Vine Time

Up to the 1970s wine sales were mainly French. The French produce exceptional wine placing great emphasis on 'Terroir', which includes the role of the soil, planting locations and micro climate. They produce a huge range of wine matching particular grape varieties to their most suitable soil types. With the introduction of New World wines into Ireland from Australia and Chile initially, sales have increased year on year with consumers selecting from an increasingly impressive range of wines.

The popularity of New World wine is due to competitive pricing, fruity flavours, consistent quality and descriptive labelling outlining the wine's characteristics, grape varieties, production methods and origin. Significant changes are occurring as tastes evolve.

New World wineries now also produce French-style higher priced premium wines and some French wineries moving towards New World styles. French wine is strictly governed by regional wine laws.

For example, the laws rarely permit the naming of grape varieties on the label or the irrigation of vineyards. New World countries have little variation in climate and have less stringent wine laws that allow the irrigation of vineyards. Annual weather variations in France lead to good and bad vintages. Each French region is quality graded and provided growers adhere to the laws they are permitted to display the assigned grading on the label hence the variations in quality of wine with the same rating.

Quality ranges from Vin de Table, to Vin De Pay to Appellation d'Origine Controlee being the highest rating. If a supplier decides to make a premium wine outside to the laws, Vin de Table must be displayed on the label. These wines can still command high prices based on reputation. chilled with white meat.

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Expect a red fresh fruit aroma of strawberries and raspberries, a bright red colour and a hint of strawberries in the taste.