Wine Spirit Women celebrate International Women’s Day in Dublin
by Jean Smullen
Published 09/03/2024

Hats off to Michelle O’Sullivan and Leah Wang of Findlater & Co for their sponsorship of the Wine Spirit Women celebration of International Woman’s Day on Friday 8th March, 2024.  Many of the members of the Wine Spirit Women group joined a panel of speakers who presented a selection of wines made by some of the world’s top female wine makers distributed in Ireland by Findlater & Co.

Guest’s attending the tasting in Lennan’s Yard on Dawson Street started the evening with a glass of Bolney Estate’s Classic Cuvee NV served with an interesting selection of canapes (tapas style).  Bolney Estate MD Sam Linter,  who has been running the operation since 1995 wanted to see more women in the English wine industry, so she hired Cara Lee Dely a South African born winemaker, to make this outstanding wine, a blend of Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay and a great way to commence the celebration!

Sinead Smith, Chairperson of Wine Spirit Women welcomed everyone and introduced the Bolney Estate to the assembled guests including Santina Kennedy of The Powerscourt Distillery, who had earlier attended the Women in Irish Whiskey event. 

The selection of wines were presented by women working  in various sectors of the Irish wine trade including Antonia Dominguez and Lynda Coogan (best known for their podcast The Long & the Short of It).  Antonia is the assistant wine buyer for O’Brien’s Wine and Lynda is a well-known wine educator who is also one of the Movies & Booze presenters on the Moncrieff Show.  Sinead McCarthy, Sommelier at Hawksmoor, Laura Peterson who works with Laurent Miguel and is an also a driving force behind Findlater’s “Give Wine a Future” initiative.  Wine journalist Jean Smullen, who  specialises in generic marketing and Karen O’Donoghue, Wine Buyer at Dunnes Stores.

The featured wines included the outstanding Bodegas Williams & Humbert Fino 2012 Alborea, Saca Julio 2022 which is made by Paola Medina Sheldon was presented by Antonia Dominguez who is from Jerez.  Lest we forget about one of the greatest wines in the world,  Antonia reminded us with gusto.  This vintage Fino went through static biological ageing rather than franctional blending and was from the 2012 vintage though bottled in 2022.  What a wine this was, an expression of all that is great about Fino with that glorious nutty profile and that freshness so typical of the style.  I forgot how much I love Fino, it was wonderful to be able to taste one so good!

The 2022 Jean Leon Xarel-lo now owned by Torres was presented by Jean SmullenThe Jean Leon estate is a sustainably managed, organically farmed vineyard owned and managed by Mireia Torres Maczassek daughter of Miguel who works with Monserrat Escotè a young talented winemaker.  Together both women have created this iconic Spanish white wine from a grape normally used to make Cava.

Pioneering winemaker Marimar Torres, sister of Miguel who is the driving force behind the Marimar Estate in Russian River Valley in California was next to feature.  The 2021 “La Masia” Chardonnay, Don Miguel Vineyard was introduced by Laura Peterson.  Laura paid tribute to Marimar who started her career in the 1970's and is one of the pioneering women in wine from the global wine world.  The Estate grown "La Masia" Chardonnay is an intense example of a classic oak-aged Chardonnay style with enormous potential for longevity.

The wines of the incomparable wine maker Róisín Curley MW were next,  an Irish winemaker and micro-négociant who currently produces top quality wines in Burgundy.  Róisín who is from County Mayo, currently works as a pharmacist in her family firm.  Róisín is a Master of Wine who trained in some of France’s finest vineyards including Château Latour and Château Grillet, now makes her own range of wines in Burgundy.  Róisín’s wines were introduced by Antonia Dominquez who is studying for the MW with Róisín as her mentor.  We tasted the 2022 Róisín Curley Bouzeron which is made from a Burgundian grape now gaining in popularity Bourgogne Aligoté.

Lynda Coogan presented the Chablis 1er Cru from J. Moreau & Fils made by wine maker Lucie Depuydt.  The 2021 Chablis 1er Cru Vaucoupin was an outstanding example of this classic wine style.  An elegant well-made wine, aged on its lees for 18 months 15% was aged in oak barrels adding a beautiful complexity to this elegant wine.

It was over to Sommelier Sinead McCarthy WSET Dip for the marvellous story about Myriam Ambuzer, wine maker at Lyrarakis Wines in Crete. Winemaker Myriam Ambuzer developed her love of wine in Spain, inspired by Spanish winemakers she became a wine maker.  Although raised in Athens she started her career in Crete in 2002.  Eventually she started working at Lyrarakis, where she has remained for 20 years.  This was our first red wine of the evening the 2019 Ayrarakis Liatiko Aggelis.  Liatiko is an ancient grape variety, grown on bush vines on its own rootstock.  

Our next wine, presented by Lynda Coogan was an outstanding Italian red from Montalcino. The 2017 Gianni Brunelli Brunello di Montalcino is made by Laura Brunelli.  This was still a baby and has the potential to carry on for at least another 40 years!  Bottled in June 2021 this famous Sangiovese clone is a blockbuster of a wine and was heavenly to taste.  The tannin was very much in evidence and this wine has a long way to go but it was nonetheless a remarkable wine.

Finally, we headed to the Southern Hemisphere to Coonawarra for a world class Cabernet Sauvignon made by Sue Hodder at Wynns Coonawarra Estate.  The wine was introduced by Karen O’Donoghue and is a benchmark Cabernet Sauvignon and one of Australia’s most collectable wines.  The 2017 Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon had enormous subtlety and everything you would look for from this classic wine style.

A fine ending to a wonderful evening, celebrating the women who work in wine on International Women’s Day.

Wine Spirit Women https://winespiritwomen.com/

Findlater & Co https://www.findlaterandco.com/