Ciara McQuillan chooses delicious and decadent spots to stop, sip and snack in …
Green Man Wines, Dublin 6
Green Man Wines is one to visit for those who take their wine drinking seriously, whether you are a minor wine geek or a full on oenophile. The team at Green Man Wines know their stuff and with a wine bar operational from Thursday to Saturday from 4pm to 10pm, you can take the opportunity to enjoy some excellent nibbles too. Classic wine bar plates include small snacks like olives and smoked almonds with more substantial dishes such as braised pork cheek with new potato or herby mussels with white wine. www.greenmanwines.ie
Éan, Galway
From Wednesday to Sunday (from 5.30pm to 10pm), the wine bar at Éan in Galway offers a lighter bar snack focused menu and a wide selection of natural biodynamic wines, many of which are available by the glass. There are small and larger plates with house made pickles, charcuterie plates and grilled local vegetables, meat and fish. Dexter tartare with green olive and bone marrow? Hard yes. www.eangalway.com
The Black Pig, Kinsale
No one has ever needed a reason to visit Kinsale, but in case you felt you did, The Black Pig wine bar is it. With more awards than you can shake a stick at, there is a choice of over 250 wines by the bottle with over 100 by the glass with 80 organic, biodynamic and natural wines. In their own words “We are not wine snobs; The Black Pig is just a simple place where good friends can relax, eat and drink good food and good wine and create memories for many years to come”. Add to that the Korean dressed oysters, excellent panko monkfish and a swoonworthy cheese plate and this really is the wine bar of dreams. www.theblackpigwinebar.com
MacCurtain St Wine Cellar, Cork
Primarily a wine shop, MacCurtain Wine Cellar also welcome customers to visit for a couple of glasses of wine, from the rotating choice of wines by the glass. In the evenings, there is also a short menu of sharing plates and light snacks designed to accompany the wines. Think smoked almonds, Nocellara olives, anchovy tins with bread plus a selection of cheese and charcuterie. Wines run the gamut from everyday drinking to a small fine wine collection in the cellar, with a focus on organic and biodynamic, natural wine. www.maccurtainwine.ie
Loose Canon, Dublin 2
Forget Bogie and Bacall, the best pairing to my mind has to be wine and cheese in all its piquant glory. If natural wines and an amazing selection of cheese appeals, then Loose Canon on Dublin’s Drury Street is the place to go. It’s small, but perfectly formed and the toasties have gained a somewhat legendary status. Open daily from 11am. www.loosecanon.ie
Also worth a visit is new kid on the block Bar Pez from the people that brought us Fish Shop. Bar Pez is located on Kevin Street Lower, Dublin 8, open from Thursday-Monday 3-10pm. @barpezdublin
Not to be forgotten are Amy Austin, Grano sibling A Fianco Vineria, Note, Piglet Wine Bar, and the wonderful Ox Cave in Belfast.