Blake's Blog

Something new for a new year.......
Most people’s New Year’s resolutions centre on giving up or reducing what they drink. I, on the other hand, am changing what I drink and focusing on new wines from areas which are outside my comfort zone. Last year I was drinking Bordeaux, a lot of wonderful Spanish wines and some very interesting new rums.
So this month I would like to introduce you to wines from the Loire region of France, a wine region which has a huge range of whites in a variety of styles, ranging from crisp and refreshing, through rich and oak-influenced or fine and mineral, up to sweet and decadent; as well as many reds, ranging from light gentle wines with raspberry fruits just perfect for summer drinking, to structured wines that demand years in the cellar in order to show their true worth. And we cannot forget the rose wines which are currently my favourite.
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With so much else to think about – dinner for family and friends and the stresses of present buying- sourcing your wine for the holidays can become a last-minute afterthought. But that needn’t be the case! We at Fine Wines have selected a range of wines to go with every course of your Christmas Dinner, so you won’t be stuck for ideas. All these wines are available at great value from any of the Fine Wines Off Licence stores – visit click on store location to find your nearest one, or alternatively take advantage of some great web offers!. Browse our extensive Christmas Gift Brochure while online.
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It has been a long held belief that while Chile is considered a major player in the wine world Argentina is still seen as the “Sleeping Giant”.

In January I was lucky enough to have been invited to discover these two beautiful countries for myself. While it may be something of a trek…Limerick – Dublin – Paris – Santiago and some fifteen hours in planes…..it’s certainly worth it.
Santiago de Chile enjoys a spectacular setting: sprawled across the fertile Santiago valley, 100km (62 miles) from the Pacific coast, the city is dominated by the mighty Andes to the east and a smaller coastal mountain range to the west. Santiago is a quirky, vibrant City not to missed as a great starting point to exploring Chile.
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“In their own words”

As 2011 rolls in, I would like to take the opportunity to say “Thank You”.
Thank you for shopping online with us and for shopping in our retail stores.

2010 saw many business face challenging times and your custom both online and in our 19 retail stores means that Fine Wines Off Licence Group not only met those challenges head on, but have entered 2011 in good shape. While our ethos of excellent customer care, product range and outstanding value has been the backbone of our company, your continued support is what has brought us through 2010 and will see our company continue to thrive through 2011 and beyond.

With New Year in mind we have a few “New Years Resolutions of our own for 2011
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Cold it may be outside but, Christmas brings with it many joys. Childhood memories of Christmas Cake preparations and the unique festive smell lingering in the kitchen. The anticipation of what Santa might bring, the furtive Christmas pressie buying and the welcoming of friends and family from near and far, but for many the highlight will be the "Christmas Dinner".

With so much to think about including dinner for the family and the stresses of present buying, wine for the holidays can become a last minute afterthought, but that needn't be the case.
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As with all good competitions, we have four semi-finalists in the running.
Groups: Chardonnay
Girls: Sauvignon
Boys: Merlot
Over 25’s : Pinot Noir

Here’s their story so far:What’s got the X Factor in wine this month?

Chardonnay: With bags of entertainment value LJB Chardonnay worked their way to the top of the groups. Always a crowd pleaser and with their golden colour they are, deservedly, one of the nations favourite. With blonde good looks and wearing a cloak of rich vanilla they always deliver style, taste and longevity with a hint of maturity.
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Of late I find myself, once again, drawn to the Bordeaux region. I think that anyone involved in the wine business, at some stage, dreams of a life spent tending their very own vines in the idyllic surroundings of Bordeaux, the very heart of the French wine industry.
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The women in my life, bless them, have decided that I must be made aware of the latest trend sweeping the “Wedding Scene”, so with that in mind and in keeping with the ever increasing need for budget friendly wines I have put together a wonderful combination of exclusive wines which, on a typical 6 case order, can save you a whopping €612.
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Having just returned from France on a very interesting tasting and buying trip, ( the result of which, you will see in the Fine Wines Shops and Online over the next few days) I have just enough time to let you in on a few favourites this month, before popping off to the London Wine Fair. A tough job, but somebody’s got to do it, thank goodness it’s me.

With over 20 years in the business I feel lucky to be able to find and deliver to our customers the best the world of wine has to offer, at prices that won’t break the bank. The following three wines I have chosen for their distinction and the fact that they are representative of their country of origin.
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Where you up early? Or did you stay up all night to watch the rugby? Me, I stayed up with a couple of friends and colleagues drinking some wine and rating our chances with our drawn team,( each Fine Wines store is in our World Cup Rugby pool and we are competitive) it all adds to the general excitement, and kept us entertained till the rugby started. As usual, the topics of discussion included the wine we were drinking. And that got me thinking, is there any relationship between wine and rugby?
Well, you might be surprised to know that out of the 20 teams playing in the world cup, 13 of them produce wine!