An Alsace wine promotion is running in over 40 Irish restaurants through November - and a jolly good thing, too. The wines of this neglected French region are delicious with food - a point proved last week at a tasting and lunch organised by Sopexa. Derry Clarke of L'Ecrivain and Ross Lewis of Chapter One showed how Irish dishes like Baked Black Pudding with Cashel Blue Cheese, Rolled Smoked Salmon and Crab and Braised Stuffed Pork Breast with Colcannon married with the wonderfully concentrated flavours of Alsace whites. Stars of the tasting included Pinot Blanc Diamant Reserve 1996 from Pierre Sparr, Riesling Grand Cru Rosacker 1997 from Domaine Sipp Mack, Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg Cuvee Saint Catherine 1996 from Domaine Weinbach.
Look out for special Alsace wine lists - and special prices. Participants include Locks, Dobbins, The Old Dublin, The Red Bank in Skerries, Lacken House in Kilkenny, Beams in Carlow, Wineport in Athlone and many more.