One question I am often asked is what is Ireland’s best selling wine and the answer — Santa Rita 120 — probably shouldn’t surprise you, writes Leslie Williams.

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

Ireland and Spain have had many connections throughout history but one you might have overlooked is Spain’s contribution to Ireland’s most famous drink — whiskey.

Just a few weeks to go to the Kerrygold Ballymaloe Litfest of Food and Wine (to give it the full title) on May 20–22.

April has been declared ‘Natural Wine Month’ by Le Caveau wine merchants in Kilkenny which specialises in organic, bio-dynamic and ‘natural’ wines.

The only people that seem to be happy with Budget 2016 are the craft brewers. 

I’m a little late focusing on the Rugby World Cup, but with the final group matches this weekend there will be a lot of tension around and you may need a glass of wine to calm your nerves.

Two brave David’s to talk about this week — David Whelehan of Whelehan’s Wines which opened in December in the old Silver Tassie pub in Loughlinstown on the N11; and Dave Gallgher of Green Man Wines in Terenure which opened last month.

Christmas is coming, but first things first – we are now in Game Season and we should start to see pheasant, partridges and wild ducks appearing in good butchers this month. 

The Menu is delighted to hear the revised format for the San Pellegrino Young Chef 2015 means it is now a truly global competition open to some of the aforementioned young gustatory gaels. 

The Menu has finally given up his relentless badgering of the UN for some class of international intervention on behalf of the wonderful Deise County to negotiate a return to the stove for his excellent friend Mighty Michael Quinn, formerly award-winning head chef of Waterford Castle for nigh on 20 years. 

APRIL is Real Wine Month which focuses on minimal intervention “natural” wines and also low intervention organic and biodynamic wines.

There comes a time in spring when The Menu pokes his nose into the air and draws deep a draught from the east, checking the wind for first stirrings of his beloved West Waterford Festival of Food in Dungarvan (April 10-14).

FOLLOWING on from last week’s theme of wines to match spicy food, a number of the ones recommended this week were tasted over an excellent meal in the long-established Indonesian restaurant Chameleon in Temple Bar.

Another year, another yard of baling twine to hoist up The Menu’s trousers for he once again put in sterling work on behalf of his beloved readers roaming the length and breadth of the land, eating and drinking all the way.