Activities will include whiskey showcase events, tastings, food pairings, promotions and much more. The week commences with a unique tasting session in the Old Jameson Distillery led by master distiller Liam Donegan.

See News/ Archive section for further details.

Pub sales are continuing to fall as more people switch to buying cheaper alcohol in supermarkets and off-licences and drinking at home.

The swing by consumers toward home consumption has resulted in off-licence sales accounting for almost 60% of the market.

This growing trend saw pub sales drop by 7.2% during 2011. The overall volume of drink sold in pubs and other licensed premises also fell by 5.5%.

The report claims early sales figures for the first quarter of 2012 are disappointing and down almost 10% on 2010 figures.

Despite the decline of the traditional Irish pub, the overall alcohol market in Ireland increased by almost 0.2% in 2011. However, average consumption figures decreased to 11.7 litres of alcohol per person — a level last recorded in the mid-1990s — due to higher population numbers.

The DIGI review conducted by Dublin City University economist Anthony Foley claims the drop in bar sales has resulted in 5,000 jobs in the sector being lost over the past two years.  It also warns that the prospects for the drinks industry remain weak due to the low levels of economic growth and a fall in consumer expenditure. 27/4/2012

Kieran Tobin, Chairman DIGI

Sally-Anne Cooney, General Managerof Gleeson incorporating Gilbeys

Catherine Griffith and Liam Campbell represented the Irish Guild of Sommeliers as part of the jury at the Superior Taste Award 2012 held in Brussels from the 18^th to the 20^th March at Erasmus University College.  This is organised by the International Taste & Quality Institute (iTQi) which is a leading independent Chefs and Sommeliers based organisation dedicated to tasting, awarding and promoting superior tasting food and drink. The jury comprises 120 renowned Sommeliers from the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) and chefs who are members of the most prestigious culinary institutions.  Products are submitted from over 60 countries and are blind tasted, commented upon and scored by each judge, using the following criteria: first impression, appearance, aroma, texture, flavour and retro-olfaction.

For further information visit www.iTQi.com

Just getting in touch to put the date for our A+ Australian Wine Trade Tasting in your diary.

We will host this on Monday 28th May at the Great Room of the Shelbourne Hotel.

Details of the day, and registration information will be communicated  closer to the event.

John McDonnell,Regional ManagerIreland, Wine Australia

ireland@wineaustralia.com

See News/Tastings for further details.

Nash Wines would like to invite your staff involved in wine service to a very special afternoon of training and development .

This afternoon will be hosted by Lisa O’ Doherty, award winning sommelier at the K Club, Service Skills Trainer and Lecturer with The Irish Guild of Sommeliers, and will include a masterclass on wine service, wine list development, food and wine matching, customer interaction and upselling

We will also have two very special guests in attendance, Gregory Barbet from Loron et Fils in Beaujolais & Vincent Pugibet from Domaine la Colombette in Languedoc., who will both hold a master class with an exclusive tasting of their wines.

Nash Wines recognise the valuable contribution training can make to your business and how important Wine has become. This day will give your staff first hand experience with Wine Makers and tutored tasting of a wide selection of Wines as well as the importance of service and selling.

Venues: Cork- Cornstore, Dublin – St. Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club, Limerick – UL. Dates: 16th-18th April,2012.