ONE of the biggest wine scandals of the past few decades reached its final chapter in a New York court on August 7 last when Rudy Kurniawan was sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling fake wine.

SORRY to mention the war but this is pre-budget submission time and talking to some of those wine trade in recent weeks reminded me how difficult Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, has made it for small wine shops.

WHAT are the biggest influences on the flavour of a glass of wine?

THIS is an interesting time in the world of wine.

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.

IMAGINE the floral perfumes and white pepper of a fine German Riesling and mix that with the freshness of a Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc such as Sancerre, and finally add in the lusciousness of the best Pinot Grigio from Northern Italy.

ST PATRICK’S DAY is upon us, so it is good to remind ourselves of the Irish wine connections.