Sour Grapes the Irish wine blog

The wine sample was accompanied by the ubiquitous press release which mentioned value for money among other things. Value is a bit of a challenge to me. Does it just mean cheap (sorry, inexpensive)? Value is “the worth of something compared to the price paid”, and the worth is judged by the buyer not the [...]

The Gatecrasher Sauvignon Blanc is unlike any Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, let alone any Sauvignon Blanc I’ve ever tasted. If blind-tasted, I would have placed it somewhere between Chassagne & Puligny Montrachet, i.e. richier creamier styles than your benchmark Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. While the grapes are grown further north (around 400km), up on the [...]

Hail a Cab from Langhorne Creek in South Australia

I’ve read a lot of stuff about the decline of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. I’ve even thought the same things myself. How can such a consistent, almost unwavering wine style persist? Won’t people get sick of it, just like they did with Chardonnay? But then the taste-buds kick in. When @winealliancemoz mentioned he had a New Zealand Sauvignon [...]

Three little beauties from La Granja.

Wine of the week is from Trentino, northern Italy, by way of Mitchell & Sons. A great wine for good times.

sourgrapes.ie opens the can of whoop ass on the Indo/Sindo axis of mediocrity.

Innovation isn’t always about doing new things. In a clever move, Gabriel Cooney from On The Grapevine in Dalkey has (re)started selling wine direct from barrel. Of course, this was how it was previously done. However, resurrecting it back does a number of things: Differentiates Gabriel’s shop and creates a great talking point. Cuts down [...]

On 8th July 2011, Champagne Bollinger will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of their cuvées, the Bollinger R.D. and in a Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory inspired moment, Bollinger will be bringing five members to participate in the celebrations. The competition is called “Life can be perfect” and the five winners will be invited to a [...]

Winner announced: commenter #3: Kristin   Wyndham Estate are giving away a Fallon & Byrne hamper on sourgrapes.ie worth €500 to celebrate Father’s Day. What’s inside? The hampers are filled with oils, vinegars, drinks, chocolates, teas, coffees, spices and Wyndham Estate Bin 555 Shiraz. Your father may well prefer a good bottle of wine and some good [...]