In 2014 we started trading under a new name representing 17 producers who we already worked with. We added 7 more during the year bringing the total wines offered to just under 200. Our travels took us to Portugal, Austria, France, Germany and the UK. Ben’s highlights included appreciating top Gruner Veltliner at Vievinum and making progress … Read More
Tidying out a corner of the office I found a tasting sheet from a trip to South Africa in March 2001. At that time, there was great expectation and plenty of winemakers sure that Syrah was the next thing for South Africa. It has taken longer than expected to take hold but finally South African Syrah … Read More
2011 sparked a flurry of renewed interest in port as this truly great vintage grabbed headlines in the wine press. While vintages and colheitas get the attention of the press, there is a great need to speak of other port styles. Ruby and Ruby Reserve ports are the beginning of a consumers’ port journey. The best have profound weight/ … Read More
“Not to increase tax on alcohol” is a positive decision for the Irish wine trade. A big thank you is due to all those who worked on and contributed to the Support your Local campaign. We are relieved to hear what the Minister was not going to do. However there is nothing to indicate that … Read More
Like sparkling wine but want something more interesting than Prosecco yet similarly priced? Fritz Muller is made by Jurgen Hofmann, (described as a rising star in the “Gault Millau” Wine Guide) and inspired by the demands of Guido Walter, a wine merchant in Munich. Fed up with the sameness of Prosecco they looked to the … Read More
Summer nearly over and September beckons, Wine Mason has been trading for three months. This is our summer report, a round up of press coverage from summer 2014. We sell some less obvious wines and in an article on new wines to try John Wilson in the Irish Times (9/8/2014) thought that Ziereisen Heugumber Gutedel … Read More
Gruner x 6 Its great when a grape such as Gruner Veltliner becomes more popular and appears on more and more wine lists and shelves. The flip side of such success can mean that the grape gets tagged with a defined taste and style. Gruner Veltliner is not a one dimensional grape and offers the winemaker great scope … Read More
