REVEL IN YQUEM The guest of honour at this year's autumn wine weekend in Sheen Falls Lodge, Kenmare, Co Kerry, November 5th-7th, is Comte Alexandre de Lur Saluces, formerly of Château d'Yquem and still proprietor of Château de Fargues.
Both of these famous Sauternes will feature both in tastings and throughout the gala dinner. What a treat! €475 per person sharing. info@sheenfallslodge.ie, 064-41600.
WINE FAIR FOR GOOD CAUSE Doing anything next Wednesday evening? Support the fifth SuperValu Wine Fair in the Great Hall of Clontarf Castle, 7-9.30 p.m., and you will help the Dublin Lions Club in their efforts to provide Christmas dinner for the homeless. Tickets: €12 if bought in advance from the Cellar at SuperValu in Killester or Raheny, or €15 at the door.
Mary Dowey
CHEESE IT Is it really 21 years since the Irish cheese lexicon began and ended with Calvita? Cáis, The Irish Farmhouse Cheesemakers Association, recently celebrated its 21st birthday and from an initial membership of just seven, the association now has 37 cheesemakers producing goats', cows' and sheep's milk products. According to Cáis the farmhouse cheese industry directly employs 110 people and generates a combined turnover of €8 million each year. Check out the association's website at www.irishcheese.ie for recipes using some of the big names in Irish cheese, including Cashel Blue, Cooleeney, Gubeen, Lavistown, Durrus and Mount Callan.
Marie-Claire Digby