Thursday, August 18, 2011

Sheridans Cheese and Wine Tasting this weekend

Just for the hell of it, we are cracking open some new wines and some Sheridans cheese in the shop this weekend to have a big tasting...

Brie, Bleu d'Auvergne, Comte will be among the cheeses.

Bussola Valpolicella TB, Chateau La Tonnelle, One Tree Sauvignon Blanc will be among the wines.

All day Friday and Saturday - spread the word and call in!

Monday, August 8, 2011

My licence saga

When we opened in 1999, there weren't that many shops only selling wine and there wasn't a licence available for weird shops like ours, so we were given a Wine "On" Licence which covered us to sell wine on or off the premises. We toddled along happily with this licence until this year when we were told that we had to apply for the new Wine Retailer's Off Licence.

The procedure to apply for this new licence means getting court approval. Between an ad in the paper, solicitor's fees and barristers fees we will be down over €2,000 - just to be able to apply for the licence in September!

We were in court until 3pm, listening to everyone else's tedious business. When my turn came, I had to take the stand, swear on the bible and all the rest of it, answer a few cursory questions about the business and the the judge sighed, turned to me and said "Why do the licencing people insist on making everyone's life so difficult?" And that was it.

I know the revenue had to tighten up on wine licences, but surely, for those of us who have to migrate from one licence to another, a simpler and cheaper way to do it should be made available? There will be more than us who will have to make the change, and an extra 2k is hard to find these days.

More red tape, more expense, more making life difficult for small business. As an aside, there has been a traffic warden all day on our near-empty street all day today.

Maybe the council should just start running shuttle buses to Tesco and be done with it.


Tuesday, August 2, 2011

August deals from On the Grapevine

On the Grapevine August Offers

Mixed Case Special – 3 bottles each of the wines below, only €100 –
that’s a saving of 27% or €38!

Lanzos White – Sauvignon / Viura – Was €11, now €9
This is really well-made, zesty white from
the Rueda region of Spain. Local grape
variety Viura is blended with the betterknown
Sauvignon Blanc to give a fresh,
fruity white that is great on its own or with
lightish food.

Lanzos Red – Tempranillo – Was €11, now €9
This is made in Toro where Tempranillo is
given the slightly unimaginative name of
Tinta de Toro. What you get is a mediumbodied,
gutsy, slightly spicy, slightly
leathery red, bursting with red berry fruits.
Soft and easy drinking and a great allrounder
at a great price.

Domaine de Cabrol Picpoul de Pinet 2010 – was €12, now €10
Want a crisp, fresh summery white? Step back
from the Pinot Grigio, put down that New
Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and try this for real
refreshment. From the shores of the
Mediterranean, this is crisp and fresh with
lovely citrus tang and the nice feeling of
knowing you are drinking a real wine with
character. One of the Languedoc’s hidden
gems.

Lombeline Gamay 2009 – Loire Valley – was €12 now €9
2009 was an exceptional year in Loire valley for the red
and the wines in particular show amazing depth. The
bouquet of this Gamay is pure cherry and strawberries with
a hint of spices. On the palate there is a superb, harmonious
smoothness, tender structure with lovely minerality. Classic
summery wine, serve it a little bit chilled .Delicious now
with cold meat.