Brightwater Riesling
Cork wine lovers can sometimes feel hard done by when they consider the large number of tastings that takes place up in the Pale, compared to the much smaller number that is scheduled Leeside. As yet another wine date is announced for Fallon & Byrne, or The Radisson in Dublin 8, they might justifiably ponder whether Cork actually is “the real capital” after all.
Cork wine merchants, Bubble Brothers, based in the Marina Commercial Park and the English Market, are stepping up to the plate with a series of wine tastings to be held in the AGA showroom on Lapp’s Quay.
AGA produces and sells super-fashionable stoves and kitchenware. On the night, there will be a 20% discount on cookware, such as pots, pans and kettles. Stoves themselves are not included in the sale bonanza, but nobody will be buying big-ticket items like these until about 2012 anyway.
First region to be showcased is the south of France. Eight wines will be introduced by Bubble Brother’s Julian. His Sasanaigh background precludes him from credibly saying “the craic will be mighty” but he is strongly suggesting that this will be the case.
There will be (as yet, unspecified) wine deals on the night too. The first tasting takes place next Thursday July 16th at 7pm. Tickets cost €10 and can be reserved through the website http://www.bubblebrothers.com/proddetail.php?prod=AGAticket
___________________________________________________________________________________________
I drank one of Bubble Brothers’ Kiwi Rielsings only last night, details below. New Zealand has quite a high wine profile in Ireland but, globally, it is still a very minor player, producing only 1/10 the quantity that its large neighbour, Australia, produces. Australia’s production itself is nothing to get too excited about, only equating to about that of Bordeaux. More than two-thirds of New Zealand wines are sealed with a screwcap.
Riesling is the sixth most planted variety in New Zealand (unsurprisingly, Sauvignon Blanc is top). Nelson, where this wine comes from, is at the top of the south Island, a two hour drive from Marlborough. It’s chillier and damper than its more famous neighbour, and Riesling is the fourth most planted variety here.
Brightwater Riesling, Nelson, New Zealand, 2006. Medium lemon-lime colour. Musky forecourt notes, with orange peel and green apple. Dry and medium bodied, with fresh acidity, and intense flavours of grapefruit and citrus peel. Verdict: Quite complex, with admiral typicity for the grape. 8.5/10 Distributed by Bubble Brothers and retailing at about €19.
Food: Bengali Salmon Curry (courtesy of Madhur Jaffrey’s Ultimate Curry Bible) 30mins start to finish:
1. Marinate salmon darnes in 1/3tsp salt + 1/3 tsp cayenne pepper + 1/3 tsp tumeric.
2. Grind 2 1/2 tbsp mustard seeds and mix in bowl with 1 1/2 tbsp ground coriander, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/4 tsp tumeric, 1 tsp hot curry powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 3/4 tsp salt, 180g blended tomatoes, 120ml water.
3. Heat 3 tbsp oil in large pan. Add 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp fennel seeds. Stir once, then add in the tomato mix from #2. Add another 250ml water and, if you have them, 15-20 curry leaves. Simmer for fifteen minutes.
4. Poach salmon in single layer in pan until cooked through, turning half way through.
5. Serve with basmati rice lightly flavoured with star anise, lime wedges, and Brightwater Riesling.
You are a diamond geezer, sir. Thank you very much for drawing attention to Thursday’s tasting – I’m looking forward to it and, as usual, not principally for commercial purposes: it’s a great opportunity to turn the fruit of all the online bits and bobs (Wine 2.0) back into the wine of people getting together.
I’ll pass this link on to Valley and Gary Neale at Brightwater, who’ll certainly appreciate it.
And I’ll probably have a go at the recipe before too long as well.
That’s a value-packed post.
I’m itching to come along myself but I started a Web Design mini-course last week, and classes run on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There are only twelve in total, so I would prefer not to miss any. But I’ll see.
If not this one, then the next one for sure.
[...] Thursday’s wine tasting at Cork’s AGA shop turned out pretty well, as far as I can judge, even if Paul Kiernan’s predictions had laid it on a bit thick by announcing that WINE-STARVED CORKONIANS GO GAGA AT AGA! [...]
[...] Thursday’s wine tasting at Cork’s AGA shop turned out pretty well, as far as I can judge, even if Paul Kiernan’s predictions had laid it on a bit thick by announcing that WINE-STARVED CORKONIANS GO GAGA AT AGA! [...]