About Me
- DermotMW
- Dublin, Ireland
- Hi, I'm Dermot Nolan, and I became a Master of Wine (MW) in 1997, and resigned from the Institute of Masters of Wine in 2023 after being an MW for exactly 26 years. I opened a wine shop in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, called The Wine Library, which closed in 2018, and this is my personal wine blog. I will do my utmost to be fair and responsible in my posts – please read my Who Pays article in re the ethics of wine trips and writing. I have worked in wine education, retail, and consultancy since 1990. I was a Director of the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) from 2008 to 2014 and was also a member of the Events Committee, founder of the Trips Committee, and member of the Governance Committee. Having had problems with potentially libellous comments from unidentifiable posters, I now require that if you post a comment, you must identify yourself properly or it won't be published. Please note that I do not review products or services on request so kindly don't ask. I value my independence and I believe my readers (few that they may be) do so also.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
End of an era?
Monday 14th May 2012 saw the last WSET Diploma lecture to be held in Ireland for the foreseeable future. As I am not renewing my APP status WSET will take over the running of Diploma in Ireland. Their plan for this year is to start an online course only. This marks the end of some 27 years of Diploma classes in Ireland, which has seen 285 graduates (165 men and 120 women) and 2 MWs - myself and Fergal Tynan. Some of you might care to raise a glass to wake the passing of this fairly venerable tradition.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Inferences
There is a report in Drinks Business (DB) about a recent survey carried out in the UK in relation to alcohol advertising and a number of conclusions are drawn. Now, the DB article doesn't give us a link to the survey so the methodology is unclear but I am somewhat sceptical about the conclusions. Apparently, "G2 Joshua surveyed 2,000 people [in relation to a proposed ban on alcohol advertising] and discovered that 90% of them would drink the same amount should a ban be introduced." Later, we are told: “Alcohol advertising is already heavily regulated and therefore in reality, as our research indicates, any complete ban on the practice would have minimal effect,” said Bobby Hui, executive planning director at G2 Joshua. Why be sceptical?
Friday, March 23, 2012
John Avery MW RIP
The last post was about the passing of Trevor Mast, this is about the passing of John Avery MW, who died today. John was a big, bluff man, with a booming voice, strong opinions and a great sense of humour and of history. I first met John on the MW West Coast USA trip in 1999, then again on the Australia trip of 2001 and the Portugal trip of 2002.
On the Australia trip, we spend Anzac day travelling from Coonawarra to Melbourne, via a morning tasting and lunch at Best's Great Western (and an afternoon visit to Mt Langhi Ghiran). On all MW trips every event has 2 MWs with specific duties - one is the scribe, who writes up the event for the trip report, the other is the official thanker, who thanks the hosts and organisers on the day. This day, it was John's turn and he gave an intensely moving speech on the topic of Anzac Day and Gallipoli. It was simply marvellous. John Avery RIP, 23/03/2012.
On the Australia trip, we spend Anzac day travelling from Coonawarra to Melbourne, via a morning tasting and lunch at Best's Great Western (and an afternoon visit to Mt Langhi Ghiran). On all MW trips every event has 2 MWs with specific duties - one is the scribe, who writes up the event for the trip report, the other is the official thanker, who thanks the hosts and organisers on the day. This day, it was John's turn and he gave an intensely moving speech on the topic of Anzac Day and Gallipoli. It was simply marvellous. John Avery RIP, 23/03/2012.
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