Two Aldi super sippers summer wines – unique orange & Rosé blend that's just €11.99 and €9.99 bargain for next heatwave
This is just a small selection if those on offer over the coming weeks.
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Read below to find out the Irish Sun's bargain wine bottle this week
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
We will endeavour to keep you informed over the Summer period on those you should try not to miss.
May 1: 7pm to 9pm:
WHELEHAN Wines, at the Silver Tassie, Loughlinstown, Co
Joining proprietor David Whelehan will be French cheese expert Julien Comte for an evening celebrating the perfect pairing of cheese and
The event will explore some of France's most renowned cheese regions, discovering a selection of exceptional cheeses, each expertly matched with a carefully chosen wine.
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There are only
25
tickets available for this intimate event which promises a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for both enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
For more information email wineschool@whelehanswines.ie or telephone on 01-901 1144, Monday to Saturday from 10am - 6pm.
May 1: 7pm to 9pm
ANNA Van Der Niepoort, from
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Anna will explore the region of Spitzerberg and its key grape, Blaufränkisch.
This special tasting will include regional, village and single vineyard wines from the appellation and feature a vertical tasting of wines from one of their best single vineyards.
Wine buffs are tricked into drinking gourmet wine - but it's actually from Aldi
May 10: 6pm to 8pm
ZOLTAN Heimann, AKA 'Kadarka Man', from Heimann & Fiai, will be a guest at Blackrock Cellar as he hosts a special
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He will explore the region of Szekszard and its two main grapes: Kadarka and Kekfrankos, and the tasting will include different levels of appellations: regional, village and single vineyard, as well as a very interesting vertical tasting of a very special single vineyard block.
There are also special ticket bundle offers - buy two get 25 per cent off, buy three or more and get 50 per cent off.
May 11: 1pm to 3pm & 4pm to 6pm
CENTRAL Europe and Ancient East Wine Fair, Fumbally Stables, Fumbally Lane, The Liberties, Dublin 8.
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A chance to discover and taste some exceptional wines from countries that still remain quite new to Irish consumers.
Some 120 wines from Austria, Georgia,
There is a growing interest in all of these wines so this is a wonderful opportunity to begin to enjoy and learn about some of Europe's oldest wine producing nations.
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June 5: 7pm to 9pm
BBQ Tutored Tasting @ Whelehan Wines¸ the Silver Tassie, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin
Prepare to celebrate summer with the perfect BBQ wines, with the opportunity to explore a selection of wines that pair beautifully with grilled dishes and outdoor gatherings.
Early booking is recommended for the chance to expand your wine knowledge during an evening presented by two of Ireland's best known educators; Liam Campbell and Dale Gatcum.
Knowledge of wine enhances its enjoyment and Liam and Dale will certainly prove this to be true.
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Tickets (€40 each) are
AN orange wine from the
Krasna Hora Le Blanca 2022 (ABV 12%)
6
€23rrp from good independents
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Grapes: Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Neuburger
THE wines of Moravia in the Czech Republic make their way in this column – and what an entrance.
With several of the five grape varieties allowed to spend time on their skins, this organic wine exhibits a vibrant light orange when poured.
Layered notes of pear, citrus, stone fruit and honey on the nose while the dry palate has excellent acidity and fine structure, delivering up distinct flavours of lemon, nectarine and a long finish.
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Enjoy with:
Chicken and pasta dishes.
Star rating: ****
Babich Hawke's Bay Syrah 2018 (ABV 13%)
6
€37.95rrp @ good independents
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Grape: Syrah
FROM New Zealand's North Island comes this vibrant, juicy and award-winning Syrah.
A deep crimson colour, it has black cherry, plum, a wisp of raspberry and fruitcake aromatics.
The palate is elegant, warm, generous and full, with decidedly soft tannins, savoury notes of ripe plum, soft dark fruit, spice, vanilla and black pepper flavours. Great length.
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Enjoy with:
Slow-braised oxtail.
Star rating: ****
Jean Leon Xarel Lo 2021 (ABV 13%)
6
€24.50rrp @ good independents
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Grape: Xarel Lo
PRONOUNCED Cha-rell-oh, this indigenous Catalan white is a celebrated part of Cava's blend, bringing structure and aromatic complexity to Spain's favourite sparkler.
But over the past decade or so winemakers have discovered its ability to make still wines with good acidity and minerality.
This is a wonderful example, with a light, lemon straw hue and aromas of citrus, apple, and flint.
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The palate is quite rounded with lovely freshness, zippy acidity and notes of citrus and stone fruit. Good length.
Enjoy with:
Grilled light flavoured white fish.
Star rating: ****
Chassaux Et Fils Rosorange 2023 (ABV 13%)
6
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Currently €11.99 @ Aldi outlets
Grapes: Cinsault, Grenache, Grenache Gris Macabeu & Vermentino
THIS is an interesting, if puzzling, cross between an orange and a Rosé wine!
When poured it has a light coppery colour, with lifted notes of peach, citrus, soft red berries and spice on the nose.
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The medium-bodied, fruit-driven palate is surprisingly lively and quite enjoyable, with hints of honey, peaches and orange. Decent length.
Enjoy with:
Summer salads, with cold meats.
Star rating: ***
THIS WEEK'S IRISH SUN BARGAIN BOTTLE
WE promise to bring Irish Sun wine lovers a taste-tested vino each weekend that won't hurt your pocket - and is under a tenner.
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The cost of glass, packaging, labelling and transport have sky-rocketed in recent years.
Finding excellent value wines is getting harder, but we have managed to find some great bottles that would grace any dinner table or be a super mid-week couch sipper.
Specially Selected Costières de Nîmes Blanc 2024 (ABV 12.5%)
6
Currently €9.99 @ Aldi outlets
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Grapes: Grenache Blanc, Vermentino, Roussanne
SUPER southern Rhone sipper that's perfect for those hazy, sun-drenched summer days just around the corner.
A light straw lemon colour, it has seductive ripe pear, lemon and melon aromas.
It has a crisp and refreshingly clean palate with good balance and highlighted by lively acidity with notes of peach, pear and citrus fruit. Satisfying length.
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Enjoy with:
Baked salmon
Star rating: ****
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Overall, a scant summary of the castle and its role as the symbolic seat of British power in Dublin. This famous hostelry, named for its locale, sits in what Brendan calls 'the most vibrant and historic of neighbourhoods'. He explains that the entire area is named after William Temple, and that throughout the centuries it has gone from a rough patch of land beside the Liffey to a wealthy neighbourhood to a red-light district and today, to a tourism hotspot. The Temple Bar, open since 1840, is he says 'a mecca for music lovers' with live trad music daily and over 450 types of whiskey where 'the craic just never stops'. He describes it as possessing 'the soul of an old-school Irish pub' but it presents more as a dedicated tourist operation to me. Brendan omits that the pub building is listed by Dublin City Council on its Record of Protected Structures or that the Guinness World Record for the longest guitar-playing marathon was set by David Browne at Temple Bar back in 2011. Nor is the Dublin entrepreneur Hugh O'Regan, a former co-owner, mentioned having been instrumental in fighting to save the area from becoming a bus station and securing EU funding to restore Temple Bar. Brendan's description of Trinity College is effusive, identifying it as a 'prestigious university' where you need to wear your 'best garb' and that it was founded by Elizabeth I as part of a campaign to create Protestant institutions in Ireland. He names former pupils including Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett and Eavan Boland, but doesn't explain that the Eavan Boland Library is the new name for the main library, formerly known as the Berkeley Library. The building was recently re-named due to controversy about George Berkeley's status as a slave owner during his life. Brendan correctly namechecks Trinity's architect as William Chambers, describing its classical design with 'impressive porticos' and the 'soaring ceilings' of its famous library that houses over '200,000 priceless volumes' including the Book of Kells created in 800 AD. He does not go into any detail however about the ban imposed by the Catholic Church, forbidding Catholics from attending Trinity without special dispensation, which was not lifted until 1970. He concludes that it is a 'must-see', which is hard to dispute, but it is a pretty superficial summary of the college. Oscar Wilde is described by Brendan as a 'brilliant, flamboyant Irish man who was unapologetically, flamboyantly gay', an assertion that omits to mention his marriage to Constance or his two sons. He goes on to say he 'dismantled hypocrisy with elegance, humour and style' in famous works like The Importance of Being Earnest, The Happy Prince and The Picture of Dorian Gray, and briefly references his downfall due to his homosexual affair with Lord Alfred Douglas (Bosey), which was 'criminalised by the laws of the time'. He then describes the statue of Oscar by Danny Osborne as 'delightfully unconventional' but omits that it was commissioned by Guinness or that it wasn't erected until almost 100 years after his death, due to the lingering scandal. He does say it is as 'clever and layered as the writer it celebrates' and captures the 'flamboyance and genius of the man himself'. He also describes Oscar as a GOAT (the greatest of all time), which strikes me as inappropriate, bearing in mind Wilde was a writer with a rapier wit and not a heavyweight boxer. While the CityMe app is easy to use and the information seems largely accurate, the audio excerpts describing each location are brief, most are one to two minutes, and with repeated listening sound increasingly generic and repetitive. Everything is described in terms of uncritical hyperbole and there is no acknowledgment that history is messy, complicated and layered. I suppose the absence of nuance and context are a feature of the AI nature of the 'content' but I don't see Brendan posing a substantial threat to experienced flesh-and-blood tour guides with a deep knowledge and love of Dublin. On the plus side, for solo travellers with limited time or resources, the app could serve as an introduction to the events and people that have shaped our capital. I have found myself dipping into it regularly since downloading to check out familiar Dublin buildings or landmarks that I have always wondered about. Especially for smaller, quirkier places like the Sacred Heart Shrine in Pimlico, the Sunlight Chambers decorative panels on the quays and the Jesus of the Taxi Drivers of Cathal Brugha Street, it answers questions about how and why they came to be. If Brendan can encourage more of us to be tourists in our own capital, then he can be a positive by helping us to appreciate the vivid and varied history of Dublin. But from my own experience, visiting foreign cities and having them brought vividly to life by fantastic guides with a passion for their subject, I would always opt for a human to educate me about a new place, not an AI-generated spectre. Sorry, Brendan.
