There are some people who simply don't like beer. We had a customer come in and remark how difficult it was to truly celebrate St. Patrick's Day because of her distaste for Guinness, Harp, Smithwick's or any beer for that matter. We know she enjoys a glass of wine, so we suggested that she try drinking Irish wine instead. Skeptical that the grapes would be from Ireland, we immediately told her the story of the Irish "Wine Geese."
What are Wine Geese? It comes from Wild Geese, which refers to the exodus of Irish soldiers to France at the end of the 1600s following the Willamite-Jacobite war. Let's say that even back then there was tension between the Irish Catholics and Irish Protestants. The Irish Catholics were forced to skip town. The Irish Wine Geese refers to Irish emigrants who became involved in the wine trade in other countries.
Some of the most prestigious estates in Bordeaux are Irish Wine Geese. Chateau Lynch-Bages and Chateau d'Yquem are just two of many Bordeaux estates founded by Irish Wine Geese.
In the US, we are fortunate enough to have our fair share of Irish wine families too. Chateau Montelena who won the famous "Judgment in Paris" white wine competition — their Chardonnay beating out famous French competitors. Murphy-Goode and Concannon wineries are also founded by Irish Wine Geese.
So don't fret if you don't enjoy beer or Irish Whiskey. You still can toast "Sláinte!" with your delicious Irish wine.
