Delighted to welcome to Ballymaloe, Chris and Robyn Pfeiffer, Pfeiffer Wines, Rutherglen, Victoria, Australia, pictured here taking some time out of their busy schedule, and ahead of a very special tasting in Cork city on Tuesday 6th December. Chris gave a terrific presentation & tasting on Australia’s Sweet & Fortified Wines in Cork City’s Hayfield [...]

L’Atitude 51° – a great new wine café in Cork, located across the road from the City Hall, at No.1 Union Quay – is well worth a visit. Looking at their wonderful blackboard of wines, we can appreciate all the work that has gone into their wine selection, and with the option of having wine by the glass or pichet, as well [...]

A photographic tour of a wonderful part of the world that is the famous region of Sherry – steeped in tradition with an amazing food, and wine, culture stretching back over 3000 years. Photos by Hazel Allen, Ballymaloe, taken during her recent visit to the region – capturing the magic of this special corner of [...]

Happy Thanksgiving from all the students of the September 12-Week Cookery Course. To celebrate Thanksgiving 2011, at Ballymaloe Cookery School, during one of the wine tastings with Peter and Colm, we featured some good Californian wine – we showed the students a Zinfandel from Beringer, in The Napa Valley.

Wine and Cheese A very interesting subject – “wine and cheese are first cousins; they are both fermented and the complexities are there”, said Giana Ferguson, Gubbeen Farmhouse Cheese, as Samuel and Colm, Sommeliers at Ballymaloe, took the opportunity to ask Giana’s advice during her  visit to the Christmas Food and Craft Fair at Ballymaloe, [...]

The Beaujolais Nouveau 2011 – il est arrivé – to Ballymaloe! Bernard Georges, of Georges Duboeuf, treated the students of the 12-week Cookery Course to a tasting of the 2011 Beaujolais Nouveau, along with Peter Corr, of Febvre Wine Merchants. Pictured below, and much enjoyed by all. Merci á  Bernard & Peter.

Gabriel Cooney, of On The Grapevine, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, visited the school  – pictured here in the Garden Cafe at the school, with Mike Hanrahan (acclaimed singer/songwriter,  former teacher at Ballymaloe Cookery and now Chef at Pat Shortt’s Bar, Castlemartyr) Gabriel spoke to the students after lunch about starting On The Grapevine wine business, and [...]

The famous Spanish wine company, Gonzalez Byass, established in 1835 in the Jerez region, it is still a family owned business and it is now at the 5th generation. They produce wine in different regions of Spain: Rioja, Toledo, Jerez, Somontano, Penedes and Cava. Oscar Bayo presented a selection of wines – Cava, White, and [...]

Launch of the New Season’s Olive Oil, at Ballymaloe on Wednesday 9th November 2011 Wines and Olive Oil of Tuscany, Wednesday 9th November at Ballymaloe         We had an amazing day with the launch and masterclasses of the new season’s  Tuscan Olive Oil. I hope some of these photographs can convey the [...]

John McDonnell, Wine Australia. Delighted as always, to welcome back regular guest wine lecturer, John McDonnell, Manager  Wine Australia Ireland – and the students were treated to a masterclass on Australian wine by John. Pictured in the hall at the cookery school, are John McDonnell, Wine Australia and Joe Cronin, Ballymaloe (Joe is 60 years [...]