A Dublin wine shop owner is sharing his top tips for selecting delicious drinks this holiday season.
The Wine Buff, an Irish company ran by independent family vineyards, opened its first Dublin location just in time for Christmas. Its manager Ken Kinsella says that trade is soaring in the new store as people look for the best selections on offer.
Although some wines can be notoriously expensive, The Wine Buff prides itself on affordability- it currently supplies around 50 wines for under €15. Additionally, Ken says that the store sells more unusual wines that don’t appear on supermarket shelves.
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His recommendations for red wine, which is traditionally paired with heavier dinners, include the French Fleurie wine, which retails at €23.99. Meanwhile, he suggests Albarino for those who prefer white, which amounts to €20.99.
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Ken told Dublin Live: “White wine tends to be nice for a crowd at Christmas. If you wanted a dry white wine, you’d go for a Sauvignon blanc. Chardonnay is better for people who like fruity wines- if it’s from New Zealand, it’ll taste different than ones from Argentina.”
He also dismissed claims that people should only drink white wine with fish dishes, while red wine should be reserved for meatier dinners. He told people to drink what they like over the festive period and pair their dinners to the tipples they enjoy the most.
He was particularly fond of European wines, adding: “The wonderful thing about European wines is that in countries such as France there’s no irrigation, which means vines dig deep for water and you get wonderful flavour from the soil.”
He also recommends the Valpolicella red wine, an Italian selection which costs €17.99 and has a fruity taste. The Wine Buff also sells Amarone, although it is noticeably dearer at €44.
French wines are the most popular in store, followed closely by bottles from Spain and Italy. Ken says that Portuguese wines are also in high demand, following the return of Irish people from their sun holidays over the summer.
The public can also learn more about their favourite brands in the New Year in the Rathmines shop. Ken is planning on hosting wine tasting sessions in the new venture, which people can register for by phone or when visiting in store.
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