THE GRAIN STORE AT BALLYMALOE

Mary Dowey’s Weekend Wine Course have become a firm fixture on the spring calendar at Ballymaloe House, Co Cork. Guests come from far and wide to learn the essentials of wine appreciation while enjoying superb food, great wines and good company in one of Ireland’s loveliest country houses.

Mary’s Introduction to Wine Appreciation course with the handsomely restored Grain Store at Ballymaloe as the main venue. Suitable for anybody who enjoys wine and would like to know more about it, the course focuses on key grape varieties. Besides quickly mastering the characteristics of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir, guests will learn how to recognise quality, buy wisely, serve and store wines correctly and match them with the most suitable foods.

‘The wine-tasting weekend was fantastic and we will highly recommend it to our friends.’ Emma-Jane Dockery, Dublin

'Fantastic weekend. It was most informative and great fun. The last time we had such a good time was on the Orient Express' Pat & Mary Murphy

Listed among the Top 10 Wine Courses in the UK & Ireland by the Daily Telegraph

Mary Dowey, www.marydowey.com has built up a large following through her enthusiastic and refreshingly unstuffy approach. She is wine editor of The Gloss magazine and a contributor to the internationally acclaimed wine magazine Decanter, having been wine correspondent of The Irish Times 1995-2005. She has visited most of the world’s major wine-producing regions and is the author of several books including Food and Wine – Matching Made Simple and 101 Great Wines Under €12.

Wine Weekend Format

Friday evening: welcome aperitif, dinner with specially chosen wines and brief talk
Saturday: wine course all day (9.30am – 4.30pm) with lunch, afternoon tea and a six-course wine-tasting dinner in the evening
Sunday morning: champagne and sparkling wine workshop (10am -12.30pm)

Wine Weekend Packages; 2 nights bed & breakfast with Friday dinner and wine talk; Saturday all-day wine course with lunch, afternoon tea and gala dinner; Sunday morning champagne workshop

€495pp standard room; €595pp superior room

Gift vouchers available - ideal Christmas, birthday or Valentine’s gift for a wine-lover.

The February 2010 issue Lonely Planet magazine includes the spring wine course at Ballymaloe House in Co Cork among their listing of 10 BEST WEEKEND COURSES. It is the only wine course to be chosen in a wide-ranging article about 52 interesting weekend breaks in many different countries.

Book Now or contact Ballymaloe House by e-mail colm@ballymaloe.ie or by telephone: 00 353 (0) 21 4652531.