tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-298498972024-03-14T17:50:30.265+00:00Bubble Brothers - Cork wine merchantsImporters and distributors of wine, champagne, sake, and other good things besides, via Cork, Ireland.
<p><big><b>
<a href="http://www.bubblebrothers.com">
FIND OUT MORE AT THE BUBBLE BROTHERS WEBSITE - CLICK HERE</a></b></big>
</p>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-63350177580582910252007-05-16T11:42:00.000+01:002007-05-16T12:34:57.369+01:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-size:180%;" ><br /><br />The Bubble Brothers blog<br /><br />has moved to<br /><br /></span><br /><a href="http://blog.bubblebrothers.com/"> http://blog.bubblebrothers.com</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">Please pay a visit and update your bookmarks, links and so on.</span><br /></span></span></div>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-62183996819128382462007-05-04T11:09:00.000+01:002007-05-04T11:30:07.010+01:00Moving to WordpressIt's been a bit quiet on the Bubble Brothers blog this week because we've been absorbed in preparations to move to Wordpress, hosted on the Bubble Brothers website. I must thank <a href="http://www.redcardinal.ie/">Richard Hearne</a> for urging us to do this, and I hope I don't have too many damn fool questions for him as a result. Shouldn't do, when <a href="http://www.redcardinal.ie/search-engine-optimisation/09-03-2007/corporate-blogging-blogspot-301/">his inspiring review of our blog in SEO terms</a> was so thorough, and his advice so lucid.<br /><br />I must also thank Robert Nowak, our resident IT architect and repairman, for effecting the move and making it seem so easy. None of the rest of us could have begun to do this. <br /><br />On Saturday I'll try to make the final adjustments that will allow me to fire up the new location and leave the Blogger address as a redirection message.<br /><br />A jolly bank holiday weekend to you all, and see yis over on Wordpress next week.Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-20949885408601175652007-04-25T12:00:00.000+01:002007-04-25T13:13:47.437+01:00Oust that Roman beverage<pre style="font-family: times new roman;"><blockquote>...Some folks of cyder make a rout,<br />And cyder's well enough, no doubt,<br />When better liquors fail;<br />But wine, that's richer, better still,<br />Ev'n wine itself (deny't who will)<br />Must yield to nappy ale.<br /><br />Rum, brandy, gin with choicest smack<br />From Holland brought, Batavia arrack,<br />All these will nought avail<br />To cheer a truly British heart,<br />And lively spirits to impart,<br />Like humming, nappy ale...<br /><br />(from John Gay's <span style="font-style: italic;">Ballad on Ale</span>)<br /></blockquote></pre>I wasn't going to mention St George's Day, but <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/content/articles/2006/10/26/stedmund_intro_feature.shtml">here's some good saint-related stuff</a> from my part of the world, and the <a href="http://www.eadt.co.uk/content/eadt/news/story.aspx?brand=EADOnline&category=News&tBrand=eadonline&tCategory=News&itemid=IPED22%20Apr%202007%2017%3A39%3A06%3A123">local paper's account</a> leads me to i) politics: I think there should be an <span style="font-weight: bold;">Oust the Roman Tribune</span> t-shirt, or perhaps anorak is more like it; and ii) beer. At a quick glance, <a href="http://www.greeneking.co.uk/">Greene King</a>'s last brew of St Edmund ale, which I remember very clearly (bumbling barman dropped our tray of<a href="http://www.greeneking.co.uk/launch_abbot_ale.htm"> Abbot</a>-and-St Edmunds bang on last orders and then refused to replace it with anything but the cheapest bitter in the house), hasn't made much impact on the web, though it gets a good note <a href="http://beerme.com/breweries/uk/su/1936.shtml">here</a>. Anyway, if all this little-Englanding about <a href="http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/870abbo-edmund.html">Saint Edmund</a> (follow the link, read the legend) leads to the beer's being re-introduced, that's no bad thing. Even renowned wine critic <a href="http://www.inasinglestroke.com/steven_spurrier_wine.html">Steven Spurrier</a> is coming round to the virtues of humming, nappy ale: his column in this month's Decanter ends "Soon there will be beer sommeliers". Is nothing sacred?Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-9478417282031212932007-04-24T12:18:00.000+01:002007-04-30T12:34:02.573+01:00Iki beer on YouTubeHere's an inscrutable Iki beer advert. We sell Iki only by the case, but twenty-four bottles don't be long going.<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xXjsP46TXvE"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xXjsP46TXvE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-17631413965340911362007-04-23T10:19:00.000+01:002008-11-13T03:17:01.033+00:00Grignolino label 2006Every year we sell a little of the Pavia family's Grignolino: "the Beaujolais of Italy"(!). The Grignolino grape took a beating from the phylloxera epidemic of the late 1800s, and it's consequently a rarity even in its Piedmontese homeland. Quite a few of the bottles we sell go to Italians surprised to see a taste of home on the shelves in Ireland, but we have some devotees among our regular customers too. The wine is fragrant, light-bodied and fruity, but has enough tannin to give it structure and relatively fresh acidity - so it's a great choice for a barbeque or any foods on the fatty side. It would make a good match for plainish roast chicken or a meaty picnic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUqwJ_w83BOw6YEZgHE8pdZlpYXAcJ4vUVMRFOaKieQ2FpA1TVOrxlW_osbuEnLIxSq-FbOs73dEptabz6jHu842-u7jhlDEdbwU9vu3LJUkppIITzC4g6AuyrO-DzYzRKB9a/s1600-h/Grignolino+new+label+07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUqwJ_w83BOw6YEZgHE8pdZlpYXAcJ4vUVMRFOaKieQ2FpA1TVOrxlW_osbuEnLIxSq-FbOs73dEptabz6jHu842-u7jhlDEdbwU9vu3LJUkppIITzC4g6AuyrO-DzYzRKB9a/s400/Grignolino+new+label+07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056551039971651218" border="0" /></a>On the topic of labels, the Pavias have changed their Grignolino label, from sort-of classic with-a-little-picture in previous vintages to the 2006 label reproduced here. No poll this time, because I haven't the old label to hand, though your comments are welcome - but I think it's a great improvement. The wine, on the other hand, has always been good.Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-86104549559325725702007-04-19T10:49:00.000+01:002008-11-13T03:17:01.167+00:00We've got a live one hereThis was going to be a brief plug for last night's gig at <a href="http://www.cyprusavenue.ie/">Cyprus Avenue</a> to raise funds for the <a href="http://www.corksteinerschool.org/index.html">Cork Steiner</a> school, but I didn't get the post up in time. Sorry.<br /><br />A plug too for <a href="http://www.corkcoffee.com/">John Gowan and his excellent coffee</a><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMzj2wTNkupSgrJELwK92vzxgGXQuZ9LovhI_P_NSpCNTfKHv2GxwDjXJbSsK8zGO-sBoFmWjAWzMkM-tGcCsb7zmbc4MZxUhkg37NdXZHNQ2yZI5PL0ntYow91OQMAHKL-pa/s1600-h/john+gowan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMzj2wTNkupSgrJELwK92vzxgGXQuZ9LovhI_P_NSpCNTfKHv2GxwDjXJbSsK8zGO-sBoFmWjAWzMkM-tGcCsb7zmbc4MZxUhkg37NdXZHNQ2yZI5PL0ntYow91OQMAHKL-pa/s320/john+gowan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055822085237272194" border="0" /></a>and thanks for the half a croissant he gave me this morning with my cup o' joe. Thanks buddy.<br /><br />Any road up, from biodynamically empowered children to biodynamically empowered grapes, we tried and are more than happy with the new inexpensive (sixteen euro-ish) Vacqueyras from <a href="http://www.montirius.com/">Montirius</a>. It's not shown on their renovated website, perhaps because it's new, and perhaps because the Vacqueyras we have stocked hitherto - which is now called<span></span> Vacqueyras "les Garrigues"- is a bit more profitable. Most of the wines are getting a descriptive name added to their appelation on the label, so the Gigondas is to become Gigondas "Vignes 1925", &c. &c.<br /><br />I'm not convinced that this gerrymandering of the range is the facelift the already moderno-traditional hybrid labels of Montirius need. Much more effective to start again from scratch, in my view. That wine label analysis blog gets closer by the day.<br /><br />Live ones, and the musical ring to this post generally, lead me to a jazz birthday: Dick Pearce the trumpeter and flugel player. A bit of biog. <a href="http://www.jazzscript.co.uk/extra/brit.trump.htm">here</a>. And Ornette Coleman <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9607210">winning </a>the music <a href="http://www.pulitzer.org/">Pulitzer</a>, how 'bout that? Mmm, ten grand. And later in the year, <a href="http://www.thehelix.ie/2007_season3/thimar.htm">this </a>should be a good one too, <span style="font-style: italic;">oud</span> fans.<br /><br />The livest one of all is one of our new suppliers in the Loire Valley, rising star (&c. &c.) Damien Delecheneau of <a href="http://www.lagrangetiphaine.com/vf/newanimdam.html">Domaine La Grange Tiphaine</a>. Britt and Per Karlsson, authors of the marvellous and comprehensive <a href="http://www.bkwine.com/international/in_english.htm">bkwine.com</a>, have a very lifelike portrait of Damien over on their website, if you want to see his face. There was such a scrum round his stand at the Loire wine fair I couldn't get a picture of him that wouldn't have been mostly of eager tasters' elbows or nostrils.<br /><br />We left it a bit late to get back in touch, and when we did place an order, it turned out that most of the Domaine's available wine has already been sold. So we know it's not just the Bubble Brothers tasters who think they're on to a good thing.<br /><br />Look out, then, in due course, for a brilliant, luminous and fresh-as-a-daisy red blend of Côt (aka Malbec), Gamay and Cabernet Franc called <span style="font-style: italic;">Ad Libitum</span>, which is how you might want to enjoy its juicy, leafy silkiness; and a rosé called <span style="font-style: italic;">Riage Tournant</span>, which blends Côt, Gamay and <a href="http://www.french-regional-wines.co.uk/item--Grolleau--grolleau">Grolleau</a> into a sensational summer cooler that's serious enough to make a good food wine too. Both of those should work out at about the fourteen euro mark.<br /><br />Another summery delight just about to go on sale is the <span style="font-style: italic;">Vin de Sophie</span> from Château la Villatade, which Sophie Morin introduced to us when she visited Cork for our Big Wine Event last year. You can get the general idea (youthful, vibrant, red fruits) <a href="http://www.villatade.com/en/html/nosvins/vindesophie.htm">here</a>. Good for when the sun shines, and for while you're waiting for it to shine.<br /><br />UPDATE 21.iv.07<br />As a result of Per and Britt's rightfully indignant comment, I have deleted their picture of Damien Delecheneau; and, I hope, made a sufficient apology.Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-37308829432835462532007-04-11T13:56:00.000+01:002008-11-13T03:17:01.516+00:00Paris Hilton to be the new face of Bordeaux<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4webresults.com/blog/paris-hilton-drunk-driving-psa"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_7r3tYClONoQ8oP8C3Jn1ZkdIpp3eBjK8mX_wAxijiX6zrvy4HCyJgFQYLw9G3vTrVZVVVBpqQxbRQ5x6CzKL52CEtWWICCLKVtFSP2-ntss6Nv-IIqOlYmE76aLUCvBPzcY/s400/paris-hilton-public-service-announcement.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052154760930344578" border="0" /></a><br />I was away last week, which is why there were no posts. I wish I'd been able to pass <a href="http://www.decanter.com/news/114789.html">this breaking news</a> from Decanter on to y'all on the day itself.Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-36644722212354326962007-04-10T11:32:00.000+01:002008-11-13T03:17:01.885+00:00Never mind the bolasI've been meaning to announce the arrival of <a href="http://www.speri.com.ar/">Alessandro Speri</a>'s Argentinian Malbec, a sumptuous red wine I promised <a href="http://www2.blogger.com/bubblebrothers.blogspot.com/2006/12/christmas-cards.html">a while ago</a>. It's here at last and I'm absolutely delighted. We stock both cuvées: the Prodigo and the Prodigo Reserva, and Bubble Brothers heartily recommend them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzOGoQoP7fF7QnZCkwkkec3w40BHIT_Ow9RZGzqRiFtrdMhhstAvuGRKD7Mjc7owtA3-tUK2cdPAG2ubdbgpUAne8z0xp8PZwFR7LoHy570YMbWm-bb3-dA6KdWbkqLkxcVHS/s1600-h/bolas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzOGoQoP7fF7QnZCkwkkec3w40BHIT_Ow9RZGzqRiFtrdMhhstAvuGRKD7Mjc7owtA3-tUK2cdPAG2ubdbgpUAne8z0xp8PZwFR7LoHy570YMbWm-bb3-dA6KdWbkqLkxcVHS/s400/bolas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051752352559480434" border="0" /></a><br />In fact, we recommend them a whole bunch more than the May edition of <span style="font-style: italic;">Decanter</span>, which arrived this morning, does. The <span style="font-style: italic;">Decanter </span>tasting panels don't usually get it badly wrong, but either there was hessian-tongued bostoonery in the air the day they made their selections from a hundred and twenty-three Arg. Malb's, or else the wines that scored higher than Speri's are simply egregiously magnificent. <span style="font-style: italic;">Decanter </span>gave the 2004 Prodigo Reserva three stars (recommended) and 14½ points, and the 2004 Prodigo two stars (fair) and 13¾ points. In my view, both wines was robbed.<br /><br />I'll try to get my hands on a bottle of some of the wines that got a higher score, and report back. Good job we don't pay too much attention to critics. Neither should you.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">In case you're wondering about </span>bolas<span style="font-style: italic;">, I thought that's what everyone thought of when they thought of Argentina, after football and possibly the Falkland Islands depending on your vintage and provenance. Apparently not.</span>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-21919340680995531032007-03-31T13:16:00.000+01:002007-03-31T15:01:41.121+01:00Our suppliers<span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here's a list of our suppliers, with hyperlinks where possible and reasonably reliable. Please let me know if you'd like any more information. There are of course ways this list could be made more useful - but I wanted to make a start.</span><br /><br /></span> <table str="" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 214pt;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="285"><col style="width: 214pt;" width="285"> <tbody><tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl26" style="height: 15.75pt; width: 214pt;" height="21" width="285">ARGENTINA</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.speri.com.ar/">Speri Argentina</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl26" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">FRANCE</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl24" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">Mas Amiel</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.domaineaonghusa.com/">Domaine Aonghusa</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.ampelidae.com/">Ampelidae</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.masdesbressades.com/">Mas des Bressades</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl24" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">Corpel</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.cascastel.com/">Cascastel</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.domaine-cote-de-l-ange.com/">Côte de l'Ange</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.cave-cairanne.fr/">Cave de Cairanne</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl24" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">Domaine Champeau</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl24" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">André Clouet</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.champagnechanoine.com/">Chanoine Frères</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.louischenu.com/">Louis Chenu Père et Filles</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl24" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">Eric Chevalier, Domaine de l'Aujardière</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl24" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">Depoivre</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl24" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">Maison Fleurie</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.champagne-fleury.fr/">Champagne Fleury</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.chablis-gautherin.com/">Gautherin et Fils</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl24" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">Godet, Domaine de Marcé</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl24" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">Château Jouclary</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.cornin.net/">Lalande</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.rogerbertrand.fr/">Domaine de Longueroche</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.cortix.fr/laballe/default.htm">Domaine de Laballe</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">Meyer</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.montirius.com/">Montirius</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.montfreux-de-fages.com/">Vignobles Montfreux de Fages</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.champagne-pierlot.fr/">Pierlot Fils</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.domainerimbert.com/">Rimbert</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl24" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">Château de Rozier</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">Domaine de la Rossignole</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl24" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">Domaine Reine Juliette</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.jlbaldes.com/index.php">Triguedina</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.trocard.com/">Jean Louis Trocard</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.champagne-vallois.com/">Vallois</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.villatade.com/">Château La Villatade</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl26" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">ITALY</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.casalewines.com/">Casale</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.agostinopavia.it/">Pavia</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.cavendramin.it/">Ca' Vendramin SRL</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">Colli Euganei s.c.a.r.l.</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl24" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">Az. Agr. Icardi</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.borgomaragliano.com/">Borgo Maragliano</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.frazzittavini.com/">Frazzitta</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.erikbanti.com/">Erik Banti</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.accademiadeiracemi.it/">Accademia dei Racemi</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl26" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">BEER</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.ikibeer.com/">iKi Beer BV</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl26" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">NEW ZEALAND</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.brightwaterwine.co.nz/">Brightwater Vineyards Ltd</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl26" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">SPAIN</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.campobarro.com/">San Marcos de Almendralejo Cooperativa</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl24" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">Mas Codina</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.bodegasaltanza.com/">Bodegas Altanza SA</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.bodegaspingon.com/">Bodegas Pingón</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.agricolacastellana.com/">Agricola Castellana SCL</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.orodecastilla.com/">Bodega Hermanos del Villar S.L.</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.tamaral.com/">Bodegas y Viñedos Tamaral S.L.</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.altaalella.com/">Alta Alella SL</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.parxet.es/">Parxet S. A.</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.agrodebazansa.es/">Agro de Bazan SA</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl26" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">SOUTH AFRICA</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl25" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.goedverwacht.co.za/">Goedverwacht</a></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl26" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21">CHILE</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"> <td class="xl27" style="height: 15.75pt;" height="21"><a href="http://www.lafortuna.cl/">La Fortuna</a></td> </tr> </tbody></table>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-59798358263898851882007-03-29T16:21:00.000+01:002008-11-13T03:17:02.210+00:00Château le Tap - Bergerac<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">A day of visits, today. Here are M. and Mme. Olivier Roches of Château le Tap, who were kind enough to come down to Cork to let us taste their wines. We enjoyed an informal tasting, and discussion of what sells and what doesn't, and how to crack the Irish market. I showed them the two Rioja labels (see previous post) and persuaded them to stick with the 'classic' label they currently use, on the grounds that French attempts at 'modern' are by no means always successful outside France.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-G953vDp51sZTZMgdCpw7g6DN8fgt48vKzWeVfHrVx8ODPIJJbR8vh3EGwMsh62mxkXgu0N1gtSmSBG_blX6C34295p4ZoSv78tW1wkEv39iIoZTNluCL0azZQ0Os-bHPwzxs/s1600-h/Ch.+le+Tap.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-G953vDp51sZTZMgdCpw7g6DN8fgt48vKzWeVfHrVx8ODPIJJbR8vh3EGwMsh62mxkXgu0N1gtSmSBG_blX6C34295p4ZoSv78tW1wkEv39iIoZTNluCL0azZQ0Os-bHPwzxs/s400/Ch.+le+Tap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047369395895929378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I liked their wines, though the red, which Olivier considers light, would be astringent by Irish standards. We'll mull it over, and also taste two other Bergeracs recommended to me by Patrick Kelly, an Irish wine agent living in France, who always picks the good ones.<br /><br />Olivier's brother Didier also makes wine in the little Pécharmant AOC, and you can read about his estate (in French) <a href="http://www.haut-pecharmant.com/">here</a>. Olivier brought some of his brother's wine with him, and it's what they call a <span style="font-style: italic;">vin de garde</span>, ie one for keeping. We tried a 2002, which is still young - fine stuff, big and structured. We'd have to hand-sell it - no-one's going to ask for a Pécharmant!<br /></span>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-26450086747693275352007-03-28T15:38:00.000+01:002008-11-13T03:17:02.542+00:00Your opinion please - Rioja<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPlIUh3TcLM7umSh1HXS_vUbNX-icYuikxlHNiMgdS2WU8Td81xOlekpJbcKz7oKlKnUdw9KkvW4zjMFrPfvQkFA1W8ZqA4RnsqSVR_MaHRxPHZhLuslX9SKvIBq6PadxungR/s1600-h/Martinez+Corta.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPlIUh3TcLM7umSh1HXS_vUbNX-icYuikxlHNiMgdS2WU8Td81xOlekpJbcKz7oKlKnUdw9KkvW4zjMFrPfvQkFA1W8ZqA4RnsqSVR_MaHRxPHZhLuslX9SKvIBq6PadxungR/s400/Martinez+Corta.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046987345670048274" border="0" /></a>Which label do you like best? The same wine is in each bottle - an excellent, inexpensive Rioja that I am fairly sure we are going to buy. Let's call the labels '<span style="font-weight: bold;">classic</span>' (on the left) and '<span style="font-weight: bold;">modern</span>' on the right, for those of you who just want to leave a one-word response, though I'd be very keen to read reasons for a preference. Which one, if either says to you "Buy me, drink me, I taste good, I guarantee to improve your general sense of well-being" and so on?Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-83052307182274015882007-03-27T15:52:00.000+01:002007-03-28T12:05:08.469+01:00Chris Wood at the TriskelThe English have done a pretty good job down the years of annihilating their own folk culture. That's why folk singers are always good for a joke in England in a way that probably wouldn't be accepted here. But that's all another story.<br /><br />If you're in Cork tonight, you might care to go along to the <a href="http://www.triskelart.com/">Triskel</a> and see <a href="http://www.englishacousticcollective.org.uk/cw/">Chris Wood</a>. There's a whiff of resurgent, neo-Albionist pride about what he's doing.Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-49128599917651039492007-03-21T14:53:00.000+00:002008-11-13T03:17:03.872+00:00Down by the Sally Gardens<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqY19elHhA9AdxD0s5LyBs3Fl5WrJDkjzu5wzQgwiDEZoRiogBcQRjfgA-4E7jnsJvEUAzsYvqOuvN0kIssZv8s-1DHc3nC8jMHPHw2RoZ2KXSH2ACmtzyCy4Ui3NbK8ii7eOn/s1600-h/willow+wine+rack.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqY19elHhA9AdxD0s5LyBs3Fl5WrJDkjzu5wzQgwiDEZoRiogBcQRjfgA-4E7jnsJvEUAzsYvqOuvN0kIssZv8s-1DHc3nC8jMHPHw2RoZ2KXSH2ACmtzyCy4Ui3NbK8ii7eOn/s400/willow+wine+rack.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044392450001998242" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Optima;font-size:100%;color:navy;" ><span style=";font-family:Optima;font-size:12;color:navy;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Thanks to <a href="http://www.bandonpottery.ie/">Billy's mum</a> for this link:</span><br /></span></span></span></p></div> <div> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12;"><span style="font-size:100%;">No need to buy wine racks; you can grow your own! <a href="http://www.windrushwillow.com/">www.windrushwillow.com</a> They sell kits for growing wine racks & coat hangers from willow slips.</span></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">And, as if further proof were needed that the answer lies in the soil, here's <a href="http://sallygardens.typepad.com/">an Irish blog for all you back-to-the-landers</a>.<br /></p></div>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-27789742657597938292007-03-17T15:17:00.000+00:002007-03-17T15:26:15.517+00:00the fillet of cheeseWith regard to the day that's in it, here are two more clips of the Thirsty Trav'ler in the Emerald Isle. Bubble Brothers obsessives may catch a glimpse of the English Market shop.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.travelistic.com/video/show/729">A Toast to the Sea</a><br /><a href="http://www.travelistic.com/video/show/728">A Stout Meal</a><br /><br />New blogger is sulking more than the old one used to about embedding these, so please accept the lazy links instead. And bon weekend.Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-91746818704975304872007-03-17T14:55:00.000+00:002008-11-13T03:17:04.427+00:00Choya sake on the listIn the next few weeks I expect to mostly be posting about the new introductions to our list.<br /><br />Here's one of the more exotic feathers in our cap to be going on with. We have become agents for <a href="http://www.choya.com/index.html">Choya</a>, who make plum wine and sake. Have a look at their website and <a href="http://www.choya.com/lesson/index.html">learn how to ask for your Choya product in Japanese</a>! There's a lot of interest in sake in Ireland at the moment, and plum wine's not far behind because of some award-winning cocktail mixing from Irish barmen developing an established theme. <a href="http://japanesefood.about.com/od/sake/Sake.htm">Saketini</a>, anyone?<br /><br />This is as good a place as any to return to the Thirsty Travel(l)er's trip to Japan, for those of you who missed it first time around. Nobody does artless, exuberant inquisitiveness like a certain kind of American. <a href="http://www.travelistic.com/video/show/530">Get this - how sake is made</a>.<br /><br />I must confess to not having tried the Choya range yet. I'm a bit sampled out at the moment because we've finally been catching up with our backlog of tasting new suppliers' offerings and checking new vintages from established suppliers. If I get around to the Choya products, I'll post my two penn'orth in due course, though I can't help feeling the sakes &c. need a whole new vocabulary I don't yet got. Here's a press-release-looking page, aimed at the USA, that may or may not encourage you to give the stuff a try:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhIeqVjHeUE-03SnTtvbfGGCycpipAAblKC60YhfhDU4LPCthH2shrAx1siFv9b8vtyiUN_tRk9_1ZhDKeTNMe3sC9DYDusFaUoBkihbGvxz-PjGS9FdRxqkw7BuANzrA-vNq/s1600-h/choya+sake+sex.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhIeqVjHeUE-03SnTtvbfGGCycpipAAblKC60YhfhDU4LPCthH2shrAx1siFv9b8vtyiUN_tRk9_1ZhDKeTNMe3sC9DYDusFaUoBkihbGvxz-PjGS9FdRxqkw7BuANzrA-vNq/s400/choya+sake+sex.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042906848424451698" border="0" /></a><br />It's great to find new customers because of selling sake - it's better still when sake is a foot in the door while we tell people about what else we're proud of. Our newly nipped'n'tucked list of wines is looking radiantly spring-fresh; no, really.<br /><br />And as for<a href="http://www.ikibeer.com/"> iKi beer</a> - when we chose just one beer to represent, it looks as though we chose the right one! It's proving really popular, and because there's a story to tell (green tea, marketing with a thick Japanese accent, &c. &c.) people talk about it. And, unless you're all being unreasonably polite, that's what keeps you coming back to BB: the story, feeling involved, making an informed choice, the human side.Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-12520365133307893842007-03-13T09:51:00.000+00:002007-03-13T10:14:53.641+00:00In lieu of a postcard<a href="http://www.southwoldgallery.co.uk">www.southwoldgallery.co.uk</a><br /><a href="http://www.carluccios.com">www.carluccios.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk">www.nhm.ac.uk</a><br /><a href="http://www.teddington-lock.co.uk">www.teddington-lock.co.uk</a><br /><a href="http://www.bernithan.com">www.bernithan.com</a>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-35883000482459531332007-03-01T23:43:00.000+00:002007-03-02T00:15:55.063+00:00A sparkling occasion - the Irish Blog AwardsIf you want something doing, ask a busy man, they say. Well we at Bubble Brothers are the <span style="font-style: italic;">1er cru classé</span> of busy, or thereabouts, at the moment and <span style="font-weight: bold;">yes I did leave relabelling the champagne for the Irish Blog Awards till the last impossible minute</span>. Simply because there has been so much more work than time lately. <br /><br />So <span style="font-style: italic;">numero uno</span>, thank you, <a href="http://www.mulley.net/">Damien Mulley</a>, for not having a perfectly justifiable cow in response to my procrastinations.<br />And <span style="font-style: italic;">numero uno</span> (part the second), thank you, <a href="http://www.gapingvoid.com/">Hugh Macleod</a>, for so generously allowing me to use one of yer excellent cartoons to conceal my patent lack of design inspiration when the heat was on.<br />And <span style="font-style: italic;">numero uno</span>, part III: The Return of the Kings, thank you, Billy Forrester and Cyril Besnard of Bubble Brothers, for staying late at the end of what was already a very long day for you both, to help me out of trouble.<br /><br />Anyway, we got there in the end in a James Bond-ishly 23:59:59 kind of way; and if you're lucky enough to get your hands on one, I hope you like the look of the bottle.<br /><br />I'm off on holiday tomorrow for a week, so it's over to the other contributors for the duration. Y'all have fun at the Awards, d'y'hear me now?Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-18111459152057304382007-02-27T13:20:00.000+00:002007-02-27T13:49:03.327+00:00Mixed caseWe are, as they say, up the walls at the moment. The start of the year has been pretty busy all round and now that samples, both solicited and unsolicited, are beginning to roll up in significant quantities, there's a whole lotta tasting going on, as well as the less exciting but very time-consuming administration of thank yous, yes pleases and very sorry, buts.<br /><br />I've just noticed that one of our foremost suppliers of organic-and-biodynamic wines, Montirius, has invested in a <a href="www.montirius.com">shiny new website</a>. High time I sold them my services as a translator for the few little tweaks on the English side that would do no harm.<br /><br />I've just placed an order with a new supplier in Burgundy, Louis Chenu Père et (very hands-on) Filles, giving us a fresh lease of life in the affordable French Pinot Noir department. Speaking of websites, check out <a href="http://www.louischenu.com/">this simple, clear, striking design</a>.<br /><br />I was in Lismore last week, and called to say hello to Owen Madden at the <a href="http://www.thesummerhouse.ie/index.html">Summerhouse</a>, who sells our wines. He's very busy re-stocking, so if <span style="font-style: italic;">Schadenfreude</span>'s your bag, go and enjoy a leisurely cup of tea and a bun while he dashes about the place hard at work.<br /><br />Down the road from Summerhouse is the deli-wine shop run by George Kiely and Tom Doorley. I owned up to spying straight away, but George couldn't have been more welcoming or helpful. They've a great range of wines from a number of importers as well as fancy foods, and expert advice is free.Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-20663108083207370032007-02-20T16:21:00.000+00:002008-11-13T03:17:04.791+00:00Back to square oneHaven't done a jazz birthday for a bit. Charles Kynard today, rare groove fiends. Nice.<br /><br />I don't see our wines mentioned too often on the <a href="http://www.supervalu.ie/index.html">Supervalu</a> blog (because there isn't one, ahem -<span style="font-size:85%;"> (picture of Glenda the greengrocer for the <a href="http://blogorrah.com/">Blogorrah</a> boys on the Supervalu website, though)</span>), but in anticipation of that happy day, I'm getting my retaliation in first. What was <a href="http://bubblebrothers.blogspot.com/2006/07/hot-stuff.html">probably the very first post</a> on this blog mentioned a tasty but pricy<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.chateau-pierrail.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 44px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S051iREEbmp0DF0H_lvS1vPh5TCnjJr9ImH_AvhYK0Ct5JCqsj_L_9VnCKMDJ4WQubre91GmXtBHmf4vUf0okMoCBsrUFWEaFvqi6bWizjVBaBas_MR3DEBgUpev4kD_ySSK/s400/pierrail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033660311531559074" border="0" /></a> Bordeaux Supérieur offered to us by Château Pierrail, which I had to politely decline. Anyway, to cut to the chase, lo! and behold, there it is in Supervalu, smashed down from twenty euro to fifteen ninety-nine. Now I don't know what got it there: if it was Mme Demonchaux's persistence, or the supermarket buyer's reckoning that a big hefty red with Bordeaux on the label couldn't hurt - but at the sale price it's value, I reckon.<br /><br />In other news, we're working hard on the consequences of our trip to the Loire wine fair, with samples turning up from day to day and restaurateurs gnashing their teeth to get new wine lists put together.<br /><br /><a href="http://ikibeer.com/">Iki beer</a> is looking more and more exciting as we go along. There's a container coming in next week, and the press are starting to take an interest now that customers in Dublin are enjoying the refreshing change, &c. &c.Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-19171248772094457762007-02-14T13:13:00.000+00:002008-11-13T03:17:05.030+00:00The love bug again<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIkv4QCzbFDSWEWATOF-MwtEmPys6cMnuxaQKnFJzjSP5KPgi3SM5A69ZTAqxdiHLYnNII-WG8tCRl4FB-yNiDnDB9uMzL22YcxGclKZT4jMVIW4RAEQ5yIy2kQ3rmWdfhO6v/s1600-h/ladybirds+oudin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIkv4QCzbFDSWEWATOF-MwtEmPys6cMnuxaQKnFJzjSP5KPgi3SM5A69ZTAqxdiHLYnNII-WG8tCRl4FB-yNiDnDB9uMzL22YcxGclKZT4jMVIW4RAEQ5yIy2kQ3rmWdfhO6v/s400/ladybirds+oudin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031379149881983282" border="0" /></a><br />Not another plug for our Valentine's offer on this sunny day; rather some seasonal good news and a reminder that we do work hard for your pleasure. We are about to hold a formal tasting of some new wines from Chablis (for which the internet, for what that's worth) seems only to have ecstatic praise. We were certainly very much impressed by the one bottle we did open following a recent visit by the winemaker to Cork. The photo, full of the promise of spring, is from his vineyards. Now we have some prices to reckon with and current vintages from our existing supplier, we're in a position to decide if there's room on board for another Chablis <span style="font-style: italic;">chez Bubble</span>. I theenk so, but you'll have to wait and see.Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-73766927882520746152007-02-14T12:28:00.000+00:002007-02-14T13:00:40.587+00:00Search Engine OptimisationHere's a non-wine-related post serving only to take advantage of <a href="http://www.redcardinal.ie/marketing/11-02-2007/search-engine-optimisation/">an enormously generous offer</a> from <a href="http://www.redcardinal.ie/">Richard Hearne</a>, SEO expert. He's asked for a bit of information about each of the bloggers nominated in the Irish Blog awards who wish to cash in on his generosity, which seems like a fair deal, and for a link back. Here is our information:<br /><ul><li>we're nominated in the Business Blog category;</li><li>the Bubble Brothers blog is principally about wine;<br /></li><li>I don't really think about a target audience, though there is lots of fun we could have if the people worldwide who supply, buy or drink our wines became readers, or if our readers regularly drank our wines and could bring themselves to comment;<br /></li><li>this blog began in summer 2006;</li><li>the domain is as old as the blog, though the company's main website has been around for a lot longer;</li><li><span style=""><span class="a"> some of our competitors' addresses are here: bubblebrothers.blogspot.com/<wbr>2006/12/itll-be-<b>lonely</b>-this-<b>christmas</b>.html</span></span>.</li></ul>SEO wise, we don't actually have too much trouble, because we tend to have exclusive arrangements with our suppliers, and don't represent any megabrands, so anyone searching for our wines should find us quickly enough. All suggestions for what I should be worrying about, however, are welcome. I'd be a bit miffed if our position as leading-ish Irish wine blog were overtaken through the use of superior technological cunning. (I wouldn't mind at all being displaced by more interesting wine blogs, on the other hand. Bring 'em on!)Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-86321623153734106522007-02-13T11:20:00.000+00:002008-11-13T03:17:06.688+00:00Salon des Vins de Loire 2007OK we're back in business, or rather from business. Cyril and I had a very busy few days last week at the <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBVd7rHOipVQWGvkH8yFBmOZeQSPe6ZGzwhGRbtPe8kJaXoIFKyTN0U6tTtn1Yf4IqUlLQ0f54NjgNWGkA6n207t9uoMUYnva1ldmUY15wySHaVSQf6VBaoBqyIO2gqNa8Iqp/s1600-h/IMG_3133.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBVd7rHOipVQWGvkH8yFBmOZeQSPe6ZGzwhGRbtPe8kJaXoIFKyTN0U6tTtn1Yf4IqUlLQ0f54NjgNWGkA6n207t9uoMUYnva1ldmUY15wySHaVSQf6VBaoBqyIO2gqNa8Iqp/s200/IMG_3133.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030985155352051906" border="0" /></a>Salon des Vins de Loire in Angers - a trade fair in a huge permanent exhibition centre<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6v3OwgRyjbRAcBG1lEA-rZRVy-Hq4PXDyiwDU07Wg7cN2mOi293qfaneuhufYPOXfBgBlQm0zXL2HqXcsxome_nqjB8WLFn9Arsk9sbiXTH8CkzGcSXDsyaPquq19jBFgRor/s1600-h/IMG_3128.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6v3OwgRyjbRAcBG1lEA-rZRVy-Hq4PXDyiwDU07Wg7cN2mOi293qfaneuhufYPOXfBgBlQm0zXL2HqXcsxome_nqjB8WLFn9Arsk9sbiXTH8CkzGcSXDsyaPquq19jBFgRor/s200/IMG_3128.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030986010050543842" border="0" /></a> with over six hundred suppliers showing their wines to visitors from all over the place. You can see the sort of thing in the photos.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br />The only way to make sense of such an array of wines is to have a notional 'shopping list' before you go in. We were looking for a really typical but inexpensive Sauvignon Blanc, at either Touraine AOC or vin de pays level, first and foremost. After that I was hoping to find a good red wine or two, because we have had a definite if select following for our previous Loire red, the Bourgueil from the Domaine le Petit Bondieu, and nothing in our current list quite compares to the freshness and velvety grip that the Cabernet Francs and Côts (aka Malbecs) of the Loire can offer.<br /><br />Cyril had a personal quest to sample as many of the very special and expensive sweet wines of the region as possible. Despite their excellence, they're practically non-starters for the Irish market: very expensive and with unfamiliar names. There's only so much horizon-broadening Bubble Brothers can take on at a time.<br /><br />We were delighted to make the personal acquaintance of our existing suppliers of Pouilly-Fumé. Franck Champeau<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznSHskwpZ_EQRHL5QGZOSomOEXY1Z9H_y5aVk1M-2gos962KdxCUiNFzx1fpgNHmCYM16fHPHXoTE0x5vRJB3nDIeh1Zj4d1CYXLw53tuRN6OfMTc5I8p-KB5Vq5ygcQmgh7X/s1600-h/IMG_3117.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznSHskwpZ_EQRHL5QGZOSomOEXY1Z9H_y5aVk1M-2gos962KdxCUiNFzx1fpgNHmCYM16fHPHXoTE0x5vRJB3nDIeh1Zj4d1CYXLw53tuRN6OfMTc5I8p-KB5Vq5ygcQmgh7X/s200/IMG_3117.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030984914833883266" border="0" /></a>, in the middle of the picture here, gave us a chance to try the new vintage of the Pouilly-Fumé we already stock as well as of his other wines: a Pouilly-sur-Loire made from the ancient variety Chasselas, and two premium Pouilly-Fumé cuvées: the 'Silex' and the 'Vieilles Vignes', both from flinty clay soils. 'Vieilles Vignes' seems to be a bit of a modish label generally at the moment, but the Champeaus' VV is given the distinction of oak aging and is further distinguished for an oaked Sauvignon, in my view, by being very nice drinking. I'm not sure we intend to expand our range, because the basic Pouilly-Fumé is so good, but the possibilities are there.<br /><br />We were treated to very warm welcomes all round. The Ibis hotel in Nantes was wholly adequate, but the chambre d'hôte <a href="http://www.lescamelias.fr/">accommodation</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.lescamelias.fr/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblYmqB9in9Rr6nbGul-7b5g6pWE_gfshXm1IYzNzGisHjc4_pJS8Tt4kYdTgT_0M_xyCBgzKQFA6ECOkXSZJCRq5VnkKQmrBau4BkDLoeBj-MFr_hRR53ZIyLZf-mhKF60bFr/s200/IMG_3124.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030997632232046866" border="0" /></a>that Cyril organized in the heart of the Chinon <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC67_Na8RXmBQzF5mV93oZhGbI3Eo26_o37TasnpleO7qE0rpIn8pp2bBKOUtYT3dxxfBMDNTgFLbmZYrR4W1ngckK8rYNZQBTiwaHGakilUaju_b5xpofhYBdVfXSBesKfgnD/s1600-h/IMG_3126.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC67_Na8RXmBQzF5mV93oZhGbI3Eo26_o37TasnpleO7qE0rpIn8pp2bBKOUtYT3dxxfBMDNTgFLbmZYrR4W1ngckK8rYNZQBTiwaHGakilUaju_b5xpofhYBdVfXSBesKfgnD/s200/IMG_3126.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030985030798000290" border="0" /></a>district was, like many a gîte, superb. If you need a base in the Loire Valley, we recommend it. The picture with the vines shows Chinon in the distance, where we dined extremely well at La Treille, on a menu featuring the use of sweet woodruff (<a href="http://plantfacts.ohio-state.edu/pocketgardener/source/description/ga_ratum.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Galium odoratum</span></a>). What you can't see in the picture, and what I didn't get a shot of, was the great globes of mistletoe that colonized the treescape just about everywhere we went, like ominous shadows on a chest x-ray. Some trees were almost solid with it. Is there anywhere in Ireland like that?<br /><br />We accompanied the meal with two different cuvées of Chinon from Nicolas Grosbois, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxpSoXb1lcmEvv-uXDpCtkhLjL_dvLPJLM2Ny4HTj__FMMzA1JvcfzQPDqz1MtIJqchaHrpfkiKpjY__fIRlpspf9BLOg8gYWZz7pPhUul3IBNTSpFsV1QDh2ZUh0Uww441a8/s1600-h/IMG_3139.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxpSoXb1lcmEvv-uXDpCtkhLjL_dvLPJLM2Ny4HTj__FMMzA1JvcfzQPDqz1MtIJqchaHrpfkiKpjY__fIRlpspf9BLOg8gYWZz7pPhUul3IBNTSpFsV1QDh2ZUh0Uww441a8/s200/IMG_3139.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031001879954702626" border="0" /></a>who you can see in the picture right, and who extended a very warm welcome to us despite being very busy indeed on his stand at the Salon. The enthusiasm of the young winemakers we met and their broad knowledge of wines and techniques from all over the world would give you hope for the future of French wine. A good few of them seem to have the right ideas about the marketing side of things too.<br /><br />Now we're back at the ranch, there's plenty to do, as the people we talked to submit their proposals, offers, &c. &c. I think we have more than a couple of definites lined up already, and I'm determined to add one or two of the really magnificent and characteristic reds we tried to the BB list. Jam-juice they ain't, but I think if Gary Vaynerchuk at Wine Library TV is prepared to <a href="http://tv.winelibrary.com/2007/02/02/bourgeuil-pronounced-boor-goy-from-loire-episode-175/">give them a go</a> - <a href="http://tv.winelibrary.com/2007/02/02/bourgeuil-pronounced-boor-goy-from-loire-episode-175/">here's a Bourgueil</a> - and he tried a <a href="http://tv.winelibrary.com/2006/04/24/episode-36-chinon-and-vacqueyras-tasting/">Chinon </a>too, at the same time as the Montirius wine I wrote about earlier - with his chiefly American clientele, we shouldn't be shy.<br /><br />I'll let you know what emerges from the melting pot. Don't want to give too much away until we sign on the dotted line and the final decisions are made.<br /><br />Though, breaking news, I have placed my order with <a href="http://www.speri.com.ar/">Alessandro Speri</a> for his fabulous, grown-up but satin-smooth Argentinian Malbec, <span style="font-style: italic;">Prodigo</span>.<br /><br />PS nearly forgot, and only found out the day before I left Cork: the Salon in Angers hosted an inaugural blogging trophy for the wine world, with prizes for a Loire Valley blogger, a French one and a world-wide one. Goes with what I said about one or two people taking a wider view of marketing. Nonetheless, nobody was able to tell me who had won, of course - French bureaucracy and all that. But thanks to <a href="http://www.vitiblog.com/news/une-rencontre-de-blogueurs-du-vin-a-l-occasion-du-salon-des-vins-de-loire">Vitiblog</a>, I found a link and <a href="http://vinsdeloire.info/news/trois-laureats-pour-le-premier-wine-blog-trophy">here are</a> the results: I've left the link to the French page, but you can choose a Google translation into English if you like.<br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuEh8tDMQ8r38dVQGhlnVJni6i7DMYYYeW4CNnHMvoe0NFReesOcAupqKA8K0GLI9mrSS1TJIPUtfLtre4uPAvoOXSgCrDNnQiDXl33mhF2DQKlZPCl0aKqtslkdf4CX92rqD/s1600-h/IMG_3139.jpg"><br /></a></div>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-18651319057671928122007-02-03T12:03:00.000+00:002008-11-13T03:17:07.011+00:00The love bug<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0bTo8cgwAaDEeLOeo0PNsVfCs3ibvTSBA7C98Xq10f9ZAS4VqfRPGnWX0zcUF4G9MfiMLkrCj6HhXGyuIO4rM2fNengnrABBpVrqBSOWl-0zejM5LzSwnyB2v93KuiamQ96t/s1600-h/Raboso&PinkBag.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0bTo8cgwAaDEeLOeo0PNsVfCs3ibvTSBA7C98Xq10f9ZAS4VqfRPGnWX0zcUF4G9MfiMLkrCj6HhXGyuIO4rM2fNengnrABBpVrqBSOWl-0zejM5LzSwnyB2v93KuiamQ96t/s200/Raboso&PinkBag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027281295575983666" border="0" /></a>Ok lovebirds, we have a small something for you. Print out the flyer <span style="font-weight: bold;">below</span> and hand it in next time you buy a bottle of our Prosecco-like sparkling rosé from us (English Market or Marina). We will give you, for free, a bag to put it in (as pictured) and also give you, for free, a small, exquisite chocolatey gift to accompany it (not necessarily exactly as pictured, but the real deal, hand-hewn from the Lee Valley chocolate mines, &c., nonetheless).<br /><br /><br />This may prove very handy for those of you seeking to i) get out of trouble in a hurry on the 13th; ii) lend a thin romantic veneer to inappropriately selfish gifts (golf clubs, power tools...) iii) bring delight to a whole stable of beloveds without breaking the bank. And so on and so on. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Anyway, here's the flyer:<br /><br /><br /></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicRVkekrIvObLRWBmvkk0gSk6Tn_iJnwl55BZ1RCJQtuXy0uIIapy_ZO2lzRoe8WxfqKg4Pw_jWEa1_cR4DlAhvOKjW1XWBCvJ-rNM0PMJwX-HSYHN99apfHjMw22ZQSPXhgL/s1600-h/BUBBLE+BROTHERS+L%C3%B6ve+offer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicRVkekrIvObLRWBmvkk0gSk6Tn_iJnwl55BZ1RCJQtuXy0uIIapy_ZO2lzRoe8WxfqKg4Pw_jWEa1_cR4DlAhvOKjW1XWBCvJ-rNM0PMJwX-HSYHN99apfHjMw22ZQSPXhgL/s400/BUBBLE+BROTHERS+L%C3%B6ve+offer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027277726458160674" border="0" /></a>Although this is a blog-only deal, we do have something rather similar going on at the airport, so there ought to be a good bit of the very pink and fizzy doing Cupid's work on the 14th.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The traffic lights on the bottle change colour depending on how far your luck is in! </span>Not really.<br /><br />Here's a possible present for the Dublin-based and winey among you - take 'em along to the tastings reported by <a href="http://www.bibliocook.com/archives/2007/01/wine_tastings_i.html">Bibliocook</a>.<br /><br />I'm off to the <a href="http://www.salondesvinsdeloire.com/en/eveLigers">Salon des Vins de Loire</a> in the company of esteemed colleague, M. Cyril Besnard, until Thursday and don't anticipate doing any blogging until then. But there should be plenty to report when I get back.Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-30927251682953915002007-01-30T17:16:00.000+00:002008-11-13T03:17:07.175+00:00Australia tasting<a href="http://www.wineaustralia.com/Ireland/default.aspx?p=1">Wine Australia</a> decided to hold a tasting in Cork as well as in Dublin this year, and we went along to see what was new and meet some winemakers and generally get a taste of the competition's wines. John McDonnell, who is Wine Australia's representative here, is a charming host and there's no doubt an enormous amount of work went into putting the show on at a second Irish venue. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUczecdoo1wzLr9sUPu7L0-fFdEsi_negw1HA1KZWsUXPt7xasC68zfS7CxdIdZiH2Aw4MzvxfmVwanCZc1q_mIVOY3Fw0PCGFoLVIWz7A4yw2zv4qG0gTeNGBejzmng45APNC/s1600-h/Australia+tasting.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUczecdoo1wzLr9sUPu7L0-fFdEsi_negw1HA1KZWsUXPt7xasC68zfS7CxdIdZiH2Aw4MzvxfmVwanCZc1q_mIVOY3Fw0PCGFoLVIWz7A4yw2zv4qG0gTeNGBejzmng45APNC/s400/Australia+tasting.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025873895596753346" border="0" /></a> Tempranillos, Sangioveses and Barberas rubbed shoulders with the more familiar 'Australian' grape varieties, while many of the winemakers using the traditional grapes seemed keen to emphasize the specific regional characteristics of their wines. It hasn't all been plain sailing for Australian wine lately, and there was plenty of evidence of suppliers facing up squarely to the challenges of too much competition and climatic upheavals.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29849897.post-78325187299789599962007-01-27T15:11:00.000+00:002008-11-13T03:17:07.376+00:00Still no sign of Godefroy<div style="text-align: center;">...who's supposed to be trying to sell us some wine today.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2z__9FyjA2dUicWD_WHqsrhERXWMIqaGAdDhnbNAihzUl3qabkzKEiUhNNAxA-tVfkZQnpo4k6Lqb26aa02Dbn1O0uzlBaJJs2YreZXAEw_KPyY5YmNwgkC-0iKyFujPHdkQ1/s1600-h/godefroy_marta.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2z__9FyjA2dUicWD_WHqsrhERXWMIqaGAdDhnbNAihzUl3qabkzKEiUhNNAxA-tVfkZQnpo4k6Lqb26aa02Dbn1O0uzlBaJJs2YreZXAEw_KPyY5YmNwgkC-0iKyFujPHdkQ1/s200/godefroy_marta.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024728805776032178" border="0" /></a>He was last spotted late last night, noodling, with the help of Marta. Perhaps he's still in Wagamama. (Excellent wines there, I've heard). Thanks to our roving reporter for the picture.</div>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02170917823056940838noreply@blogger.com