drink in your hand, you won’t want it to end.

The Menu has Neidín hitched up and is heading for beautiful town of Kilkenny for Savour Kilkenny Food Festival (Oct 24-27), another shining Irish example of ‘Place on a Plate’, with fine local growers and producers at the forefront of a food revolution. 

THE price of Burgundy is going to increase again next year as for the third year in a row the region has been hit by hailstones as big as golf balls.

IRELAND’S economy seems to be slowly starting to rise out of the mire in recent months but spare a thought for Argentina’s winemakers who have been suffering massive instability in recent years.

Believing attendance at an Irish food festival is a state of grace any God-fearing Gael should aspire to on a near daily basis.

IN CASE you haven’t heard the rumour there is talk of duty being increased on wine in the budget once again this year so I, for one, am beginning to stock up.