Curious Blogposts

THE LOIRE, cherished more within France than outside it, includes vineyards the length of the eponymous river, from Nantes on the squally Atlantic coast to aristocratic Sancerre in the interior, hundreds of kilometres to the east. A meandering, multifaceted region, the wines are nonetheless worth grouping together as they share a distinct family resemblance, being …

Devoted brothers Martin and Mathieu Béraut tend this family estate, at three centuries old the longest established in the Gers, just west of Toulouse. As well as creating singular, sought-after wines, the guys make a range of Armagnacs (brandies) and also breed Blondes d’Aquitaine cattle. The brand ‘Ampéloméryx‘ references the local, long-extinct mammal – half deer, half giraffe – whose name means ‘ruminant of the vineyard’. Domaine de Pellehaut ‘Ampelomeryx’ Blanc (€17.99) Oozes quality and…

Devoted brothers Martin and Mathieu Béraut tend this family estate, at three centuries old the longest established in the Gers, just west of Toulouse. As well as creating singular, sought-after wines, the guys make a range of Armagnacs (brandies) and also breed Blondes d’Aquitaine cattle. The brand ‘Ampéloméryx‘ references the local, long-extinct mammal – half deer, half giraffe – whose name means ‘ruminant of the vineyard’. Domaine de Pellehaut ‘Ampelomeryx’ Blanc (€17.99) Oozes quality and…

BLENDS are usually taken to mean blends of different grape varieties, of which classic examples include Bordeaux (Merlot, Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc), Champagne (Chardonnay, Pinots Noir and Meunier) and the southern Rhône’s ‘GSM’ (Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvèdre). The science behind the technique is that it usefully combines wines with different but complementary traits (e.g. high acid and low-acid, or pale colour and deep colour) to make a more balanced, complete wine. ‘Pure’ unblended wines…

Fashionable, light Portuguese white with tangy citrus notes and a spritzy finish.

A break from tempting you with our lovely wines, I thought a personal note might be in order to make our big announcement and give you an opportunity to become personally involved in the next exciting chapter of Curious Wines. It’s five and a half years since we started the business from Bandon, and almost four years since we made the move to Kinsale Road, Cork. Now we’re expanding and we’d love your help. (*drum roll*) In just two weeks we’re opening our second wine warehouse in Naas, Co…

THE WORD ‘TAPAS‘ stems from the Spanish verb ‘tapar’, meaning to cover. Originally, the tapa – a piece of ham or cheese – would have been presented on a small dish or lid placed on top of a wine glass, which stopped fruit flies from getting into the wine and also made it easy to …

This highly-regarded bodega is run by the Fernandez brothers (Carlos is pictured in front of his rugged old Tempranillo vines) in the rainy Riojan subregion of Alavesa, high up in the Basque hills. Along with Alta, Alavesa produces Rioja’s most elegant and complex wines. The Sierra Cantabria dominate the local landscape, and chilling Atlantic weather …

Thanks to Foods from Spain for this simple, good-looking, Pears in Red Wine recipe. I’ve pushed the boat out on the cost of the wine match but the other ingredients don’t cost much so it’s still a cheap night in as long as you don’t eat a main course, rent a DVD or spend any …

Decanter dusted off and brought out for the night, the gentle pop of pulled cork, prized glassware (buffed to a sparkly shine), good food and great friends. For wine buffs there is no greater pleasure than setting the scene and uncorking a special bottle. Special bottles rarely come cheap though so it’s always welcome when …

AT A STAGGERING 1 MILLION HECTARES, Spain has more land under vine than any other country in the world, but its parched land and resulting low yields mean that it is only the third-biggest producer globally. Currently in vogue, Spain’s ripe, approachable, fruity, good-value styles are popular with consumers, press and trade alike. Geographically, Spain’s …

FIRST OF ALL, hearty congratulations on your upcoming wedding – it’ll be great. When it comes to wine for the big day, don’t fret; no one talks about it at the time and no one remembers it afterwards – people are too busy socialising and having the craic. That said, getting the wine right isn’t …

A WINE BOTTLE’S PUNT is that indent at the base of the bottle, the size of which varies across wines. The perception among drinkers is that a bigger punt equals better juice. Is this the case? Well, yes and no. A well-endowed bottle is not automatically better than a slighter fellow, and the punt doesn’t …