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The wine variety that’s criminally neglected in Ireland but €13 bottle is great value find plus €21.95 top food tipple
THIS past week, the busiest by far this year, I tasted almost 350 wines from all over the world – and never left the city.
Wines from the Americas, Australia, Africa and Europe, costing less than a tenner to €240 a bottle, were tasted, evaluated and noted.
Many of the six events I attended were showcasing wines that will appear on the shelves for Christmas.
The bigger importers are now looking at possible new lines for Easter, and Summer, 2025.
GREAT GREECE
I HAD the pleasure of meeting Jennifer Thompson and Anne Rodgers last Monday, the co-owners of Oinos Wines, something of a passion project which sees them import wines from small wineries across Greece.
This is very much a niche market, and one that guarantees that Jennifer or Anne will need become millionaires!
All things Greek is their passion, and I hope there are enough adventurous wine lovers out there to try a bottle or two.
I was impressed by the quality of the wines and will be reviewing some of them over the coming weeks.
If any reader wants to see what they have to offer visit www.oinoswines.ie.
SPANISH FEST
ON Wednesday I was delighted to attend the launch of Eat Spain, Drink Spain – a two-week festival of great Spanish food and wine across the country from October 1.
A sneak peek yesterday evening at the burgeoning list of events means that this year’s event – back after a two-year break – will be bigger and better than ever.
It includes tastings, wine-pairing dinners, olive oil, cheese and charcuterie tastings, tapas and wine trails, Spanish art, and gastronomy, currently across eight counties.
I will list the best of these events next week. In the meantime, look out for organised events in your local wine shop or restaurants.
GREAT WINE JOURNEY
DURING this most eventful of weeks I also ran into Shiva Gautam, owner of the ever-popular Nepalese restaurant, Montys of Kathmandu.
Shiva is organising another of his wonderful five-course wine dinners for October 8, with the wines curated by Rui Santil, brand ambassador for Portuguese wines at Liberty Wines.
Rui will lead guests on a journey through the great wines of Portugal, specially selected to match Shiva’s adventurous menu.
Shiva stressed that it will be a relaxing and fun tasting, with a tailor-made menu to complement the wines chosen by Rui.
The reception starts at 7pm with formal proceedings at 7.30pm. Cost is €110 per person.
These events tend to be booked out very quickly so contact the restaurant as soon as possible on 01-6704911.
WINE FESTIVAL
AND more good news, the O’Briens Wine Festival is back.
The 2024 instalment returns to Hall 4 at the RDS Ballsbridge on October 11-12 with some 290 wines for tasting, and 70 producers from across the globe on hand to answer all your questions.
Tickets, priced at €37.25 each, includes all wine samples, a complimentary Tipperary Crystal wine glass and a wine book with tasting notes to take home.
There are 16 free wine talks to attend over the weekend (no booking required) and an option to purchase a spot in one of the six masterclasses as an add on to your ticket.
Please note, you must have already bought a general admission ticket to attend the masterclasses.
This event is strictly over 18s and not suitable for children. Book your tickets now at obrienswine.ie.
1882 Rioja Vega Blanco 2023 (ABV 12.5%)
RRP €13 and widely available
Grapes: Garnacha Blanca & Tempranillo Blanco
WHITE Rioja is criminally neglected in Ireland. The best of them can age just as gracefully as their red cousins.
For the most part they are made with the Viura grape, so I was intrigued to try this unique blend – and it works.
A light straw colour when poured, it has distinct floral and stone fruit aromas.
The palate, with a little citrus kick, is quite rich and rounded. Easy drinking introduction to a classic wine style, with good length on the finish.
Enjoy with: Clam chowder.
Star rating: ***
Cesari Mara Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2021 (ABV 13.5%)
RRP €22 at good independent wine shops
Grapes: Corvina, Rondinella & Molinara
RIPASSO wines, created in the hills of Valpolicella, northeast Italy, are produced by passing freshly crushed grape must over dried grape skins.
It delivers up full-bodied, but well-balanced and savoury wines with soft tannins, and lively plum and cherry notes.
This excellent example has a lovely richness, with notes of dark chocolate and cinnamon spice on the palate. The finish is surprisingly persistent and warm.
Enjoy with: Pulled pork.
Star rating: ****
Domaine Valensac Petit Verdot 2023 (ABV 13.5%)
RRP €21.95 @ good independent wine shops
Grape: Petit Verdot
THIS red grape is making something of a statement these days as a single varietal, throwing off the tag of being the makeshift partner in a Bordeaux blend.
A dark, dark red (almost purple) in the glass, with a full-on nose of dark, soft summer berries, like blackberries and blackcurrants, along with cracked black pepper.
The fruit-forward palate has been rightly described as having a “juicy attack”. It is quite dry, full-bodied with gripping tannins, reasonable acidity and a little spice.
Enjoy with: Great food wine, especially with rabbit stew.
Star rating: ****
Les Roches Blanches Rosé d’Anjou 2023 (ABV 10%)
RRP €16.95 @ good independent wine shops
Grapes: Grolleau & Gamay
DELICATE, and refreshing off-dry Rosé from the Loire valley, with a vibrant coral colour.
It has an attractive and alluring nose, with hints of strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants, candy floss and white stone fruits.
The palate has some texture, is fruity, with crushed strawberry and watermelon flavours, elegant tannins, and just a touch of spice on the finish.
Enjoy with: Seafood salad.
Star rating: ****
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Обтислий ромпер на двох дружинах Остапчука: Горняк обтягнула плаский прес, а Полтавська – вагітний животик
Колишня та нинішня дружини Володимира Остапчука помірялись, у кого наряд вийшов ефектнішим і стильнішим – вагітна Катерина Полтавська та струнка Христина Горняк. Володимир Остапчук, відомий український шоумен, прославився не тільки своєю творчою діяльністю, але й бурхливим особистим життям. Знаменитість встиг тричі одружитись і двічі стати батьком, а його 24-річна дружина нині виношує під серцем третю […]Popular sandwich filler urgently recalled over fears it contains dangerous bacteria that can trigger meningitis
A POPULAR sarnie filler sold in corner shops in the North of Britain has been recalled in a listeria health scare.
Eating food contaminated with the bacteria can put you at risk for listeriosis, a serious illness that, in rare cases, can trigger meningitis.
The manufacturer decided to take action when traces of listeria monocytogenes were “detected” in corned beef sold at SPAR’S in the north west of England.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) have since issued a “do not eat” warning to anyone who has bought the salty filling.
Products included in the recall include 120g packs of SPAR corned beef with a ‘use by’ date of September 20 2024.
The FSA warned that eating food contaminated with this kind of bacteria can cause symptoms “similar to flu and include high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick and diarrhoea”.
“However, in rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications, such as meningitis,” the FSA added.
Meningitis is a serious infection of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.
It can cause life-threatening blood poisoning (septicaemia) and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.
The manufacturer, James Hall & Co advised anyone who has purchased the corned beef to return it to the store for a full refund.
Signs will be placed in shops where the items are sold to warn people they should not be eaten.
It added that no other products had been affected by this issue.
They apologised for “any inconvenience to our customers”.
Throughout 2021, 160 cases of listeriosis were reported in England and Wales, according to the most recent data released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Twenty-two people passed away after suffering from the nasty illness.
Rates were highest among people aged 80 years and over, while a fifth of all infections occurred in pregnant mums.
There were three listeriosis outbreaks investigated in England and Wales in 2021, including a national outbreak associated with smoked fish.
More recently, listeria bacteria was found in cheese sold in Morrisons and Asda.
What to do if you suspect you've eaten food contaminated with listeria
If you think you may eaten food with listeria, it’s important to keep an eye on any symptoms that might arise.
Look out for signs like fever, muscle aches, nausea, or diarrhoea.
If you start feeling unwell – especially if you’re pregnant, elderly, or have a weakened immune system – call NHS 111 right away.
In the meantime, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, especially if you’re experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms.
If you’re at higher risk, try to avoid raw or undercooked foods, deli meats, and raw dairy products until you get the all-clear.
Source: NHS
Vaccine horror as woman, 23, left ‘temporarily blind with agonising bruises engulfing her face’
A WOMAN claims she was left temporarily blind with agonising purple bruises spreading across her face after having three vaccines administered at once.
Alexis Lorenze, 23, suffered a rare reaction to the jabs after travelling to receive treatment for paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH), a genetic blood disorder.
The Florida-native was diagnosed with PNH – which causes the immune system to attack and damage red blood cells and platelets – in January this year.
Alexis travelled to California earlier this month for a transfusion to replenish the damaged cells.
The 23-year-old claims that doctors at the California medical centre wouldn’t administer the transfusion unless she received vaccines for tetanus, pneumonia, and meningitis “all at once”.
It’s not clear why hospital staff allegedly wanted to give her all three vaccines immediately.
Nor is it clear how soon after the vaccines they intended to perform the transfusion.
In videos posted to TikTok and Facebook that have since gone viral, Alexis claims that her vision temporarily went dark in both eyes within 10 minutes of being given the three jabs.
Her jaw locked and she began vomiting, a fundraiser set up to pay for her medical expenses details.
Her eyes and forehead also started to swell and darken, with splotchy “red dots” on her face, neck and chest.
“This is the scariest thing I’ve ever been through,” the tearful 23-year-old said in a Facebook Live video she’s since posted to her page.
Alexis’s condition gradually worsened to the point that her eyes swelled shut and deep purple bruising spread across her forehead, neck and knees.
Alexis’s ordeal has since been seized upon by anti-vaxxers, who claim her ultra-rare reaction proves their theories about vaccines being dangerous.
But medics stress that the 23-year-old suffered an ultra-rare reaction that was likely exacerbated by her blood disorder.
Doctors told DailyMail.com that giving a patient so many vaccines at once when they have an autoimmune condition like PNH is “risky”, as it could trigger a potentially “life-threatening” immune response.
But they noted it’s unlikely that components in the vaccines themselves lead to Alexis’s condition.
Instead, it’s more likely her illness wasn’t under control and flared up in response to the jabs, as they can trigger immune responses in patients with PNH.
Dr Raj Dasgupta, chief medical advisor for Fortune Recommends Health, told DailyMail.com: “While it’s usually safe for most people to get these vaccines together, in her case, the immune response could have been too much and led to complications.
“To avoid overloading her system, it would be reasonable to space out the vaccines and closely monitor for any worsening symptoms.”
What is paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria?
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), is a rare genetic blood disease that causes red blood cells to break apart.
It happens because the surface of a person’s blood cells are missing a protein that protects them from the body’s immune system.
When red blood cells break apart, the haemoglobin inside is released.
Haemoglobin is the red part of red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body.
The release of haemoglobin causes many of the PNH symptoms.
If you have rare blood disorder, part of your immune system attacks and damages your red blood cells and platelets.
Left untreated, PNH can cause haemolytic anemia, chronic kidney disease or blood clots.
The condition is most often diagnosed in people in their 30s and 40s.
Symptoms of PNH may vary from person to person.
You may have only mild symptoms, or you may have severe symptoms and need medicines or blood transfusions.
Symptoms may include:
- Abdominal pain
- Back pain
- Blood clots, may form in some people
- Dark urine, comes and goes
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness, fatigue
- Pallor
- Chest pain
- Difficulty swallowing
There are treatments available if you have PNH that can protect blood cells and reduce your risk of serious illness.
According to Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation (AAMDS), patients with PNH should receive vaccinations against certain types of bacteria to prevent infection.
Sources: AAMS, Cleveland Clinic, MedlinePlus
Over the last few days, Alexis’s father Todd joined her in California and has been posted regular updates to his Facebook and Instagram accounts about her condition.
He said the 23-year-old had been transported to a private hospital in Los Angeles for specialised treatment.
In a recent Facebook post, Todd said Alexis’s condition “varies from hour to hour, sometimes minute to minute”.
Though the swelling and pain seemed to be decreasing, the dad said: “It’s not over. It’s just slightly less complicated.
“But still going a months or years long battle.
“This has devastated her. We are not out of any hot water yet.”
‘RISKY BUSINESS’
Alexis was diagnosed with PNH in January 2024.
The rare blood disorder affects about between 0.5 and 1.5 per million people, according to the National Organisation for Rare Disorders.
Alexis claims she developed the illness after being prescribed “cough medicine” by a doctor – but in fact the disorder occurs due to a a genetic flaw affects how your red blood cells and platelets work.
Normally, red blood cells help carry oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body using the protein haemoglobin.
But in patients with PNH, haemoglobin can’t break down, so the protein overwhelms organs like the kidneys.
People with the condition are also at an increased risk of life-threatening thrombosis or blood clots as their platelets – the cells that help the body make blood clots – are abnormal.
Alexis also claims to have not received any vaccines since childhood.
Dr Gloria Gerber, a haematologist and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, told DailyMail.com that it’s possible that the three vaccines could have exacerbated Alexis’s PNH by accelerating the breakdown of red blood cells.
Possible side effects from vaccines
In rare cases, vaccines can cause side effects.
These tend to be minor – like a sore arm or low fever – and go away on their own within a few days.
The CDC lists possible side effects from vaccines licensed for use in the US.
For example, it says that after receiving a tetanus vaccine, people may experience:
- Pain, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
- Mild fever
- Headache
- Feeling tired
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or stomachache
People sometimes faint after medical procedures, including vaccination, it adds.
People may experience similar side effects from MenACWY, MenB and MenABCWY vaccines for meningitis.
Source: CDC
She explained that giving many vaccines or medications at once is “risky business” in the event that a patient reacts to them, as it can be difficult to confirm which one was the culprit behind it.
“Giving three vaccines at once, honestly, I don’t think I’ve heard of at all,” the haematologist said.
“What’s the hurry? What’s the emergency of giving the three vaccines at once when you could do one and wait a little bit?
“She’s obviously very sensitive because of her illness.
“Doing multiple things at the same time is very risky business, and risky business has no place in medicine.”
Meanwhile, Dr Gasgupta said that Alexis’s severe reaction may have nothing to do with the vaccines at all.
“PNH can flare up on its own, and we have to consider whether the condition itself is behind her severe reaction.
Alexis claims she temporarily went blind immediately after the vaccines were administered.
Dr Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, told DailyMail.com that this might be able to be explained by a drop in blood pressure.
He said some people feel faint after being given a vaccine and that “near fainting can often cause momentary visual loss”.
But he stressed that “there’s nothing intrinsic in the vaccine that causes blindness”.
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Heartbreak as body of man, 28, missing from Kildare found as Gardai thanks public for help after search stood down
A SEARCH for a man who went missing from his home this week has been stood down after a body was sadly found.
Gardai confirmed today that the body of Richard Bracken, 28, has been discovered.
Richard had been reported missing from Athy, Co Kildare since Wednesday 18.
Gardai had launched an appeal asking for the public’s assistance in tracing his whereabouts after he went missing.
In the appeal, Richard was described as being approximately 5 foot 9 inches in height with a medium build, brown hair and blue eyes.
When last seen, he was wearing a grey fleece, maroon t-shirt, black trousers and runners.
Gardai and Richard’s family were concerned for his wellbeing when the missing appeal was made to the public.
Sadly, the search has been stood down today following the discovery of his body.
A spokesperson said: “Following the discovery of a man’s body, the missing person appeal in respect of 28-year-old Richard Bracken, who is reported missing from Athy, Co. Kildare since Wednesday 18th September 2024, has now been stood down.
“An Garda Siochana would like to thank the media and public for their assistance in this matter.”
TRAGIC CASES
This is the latest tragic missing persons case in recent days.
On Wednesday, a man who was reported missing from Dublin over the weekend was tragically found dead in Co Meath.
The search for missing 32-year-old Olamide Adekunle was stood down by Gardai following the sad discovery.
He was reported missing from his home in Balbriggan, Co Dublin on Saturday.
It was believed that he may have travelled by taxi from the Drogheda area through Gormonston, Co Meath.
LAST SEEN
He had been last seen at around 8.40pm on September 11.
And on Tuesday, the body of a woman who went missing over a month ago was also called off after her body was sadly discovered.
Margaret Barber, 66, had been missing from her home in Mount Merrion, Dublin since Thursday, August 8.
Officers confirmed on Tuesday that their search has been stood down following the tragic discovery.
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