Food & Drink News Opinion

WINE O’CLOCK: A Rioja by any other name

By Kilkenny Now 11th September 2020 0

The patience of restaurant staff often surprises me, particularly nowadays when they have to work behind a mask and deal with customers who don’t know the Covid rules or have decided to ignore them. But even before Covid reared its ugly head, I witnessed many an example of forbearance. I recall, in particular, a debate […]

Food & Drink News Opinion

WINE O’CLOCK: Invite the neighbours to your barbeque

By Kilkenny Now 7th August 2020 0

Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire are small French towns facing each other across the River Loire, good neighbours but serious rivals when it comes to the production of excellent white wine. Both Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are from the Sauvignon Blanc grape, and while there are obvious similarities, they do have distinctive tastes. ‘Fumé’ is the shortened form […]

Food & Drink News Opinion

WINE O’CLOCK: Fruity wine my granny didn’t make

By Kilkenny Now 19th June 2020 0

A few months ago I was given a bottle of raspberry wine.  It sounded like something my granny used to make and I was in no rush to try it. I stored it away carefully in the back of a cupboard with that cactus liqueur I brought home from Lanzarote and the banana concoction somebody […]

Food & Drink News Opinion

WINE O’CLOCK: When it’s time to reach for the rosé

By Kilkenny Now 5th June 2020 0

The lovely weather seems to have abandoned us but Met Eireann says it should soon be back, so don’t put away the barbecue just yet. When the sun comes out we reach for the rosé.  It’s Ireland’s favourite summer wine and, although I’m not a big fan, I have to admit it goes well with […]

Food & Drink News Opinion

WINE O’CLOCK: Chill out with this sunny Spanish special

By Kilkenny Now 29th May 2020 0

Albarino has become popular here in recent years, in part, I suspect, because it is easy to pronounce. The Spanish white is the perfect wine for the weather we have been enjoying. It is great with shellfish or tapas-type snacks and, lightly chilled, is just made for sipping in a sunny, summer garden. It is […]

News

WINE O’CLOCK: A glass full of feelgood factor

By Kilkenny Now 8th May 2020 0

I am always a bit suspicious when I see the label ‘organic’ on any item. The definition tends to be vague, the product expensive and I have never found the flavour of the meat, vegetables or whatever, to be noticeably enhanced. I am particularly  suspicious of ‘organic’ wine because the term has no legal standing. It […]

Food & Drink News Opinion

WINE O’CLOCK: Fine dining in your own kitchen

By Kilkenny Now 24th April 2020 0

When I eat in a restaurant with a good wine list (a fading memory, alas) I like to drink it by the glass, letting me try more of the range: a crisp white with the starter, a smooth red with the main course and a nice dessert wine with some cheese to finish things off. It’s an expensive little pleasure because restaurants impose a heft mark-up on wine. But I

Food & Drink News Opinion

WINE O’CLOCK: Online wine to beat the lockdown blues

By Kilkenny Now 3rd April 2020 0

Some off-licences have closed and many of us can’t get out to the ones that are open. But most wine stores operate good online sales and delivery services, so, if you’ve time to spare, you should try browsing a few websites. You may come across unusual wines that never make it onto the shelves. Some […]

News Opinion

MICHAEL WOLSEY: Here’s one thing they must not change

By Kilkenny Now 19th February 2020 0

Whatever other policies the next Government jettisons, it should not abandon Ireland 2040, the plan for decentralisation. Nor should new ministers tinker or toy with this so-called National Planning Framework. If they can strengthen the proposals, fine. And if they can speed up things that would be great, for the outgoing Government has done very […]

Food & Drink News Opinion

WINE O’CLOCK: Raise a glass to the saint of romance

By Kilkenny Now 7th February 2020 0

Saint Valentine put himself about a bit – or, rather, was put about a bit, since his travels began long after his death. Skeletal remains of the romantic saint were found in a Roman catacomb some 200 years ago. His skull is still in Rome. Other relics have made their way to France, Scotland and […]