Tag Archives: Ireland

January Sweet Club: Iowa

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Sweet Wine ClubPS_NV_Riesling_Front_BottlePierre Sparr
Riesling Grande Réserve
Alsace, France

NECTAR WINE STYLE

Pale yellow with vibrant green reflections, this wine highlights its youth. The nose is elegant and expressive, with citrus, bergamot, and flinty notes. On the palate, it’s fresh and focused, with a clean, persistent attack and a citrus driven finish.

Varietals: 100% Riesling
Analysis: 12.5% alcohol / volume
Total Acidity: 6.4 g/L
Residual Sugar: 3.0 g/L
Aging: Stainless-steel tanks
Region: Alsace, France
Appellation: Appellation Alsace Controlée, France
Plot: 6 ha
Soil: Granitic – chalk & clay
Age/Exposure: 20 years old East
Vine Yields: 60 hl/ha

MORE ABOUT THE WINE:
Pierre Sparr’s Riesling is grown from 30-year-old vines rooted in granitic, chalky-clay soil. After gentle pressing, the must is fermented at low temperature in stainless-steel tanks and malolactic conversion is avoided. This bone-dry Riesling delivers freshness, fruitiness and structure with excellent aging potential.

VINEYARDS:
Maison Pierre Sparr owns 15 hectares (37 acres) of vineyards in the heart of the Haut-Rhin and sources fruit from 150 hectares (370 acres) of vineyards owned by established growers who adhere to the Sparr winery’s high standards of viticulture. Care of the vineyards is of paramount importance. Their philosophy is that “the quality of a fine wine already exists in the grape.” In other words, the quality of a wine is determined by its vineyard origin.

VINTAGE NOTES:
A mild, wet winter replenished groundwater, followed by a cool spring that delayed budbreak but ensured steady growth. Summer alternated between warm, sunny spells and timely rains, preserving freshness and slowing ripening. September’s clear days and cool nights delivered perfect harvest conditions. The Rieslings show vibrant acidity, crystalline purity, and finely etched aromatics—combining tension and elegance with promising aging potential.

WINEMAKING:
The juices are cold-settled and fermented in stainless-steel vats at 18°C to 20°C. Fermentation lasts about one month. Then the wines are stabilized and kept in vats until bottling. During this time, the wine is regularly checked both analytically and by taste.

WINE AND CHEESE PAIRING RECOMMENDATION: Pair this with a Munster cheese from Alsace. A classic regional pairing. The wine’s acidity cleans up the cheese’s savory richness, and the aromatics play well together. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

ABOUT THE WINERY:
Established in 1680, today Pierre Sparr remains focused on producing quality wines, a pure expression of Alsace, which are aromatic, fruity, elegant, clean and vibrant. Pierre Sparr wines are food-friendly and accessible for everyday consumption. Learn more here.

Information & Photos © Wilson Daniels and Pierre Sparr – All Rights Reserved.

wine-o-reilly-s-white-chocolate-42539738923297 Background RemovedO’Reilly’s Country Cream
White Chocolate Irish Cream
Ireland

NECTAR WINE STYLE

This wine-based white chocolate Irish Cream is made with real Irish dairy cream and rich white chocolate for an indulgent experience.

Analysis: 13.9% alcohol / volume

WINE AND CHEESE PAIRING RECOMMENDATION: Try this with a mascarpone cheese. Soft and lightly sweet, it mirrors the liqueur’s creaminess without competing. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

Photo and Information courtesy of © Prestige Beverage Group – All Rights Reserved

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January Sweet Club: Iowa

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Sweet Wine ClubEvolution-Riesling-bottleSokol Blosser
Evolution Riesling
Columbia Valley, Oregon

NECTAR WINE STYLE

Take in a nose-full of bright tropical fruit, citrus, and a hint of floral. This wine is bursting with mouth watering notes of lychee, lime, pineapple and peach.

Analysis: 12.5% alcohol / volume
Varietal: 100% Reisling
Appellation: Columbia Valley, Oregon
Winemaking: Stainless Steel Tanks
Serving Suggestion: Pair with pad see ew with prawns, chicken tikka masala, lobster with lots of butter, jambalaya and even kettle corn
Critical Acclaim:

  • 89 Points & BEST BUY – Wine Enthusiast, 2021
  • 95 Points & Best in Class – Savor NW

WineStyles’ Wine and Cheese Pairing: Pair with a stinky blue cheese to complement the fruity notes of this wine. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

Wine: With the touch of Sokol Blosser’s winemaking team and their adoration for food-loving wine, this Evolution Riesling is so zingy and bright that it will wake up your taste buds and brighten your day. They crafted a wine that will stand up to spicy curries and stinky cheeses. It’s not your grandma’s Riesling. It’s the wine for the daring wine lover. For the wine lover who likes to buck the norm and ignore the stereotypes. Like a stealthy wolf in sheep’s clothing, this Riesling is slightly sweet on the outside yet packs a punch. It has a core of acidity that grabs your attention and makes it food’s best friend.

About the Winery:
For over 50 years, the Sokol Blosser family has been putting passion into bottles at their winery in Oregon. Family owned since 1971, their story began when Susan Sokol and Bill Blosser first planted vines in the now-famous Dundee Hills of Oregon’s Willamette Valley.  As second-generation winegrowers, Alex and Alison Sokol Blosser are passionately committed to their family’s legacy of creating world-class wines.  In 1998, they poured their love for wine into Evolution – exceptionally food-friendly wines for exceptional people. Its fan base gives meaning to the word “loyal” and is spread all over North America, Europe and Asia. At the time, there were very few white blends on the market, and Evolution tapped into the niche that would become an important segment of the wine business. As word spread and Evolution made the rounds, it enjoyed extraordinary popularity. Learn more about the winery here.

Photo and Information courtesy of © Evolution by Sokol Blosser – All Rights Reserved

oreillys-salted-caramel-irishO’Reilly’s Country Cream
Salted Caramel Irish Cream
Ireland

NECTAR WINE STYLE

This wine-based salted caramel Irish Cream is made with real Irish dairy cream from Abbeyleix, the heartland of Ireland. Enjoy rich caramel and creamy toffee notes rounded off with a hint of sea salt.

Analysis: 13.9% alcohol / volume

WineStyles’ Wine and Cheese Pairing: Pair with a young or aged Gouda cheese. A young Gouda will bring out a mild sweetness, while aged Gouda offers nutty, caramelized flavors that mirror the Irish cream. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

Photo and Information courtesy of © Prestige Beverage Group and Point Wine & Spirits – All Rights Reserved

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February Beer Club: Iowa

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Torc-beer-canLough Gill Brewery
Torc
Toasted Coconut and Vanilla Stout
Irish Whiskey Barrel Aged
Sligo, Ireland

This Imperial Oatmeal Stout is aged in Irish whiskey barrels and infused with toasted coconut and Madagascan vanilla. It’s a rich and full-bodied stout playing on notes of whiskey, chocolate, coconut and vanilla with a long finish and a great kick.

ABV: 13% alcohol / volume
Style: Imperial Stout – Oatmeal
Beer Style at WineStyles: Dark & Roasty
Made in collaboration with Boann Distillery – Craft brewed and aged in their independent brewery in Sligo. The Irish Whiskey Barrels are from Boann Distillery in Drogheda.

Mac-Nutty-beer-canLough Gill Brewery
Mac Nutty
Macadamia Nut Brown Ale
Sligo, Ireland

Rich, roasty, toasty, nutty, and malt aromas with a biscuity, bread-y nose. Raisins, nuts, and a touch of chocolate flavors are balanced with just enough hop bitterness to keep this beer easy drinking. Mac Nutty received a Silver Medal in Dublin’s Craft Beer Cup 2017 and Bronze Medal in 2018.

ABV: 5.5% alcohol / volume
Style: Macadamia Nut Brown
Beer Style at WineStyles: Dark & Roasty

Loconut-Lough-Imperial_Pastry_StoutLough Gill Brewery
Loconut
Imperial Pastry Stout
Sligo, Ireland

This Imperial Pastry Stout is brewed with coconut, vanilla, and blueberry. Notes of chocolate, cocoa, and coconut are balanced with flavors of vanilla and blueberry. As a final touch, a cloud of milk is added to sweeten this stout.

ABV: 10.5% alcohol / volume
Style: Imperial Pastry Stout
Beer Style at WineStyles: Dark & Roasty

Spear-beer-canLough Gill Brewery
Spear
Imperial Oatmeal Stout
Irish Whiskey Barrel Aged
Sligo, Ireland

Elected Beer of the Year 2022 by the Independent Craft Brewers of Ireland. Spear is aged for a year in Sherry Oloroso casks that previously held Irish Whiskey – revealing strong notes of whiskey, softened by the chocolate and coffee aromas coming from the brewery’s blend of roasted and caramel malts. A soft sherry finish gives this Imperial Stout a silky texture to support the high alcohol content.

ABV: 13% alcohol / volume
Style: Imperial Stout – Oatmeal
Beer Style at WineStyles: Dark & Roasty
Made in collaboration with Boann Distillery – Craft brewed and aged in their independent brewery in Sligo. The Irish Whiskey Barrels are from Boann Distillery in Drogheda.

Lough Gill Brewing Co New LogoABOUT LOUGH GILL BREWERY:
We are excited to announce that WineStyles will be the first to bring this Irish Brewery, Lough Gill, to market in Iowa! Founded in 2016 in Sligo, Ireland (near the shores of Lough Gill, on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way), Lough Gill Brewery is an independent, family run brewery known for their dark beers. Their beer philosophy is to, “brew the best hand crafted beers using the best ingredients and, where possible, to add some local indigenous ingredients to the brews”.  Learn more about the brewery here, and follow them on Untappd.

Information © Lough Gill Brewery – All Rights Reserved.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR BEER CLUB >