The Wine Merchant's Blog

There are so many varietals out there, but sometimes you come across one that seems very similar to another, is this just a case of two different names for the same grape, or does the difference lie beyond just the name? Here are three examples of names that are used interchangeably but can mean more […]

Spring is just around the corner, time to relax and enjoy the lighter evenings. Spend more time in the garden or take long evening walks as the countryside around you changes. I cannot think of a better way to finish that perfect day than knowing there is a glass of beautiful wine waiting for you. […]

Valentine’s day is fast approaching and we have put together our Top 5 gifts to put a smile on the face of your loved one this year. 1.Forget-Brimont Brut Premier Cru NV What is Valentine’s Day if not a celebration of love and togetherness? With this in mind, consensus would dictate that nothing quite signifies […]

Over the past few years, the wines of the Rhône have graduated from the closely guarded secret of wine anoraks to a staple of shop shelves and restaurant by-the-glass lists. I’ve always had a soft spot for the region, so it was with great excitement that I caught the red eye to Lyon to join […]

I could sit here and wax lyrical about the wonders of Burgundy, but a man much more experienced than I has already said it best, so I will quote him instead; “Only with Burgundy do the details matter so passionately…so horribly when you have a great one and there is no way to know what […]

The festive season is well and truly underway and as the “big day” draws closer there’ll be some that will, in the midst of the frenzied preparation, nevertheless still find time to consider the all-important vinous accompaniments to the occasion with utmost seriousness and scrutiny.  If the Christmas lunch is to serve a purposeful simulacrum […]

Things are beginning to heat up here at JN Wine. The festive season is approaching and to distract us from how cold it is in the warehouse, we’re starting to think about our own vinous requirements once the madness subsides and we can relax with our friends and family, a glass in hand . Great […]

As December 25th edges ever closer the annual debacle of what to buy everyone for Christmas continues. We believe the gift of wine is special because it can conjure memories and help create new memories with every bottle and that is crucial during the festive season. To help tick a few people off your list […]

We are thrilled to have new arrivals Leitz Alcohol- Free wines now available in store. Times have changed and so have our lifestyles; whether you’re committed to being more health conscious, needing to be the designated driver, calorie counting or an expectant mother, now we have a great alternative drink – EINS-ZWEI-ZERO range of alcohol-free […]

Back in June Richard from the JN team travelled to Champagne, this is the diary of the vineyards he visited and the wines they tasted.   Wednesday 19th June 2019 Arriving at Paris Beauvais we were delighted to find the weather a distinct improvement to what we had left in Dublin. It was warm and […]

An Introduction to Germany by Alex Johnson The wines of Germany have been unfairly maligned and often ignored altogether by some wine drinkers in the UK and Ireland in recent decades. The hangover of cheap, uninspiring, semi-sweet plonk that proliferated in the 1970s and 80s has left a somewhat sickly taste in the mouth of […]

Bordeaux: the name is synonymous with red wine and yet so many wine lovers would tell you they find it just too complicated, unpredictable and expensive and that they tend to look elsewhere when it comes to making their wine choices. So, let’s see if we can simplify things. Bordeaux is the name of a […]