Irish Guild of Sommeliers – Ireland

Presentation of Sommelier Certificates

Liam O' Toole

On the 27^th February, 2012, 29 Sommeliers graduated and were presented with their Sommelier Certificates by Mary O’ Callaghan, President, The Irish Guild of Sommeliers at a function in Dublin.

During their course of study they were introduced to the study of wines, whiskies and cocktails both practically and theoretically. The course included the marriage of food and wine incorporating the elements of service, storage and tasting and their contributions towards enhancing the meal experience.

Liam O’ Toole, Ballymore Inn, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, best taster on the course and recipient of the Irish Guild of Sommeliers gold medal which was presented by Mary O’ Callaghan , President Irish Guild of Sommeliers.

Brian Fallon, President Restaurants Association of Ireland, Liam O' Toole, Ballymore Inn, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare being presented with the Irish Guild of Sommeliers Gold Medal by Mary O' Callaghan, President Irish Guild of Sommeliers

Liam O’ Toole, Ballymore Inn, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare gained 1^st place in the overall examination and recipient of the Restaurants Association of Ireland prize  which was presented by Brian Fallon, President Restaurants Association of Ireland.

Brian Fallon, President RAI presenting Liam O' Toole with the RAI prize of a Decanter and Mary O' Callaghan, President IGS

Trip to Chile announced

During the presentation Hugh Murray, Sales Director, Classic Drinks introduced Javier Paredes Legrand, Managing Director Vinedos Torreon De Paredes, Rengo, Chile who announced a trip to his vineyards and winery in Chile as a bursary open to graduates of the sommelier certificate courses and professional members of the Irish Guild of Sommeliers. These fine wines from Chile are distributed in Ireland by Classic Drinks, Little Island, Cork, www.classicdrinks.ie

In Chile Javier and his brother Alvaro make wine with grapes from their own Estate vineyards, located in Rengo, at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, in the Upper Cachapoal Valley-Rapel Region. Regno has a Mediterranean climate, with dry springs and summers, cool summery nights and alluvial, stony and well drained soils. Regno is recognised as a premium Chilean “terroir” for production of fine wines.

Hugh Murray, Classic Drinks & Javier Paredes Legrand, Vinedos Torreon De Paredes

Since the winery’s founding in 1979, there has been one clear and guiding principle that has been handed down from generation to generation – a good wine can only be produced from fruit coming from top quality vines. This winery has achieved notable status thanks to its strong family tradition in wine-making which is present in all aspects of operations.Irish Guild of

Sommelier Graduates 2012 with Mary O’ Callaghan, President Irish Guild of Sommeliers & Brian Fallon, President Restaurants Association of Ireland.

Irish Guild of Sommeliers & Restaurants Association of Ireland Group L/R Emmet Fitzgerald, Andrew O' Gorman, Karen McBride, John Rigby, Mary O' Callaghan, Brian Fallon, Catherine Griffith, Lisa O' Doherty, Oliver Murtagh, Adrian Cummins.

• Thanks to the following companies who provided wines/spirits free of charge for the IGS/RAI course: Searsons, FEBVRE,Treasury Wine Estates, Gleeson incorporating Gilbeys, Dalcassian Wines and Spirits, Classic Drinks, Edward Dillon and Co. Ltd., Nash Wines, Barry and Fitzwilliam Ltd.,Cooley Distillery Plc, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard.

The next course commences on 24th September,2012

30 Irish Guild of Sommeliers certificates were presented today, the 7th March,2011 by Mary O’ Callaghan, President The Irish Guild of Sommeliers to those who successfully completed The Irish Guild of Sommeliers/Restaurants Association of Ireland course. The presentation took place at the Stephens Green Hibernian Club,9, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin, 2 .

The President’s Gold Medal was presented by Mary O’ Callaghan and Paul Cadden, President, Restaurants Association of Ireland presented the RAI prize of a Decanter.