Brewery Nooze🍺🍻with Rascals, Hopfully, Whiplash, White Hag, Franciscan Well, Rye River, BeoirFest, Rebel City,

 Brewery Nooze🍺🍻

Cidery, Meadery too.. with Rascals, Hopfully, Whiplash, White Hag, Franciscan Well, Rye River, BeoirFest, Rebel City, Kinsale Mead, Wicklow Wolf, Lineman, Ballykilcavan, Eight Degrees, Brú

#211119

(if you'd like your brewery to be included in this weekly round-up, it is easy: DM a line or two with photo and link).

Rascals Brewing Co.

Southern Cross: our new 440ml limited edition beer. It's brewed with the best Southern Hemisphere hops: Vic Secret, Motueka, Nelson Sauvin and Bruce

It's a cloudy, hazy 6.8% IPA with fresh zesty hits of citrus peel, passionfruit, mango and more tropical stone fruit. With a modest bitterness, and plenty of oats and wheat for smoothness, this beer is a genuine humdinger.

Ask for it in your local off-licence or if you're in Inchicore come visit our own off-licence here

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Hopfully Brewing 

BEER RELEASE

We teamed up with the students of National College of Art and Design/Bureau+ to create the visual identity for two new limited edition beers to be released this week, just in time for Christmas....

If you would like to try the beers and see the revealing of the artworks, please join us for the beer launch and the exhibition this Saturday, November 20th at 6 PM in @luckysdublin .The event will present all student pieces, printed in an exhibition format.

We will be also running our monthly @artfullydublin art market from 1-6 PM

A huge thanks to all the students involved in collaborative project:

Aisling Kelly, Anna  Abola, Anh Ngo, Bonnie O Halloran, Brendan Atkins, Claire Moran, Dianne Denton, Embla Muller, Eva Vitkute, Hannah Mac Artain, Hannah Mc Kenna, Henrik Myrvoid, Holly Hughes, Irene Olea Fernandez, Isabella Podasca, Julia Bialek, Karl Coleman, Lieske Keegstra, Lorna Quinn, Lucy Keyes, Marta Pinto, Meabh Quinn, Niamh Kirby, Oonagh O Brien, Paul Smith, Simone Stolz, Tara Fetherston, Tara Lynch, Thomas Morelli, Tom Davis.

Tutor: John Slade

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Whiplash Beer

I FEEL SPACE https://bit.ly/31A8580

We’re back again with another Grisette, a lighter, Belgian style beer. This one is dry with a big body, thanks to lots of wheat and oats to fill it out. The Belgian yeast gives a lot of character here with a base aroma of peppery goodness while a moderate dry hop with Australian Astra brings melon, white wine, sweets and a touch of gooseberry to the aroma.

Naturally carbonated, this one is spritzy as they come, tying together this blend of old and new.

Live on the webshop now.

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Reminder: Get Ahead of your Christmas Gifting with the White Hag with a Christmas Box!

Pre-order here!

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Franciscan Well Bar

With all the Santa’s in Cork and further afield booked to the max…..we decided to bring Santa to us and more importantly to you!

More information coming soon! #santascoming

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Rye River Brewing Co.

Introducing Revelation Brown Ale, our collab brew with Crisp Malt.

Inspired by innovative malting technology at Crisp Malt's Great Ryburgh site, we teamed up and fired up the RevTech to create a revelatory brown malt expressive of modern coffee.

Revelation Brown Ale is brewed with Crisp's finest malts and a favourite Belgian yeast strain to invoke the nutty, fruity and roast characteristics we love about modern coffee and a great brown ale..

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Raw Ales were once the staple beer everyone drank, but gradually they got pushed out and now practically everyone boils the wort. Except in some traditional farmhouse brewing, and a handful of commercial brewers.

This week we'll be joined by 3 of those brewers.

• Otterbank Brewing and Blending are based in Donegal, Ireland and specialise in techniques like blending and barrel ageing as well as experimenting with yeasts and mixed fermentation. They are also the only Irish brewery I know who produce Raw Ales.
• Butchers Tears are from Amsterdam and have always focused on traditional brewing techniques. Lately they have been producing some on Scandinavian Farmhouse styles, including raw ales.
• Eik & Tid are a Norwegian brewery who only produce raw ales. They try to be as authentically Norwegian as possible, getting their malt from a small Norwegian malter, foraging for ingredients in the wood and using traditional yeasts such as kviek.
• And we also have Lars Marius Garshol coming back! Lars is the expert on traditional farmhouse brewing. He quite literally wrote the book. He's spent a decade researching the subject and in doing so brought the traditional kviek yeast to the worlds attention.

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Rebel City Distillery

Looking for a unique staff or private Christmas party. Book an exclusive Founders’ Tour at Rebel City Distillery before it opens to the public next year. Meet the makers, see how it’s made and taste our sensational Maharani gin. Email info@rebelcitydistillery.com

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Mead Cocktails Galore from Kinsale Mead

Winter is pretty much here and you know what that means? Cocktails! What, you mean you don't instantly think of cocktails as soon as the sun starts setting at 5pm? Those cocktails that heat you up and refresh you as you sit in your cosy armchair watching the stars twinkle into view. So we're here to share some great mead cocktail recipes that are specifically suited for the dark skies of winter.

See recipes here

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Our remaining tour dates for 2021 are available here. Come visit the home of Wicklow Wolf by booking one of our tours and tastings! Give the perfect gift with one of our Brewery

 Tour Vouchers.

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LINEMAN

@LINEMANbeer

Brown Ale…You asked for it…so we made it! BIG CALM is our kind of brown ale. Smooth and medium bodied with delicious caramel and chocolate flavours front and centre. 1 of 2 new beers available now.

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Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery

Not long to go now until The Lost Messiahs play here at Ballykilcavan on Saturday evening (doors open at 7pm).

We were treated to an unplugged session earlier this week when James and Ollie called over to start the setup. If you'd like to be here for the full-fat, plugged in version, tickets are available from the link in our bio.

The gig is all under cover, but well ventilated. Forecast is dry and not too cold, and Ginger's BBQ will have their food van here to keep you well fed.

More details, including tickets at https://fb.me/e/3YnCJX57o

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The White Hag Irish Brewing Co.

WE’RE HIRING

With the business continuing to evolve, we’re looking for some new members to join our team.

Taproom / Cafe Manager

Assistant Brewer Placement

Student Placement (food science / marketing)

To find out more, check the link below!

https://bit.ly/3wCPP9w

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Eight Degrees Brewing

It's always a pleasure to write up tasting notes for new beers and this beauty, the latest in our #EDBOriginalGravity series, was an especial treat, as you can see from the wee dropeen left in the glass! Our #OriginalGravityBarleywine was aged in rare Irish whiskey barrels made from native Irish oak. Packed with sweet marzipan, vanilla, dried cherry and candied fruit flavours, it's a complex and very special brew.

This beer, with artwork from Coireall Carroll Kent, is due for release next week. Watch out for it in independent Irish off licences.

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Rascals Brewing Company

@RascalsBrewing

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2m

Got your tickets for the FAI Cup Final? Check out the Rascals Cup Final Bus Bundle! Pizza + pint + return coach to the Aviva, from Rascals HQ Inchicore, for just €25 *Does not include match ticket* #Saints2021 | #RascalsBrewing

BRÚ Brewery

Some things you might not know about BRÚ...

Our brewhouse is almost 100% manual, from our team loading the malts and hand mashing them to physically getting into the mash tun and boiling kettle to empty them!

We've brewed almost every beer style, from lagers to Berliner Weisse and smoked beers to aged barley wines (coming soon...)!…

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So Many Whiskey Choices with Tiny Tipple

Many Whiskey Choices with Tiny Tipple

My Prize

Have you ever wanted to taste an expensive bottle of whiskey or brandy but couldn't justify the price? Tiny Tipple gives you the chance to try premium spirits from Ireland (mainly) and also from around the world at a fraction of the cost.

They operate from The Irishman's Bar and Lounge, Court Place, in Carlow. Enjoy a 50ml miniature of the whiskey of your choice, carefully hand bottled and wax sealed, in the comfort of your own home. Pick and choose your own whiskey flights to broaden your  whiskey palate or simply purchase as a gift for the whiskey enthusiast. More details here.

A while back I spotted a little competition on Twitter and won the four 50ml miniatures below. 

Waterford Sheestown 1.1 Single Farm Origin Single Malt 50% abv

Mid gold with amber tints is the colour of this single farm, single malt from Waterford. Aromas, pleasant and of moderate intensity, include clove and rich dried fruit. Spice, with clove again, features in the taste and there’s quite a citrus element as well, plus a little heat. There’s a long finish to this one, that clove still an actor, spicy too and warming.

A few drops of water increases the visibility of the “oil” clinging to the glass. It also opens up the fruit on the palate and marginally reduces the heat and the clove effect while the finish is still long and very satisfactory.

My first tasting of a Waterford. Very impressive.

You can get a huge amount of info on this whiskey on the Waterford website including that the barley was grown not in Waterford but in neighbouring Kilkenny in an area called Sheestown. Defined by a geology of limestone and sandstone, Sheestown is a rolling, lowland terroir of well-drained loamy soil with outcrops of gravel and drier hilltops. Philip O’Brien has farmed here for half a century, while his daughter, Maura, works at the distillery.

The barley variety is Irina. Much more info on the website!

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Teeling Whiskey Dublin Distilled Single Pot Still, 46%, 

Another 50ml bottle from Tiny Tipples, who say: The second release of the Teeling Single Pot Still (Batch 2). A highly anticipated whiskey that has been matured in a combination of virgin oak, ex-wine and ex-bourbon barrels. Bottled B2: 01/2019.

Teeling themselves: Discover an unconventional take on a classic Irish style of Whiskey. The first Whiskey to be distilled in Dublin in nearly 50 years, our Single Pot Still pays homage to a Dublin style made famous by the old, now closed, Dublin Whiskey Distilleries.Teeling Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is crafted using a uniquely Irish mash bill consisting of 50% malted and 50% unmalted barley that has been triple distilled and matured in a combination of American Virgin Oak, Bourbon, and Sherry casks.This is not how everyone makes Irish Whiskey – it’s the Teeling way.  That’s the Spirit of Dublin.

The nose is of moderate intensity, lightly floral and slightly fruity. And you notice the malt in the palate,  a joyful melange of grain, fruit, spice and creamy toffee. Spice and sweetness too towards the end before a dry finale. Very well balanced whiskey, very accomplished indeed.

A few drops of water has a marginal beneficial influence here.

On sale at around €55.00 per bottle

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JJ Corry The Gael Batch 3 Blend, 46% abv

This is the first release from the County Clare Bonders.  Bonders? During the ‘golden age’ of Irish Whiskey (in the 19th and 20th centuries), there were hundreds of distilleries. Most did not have their own brands of whiskey at that time, however. These distilleries made their new make whiskey spirit and sold it wholesale to the Bonders to age, blend and bottle. The bonders were the publicans, grocers and mercantile owners. 

Chapel Gate whiskey, whose operation is on the McGuane family farm in County Clare, aims to resurrect the lost art of the Irish whiskey bonder through their JJ Corry label.

Tiny Tipple  say this is a “fabulous bottle with great transparency on the label. A fabulous dram.”  Tiny Tipple are a great way of sampling more whiskey without having to buy a full bottle every time. All Tiny Tipples come in a standard 50ml hand filled wax sealed bottle. Some info on the Tiny label and more on their website.

Batch No.3 of Corry’s is an award winning blend of Malt and Grain whiskey. It is 50% Vatted Grain, 49.5% Vatted Malt and 0.5% Single Malt ‘Top Dressing’.They say it is “the perfect marriage of Irish Whiskey flavours. Comprised of some of the oldest whiskeys in our library of flavours, The Gael is the perfect representation of our fruit bomb house style with layers of complexity.” 

Aromas are pleasant, a mix of fruit (lemon) and spice. Very smooth on the palate, with white fruit and citrus in the lead. Good finish too, with apple notes, and probably a bit longer, I thought, than the medium claimed. I like this one a lot, especially the juicy and fruity palate. A full bottle will cost you €80 to 85.

• Wouldn’t normally be thinking of adding water to a 46% whiskey but a few drops here enhanced the smoothness. By the way, it doesn’t have to be a few drops (although that’s my way); at a recent online Dingle tasting, the distillery indicated to add what you like, that it is your whiskey!

The Busker Triple Cask Blend 40% abv 

Beautiful fruit (exotic) and vanilla seems to be the message from the aromatics in this inviting mid-gold coloured whiskey in The Busker series by the Royal Oak Distillery. It has been matured and finished in Bourbon, Marsala and Sherry casks. I’m now expecting something smooth and on the sweet side and I’m not disappointed at all.

It is smooth and rich on the palate and, yes, sweetish with chocolate and fudge in the mix, and a touch of cinnamon spice. The sweetness continues through the beautifully balanced finish.

With water…. No real change on the nose but there is some extra smoothness both in the mouth and in the finish. No great change but then this is a more or less normal 40% and hardly in need of water at all.

BALLYMALOE FOODS LAUNCHES COLLABORATION WITH IRISH COFFEE CHAIN

BALLYMALOE FOODS LAUNCHES COLLABORATION

 WITH IRISH COFFEE CHAIN

Ballymaloe Foods has teamed up with leading food chain Esquires Coffee to develop a Christmas offering. It follows a series of similar collaborations announced by Ballymaloe Foods this year as it joined forces with restaurants and food service outlets in Ireland.

During 2021, Ballymaloe Foods worked with CoqBull restaurants in Cork and Limerick to create a limited edition burger using its fiery and original relish. Cornstore included Ballymaloe Foods roasting sauces in its Mother’s Day Gift Boxes. Ballymaloe Foods teamed up with Toasted in the Marina Market and Tramore Valley Park who use Ballymaloe Mayo in its Pure Cork Sandwich. 

The Cork-based company also began working with two Northern Ireland based businesses collaborating with Toast Office in Belfast as well as Blend and Batch in Banbridge. 

The new collaboration with Esquires Coffee centres around a limited edition Christmas sandwich now available at the chain’s 14 locations across Ireland. The premium sambo is packed with roast breast of fresh turkey served with a rich Ballymaloe Cranberry Sauce, Tullamore baked ham, sun-blushed tomatoes on sourdough bread. 

Sarah Collins, Marketing Manager for Ballymaloe Foods said, “We love working with restaurants and cafes across Ireland especially when they share our passion for sourcing good-quality Irish ingredients. It’s wonderful to see our products being used in creative ways. We’re thrilled to have Esquires Coffee using Ballymaloe Cranberry Sauce in their limited edition sandwich. It tastes like Christmas on a plate.”

Esquires Coffee has 14 locations across Ireland including in Carrick-on-Shannon, Castlecomer, Clonmel, Drogheda, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Longford, Mullingar, Navan and Roscommon. 

press release

WATCH OUT WORLD!!! JUST RELEASED! Original Gravity Irish Oak-Aged Barleywine

press release

WATCH OUT WORLD!!! JUST RELEASED! 

Original Gravity Irish Oak-Aged Barleywine

It's that time of the year again! We've been busy brewing and barrel-aging something very special for your drinking pleasure this Christmas: watch out world, because our 2021 winter release is ORIGINAL GRAVITY Irish Oak-Aged Barleywine. A bright ruby red with pure Christmas on the nose folowed by lots of warm woody vanilla and oak tannins, alongside deep caramel malt, dried cherries, raisins and dates. There's a touch of candied fruit and a smooth lingering toffee flavour. 

Our ORIGINAL GRAVITY competition came about because we wanted to celebrate ten years of brewing at Eight Degrees by showcasing Ireland-based artists. Earlier this year we ran a competition looking for artworks that reflected our Naturally Adventurous values, expressing our desire to explore and roam again. The winners, each of whom won €1,000, have featured on this ORIGINAL GRAVITY series of five limited beer releases, giving emerging artists a can-sized exhibition space.

ORIGINAL GRAVITY Irish Oak-Aged Barleywine with Coireall Carroll Kent

Aged in especially rare Irish whiskey barrels that have been made from native Irish oak, this barleywine is a special seasonal sipper to be savoured with all the Christmas treats: blue cheese and spiced beef, dark chocolate and Christmas pudding, mince pies and Christmas cake.
More information here: https://www.eightdegrees.ie/original-gravity-barleywine/

Artist statement: Coireall Carroll Kent
I spent a lot of the pandemic trekking across the Irish countryside, and many of the roads that I took to are shrouded in trees just like these. The knots are naturally rooted in Celtic culture, with the concentric circles representing both the curves of our landscape and the bubbles in a good drink!
Discover the artist on Instagram: @coireallcarrollkent

A Quart of Ale± #77. On the craft journey. A session with Wide Street, Larkin's and Curious Society

A Quart of Ale± #77

On the craft journey. A session with Wide Street, Larkin's and Curious Society

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Larkin’s Drench IPA 7%, 400 can Bradleys

This one’s got a lemon/orange colour and is very hazy indeed, more or less opaque with a white head sinking slowly. The aroma is not the most intense but it is pleasant with notes of exotic mango and passionfruit. And it is more of the same on the smooth and supple palate, hops and malt in good balance. An excellent beer with a formidable finish. Would love to do a head to head with a draught version of this and Crew’s Polly.

It appeared in May and Larkin’s were delighted:  “It's been a while! It's fair to say the lockdowns haven't been ideal for us here at Larkin's. But we've adapted in a few ways to overcome these challenges and we're coming out the other side stronger and better for it. We, along with all the other independent breweries, have had great support from everyone and this has made more difference than we've been able to express so THANK YOU! Thank you for buying craft and thank you for spreading the word to others who are now curious to try new styles and breweries.”

“..as a taster of things to come, here's Drench!  A 7% absolute banger of an IPA with an uncalled for 20g/litre dry hop of Strata, El Dorado and Idaho 7. This is new England through and through with big malt body to carry the hops and enough bitterness to balance it out.”

Bierhaus Cork soon had it on tap: “It’s literally been tapped up in at @bierhaus_cork for the weekend! Incredible beer- this is the best brew I’ve had on tap in a year.” Encouragement there for a “dank and juicy” beer.

Curious Society Immortal Game American Wheat Beer 5%, 440 can Carryout Ballyvolane

Another in the Curious Society series by Larkin’s of Wicklow, their impressive collection of budget beer offerings.

Colour of this American Wheat Beer is a lemon/orange, a hazy one with a soft white head that contracts reasonably quickly on pouring (from the can) but it does leave a reasonable crown. Aromas have a hint of orange peel which is indeed an adjunct here.

Straight off, I found this smooth customer very refreshing on the palate and on the finish. Bitterness is on the low side and there’s no sign of the clove or banana that you  find in European wheat beers. The producers suggest enjoying it on its own or with a slice of orange. It is very drinkable, for sure.

By the way, they suggest that if you enjoy the artwork to check out the "immortal game”, one of the most famous chess games of all time. I’m sure if you’re curious, you will!

Curious Society Night Tide Cold-Brew Coffee Oatmeal Stout 5%, 440 can Carryout Ballyvolane

“For this .. beer we teamed up with #cloudpickercoffee to bring you a full bodied velvety coffee oatmeal stout.” That’s how Curious Society introduce their Night Tide.

It pours black as night in a Wicklow wood with, yes, a coffee coloured soft head. It smells of coffee, from the dark roasted malts - coffee is an ingredient. It is close to full-bodied and rich. “Subtle flavours”, they say,  “but none of the bitterness that you can get from coffee.” Perhaps so, but there is a lively edge to it, not necessarily a bad thing, in fact it gives it a refreshing quality.

A doubt arose in my mind when I looked closely at this can. Of six cans bought (including this one) on the day, three were within days of the best before limit. Of the three, one was very poor, the other two lack-lustre. The expiry date on this is a few months off at Jan 22 but, once the doubt has set in, you’re left uncertain and wondering would it have been better a few months back. Purchase and Drinking date: 19th October. Note to myself: “Get into the habit of checking the dates!”

Wide Street Cashmere IPA, 5.6%, 440 can Bradleys

“When West Coast bitterness meets the citrus-y fruity flavour and aroma of an East Coast IPA. Whirlpooled and dry-hopped with Cashmere and Citra hops.” That’s the introduction to this IPA by producers Wide Street.

Colour is a mid-orange, hazy, with bubbles galore streaming towards to the soft white head. Aromas and flavours are both packed with citrus (lime, grapefruit, orange), mango and more. No shortage of bitterness either though, as promised. And the finish is good and dry.

They say: Unfiltered, unpasteurised, and can conditioned containing yeast sediment. Whirlpool and dry hop additions of 15g/l Cashmere and Citra hops provided the bitterness of a West Coast IPA and the citrus fruit aroma and flavour of an East Coast IPA. An all encompassing IPA. Refrigerate, store upright and pour carefully.

From Morgan And Lugana. Two Very Highly Recommended Wines.

From Morgan And Lugana. Two Very Highly Recommended Wines.

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Domaine des Souchons “Cuvée Claude Billet” Morgan (AOC) 2018, €18.95 (was €24.95) O’Briens Wine

These days, I find a comfortable certainty when I open a bottle of Beaujolais cru, particularly when that cru is Morgan. And, as soon as I smell the intense straightforward red berry nose, with a touch of spice, from this Cuvée Claude Billet, I know I’m on the money again with this deep ruby coloured wine.

The vibrant fruit and a tingling acidity leaves an excellent impression as it shines everywhere across the palate and through the long and lingering finish, a touch of fine tannins on the lips. What’s not to like here? Very Highly Recommended.

This cuvée is a blend of different plots, notably combining the volcanic terroir of the Cote du Py and the power of the Grand Cras terroir on one of the oldest estates in the Morgon area of Beaujolais. It is owned by the Condamine family whose roots are in these vineyards. This 100% Gamay, with strong character and enjoyable light fruit notes, is perfect with poultry, and they also say that it goes surprisingly well with cooked white fish, such as sole meuniere.

They say: It is at Morgon, a Beaujolais cru, that we carefully tend our 40 parcels that spread over almost 12 hectares. The domaine is subject to six different types of climatic influences, allowing us to produce wines of great richness that reveal their individual terroirs.

Guerrieri Rizzardi Lugana (DOC) 2020, 12%, €14.95 (was 18.95) O’Briens Wine

The shimmering light gold colour of this Rizzardi white dances in the glass and catches the eye. The feel good factor is increased as you sniff the attractive aromas of fruit such as peach and more exotic like mango and pineapple, and there are floral notes as well. 

There is indeed ample fruit (including the exotic) on the palate and a long and lasting finish. Terrific texture all the way thanks to it having been on the lees for two to three months. A subtle acidity is a key factor. Very Highly Recommended.

Excellent, Rizzardi say, with freshwater and saltwater fish dishes, fresh crustaceans, sushi and young cheese. Also ideal as an aperitif. Recommended serving temperature is 10 to 12 degrees. Guerrieri Rizzardi is the result of the union between two venerable winemaking families that date back to the 17th century.

This Lugana is made from Turbiana grapes, historically cultivated widely in the lands surrounding Peschiera del Garda (a town by Lake Garda). The grape is also known as Trebbiano di Lugana and is genetically linked to Verdicchio. The grapes are grown according to the guyot method in various vineyards around the San Benedetto di Lugana area, where the subsoil is abundant in white clay. 

After selection and harvest, the grapes are crushed and then fermented in stainless steel tanks followed by refinement on the lees for 2-3 months, after which the wine is ready to be bottled. This 2020 was first bottled on the 9th of March 2021.

Taste of the Week. Cameron Bakery Pastries

Taste of the Week 

Cameron Bakery Pastries

We've got a sweet Taste of the Week for you this week. Just pop into Cameron Bakery (either in Washington Street or the new store at Parnell Place, where I was a few days ago) and pick out any one, or two or three, of their pastries. 

There's such a decadent profusion of sensuous pleasures here that you just can't go wrong! Get a Raspberry Macaron, a Mille Feuille, even an Opera (that sumptious coffee and chocolate melange) and you'll think you're shopping in Paris. 

And it's not just the sweet things. I got a beautiful seeded loaf here that is an absolute knockout - I especially enjoyed it with some of the Carraignamuc cheese (Tomme style) that I got via Neighbourfood. They also do savoury including Croque Monsieur, Le Parisien and O'Flynns Gourmet Sausage Roll.

Cameron at Parnell Place

More info, click Cameron