Meet four of France’s leading winemakers and enjoy pairings with flavours of the West of Ireland
Ashford Castle has launched the first in a series of annual experiences for wine enthusiasts that combines wine tasting and excellent food with a rare opportunity to meet leading winemakers from the world’s top wine-making regions.
‘Meet the Makers’ will give guests access to exclusive insights and expertise together with some of the finest wines from the winemakers’ respective regions.
The first experience, priced from €950 per person, will welcome four top winemakers from France and will be enjoyed over the course of two days from 4-6 February 2022 and early booking is advised.
Wine and dining experience
The two-night getaway gets underway with a reception and a private welcome dinner with the winemakers at Cullen’s at the Cottage, on the grounds of the magnificent Ashford estate.
After a leisurely breakfast on day two, guests are invited to Ashford Castle’s private cinema to learn about the growing trend of biodynamic and organic wines specific to the winemakers’ vineyards and their experience working towards this. The winemakers are from:
Domaine Albert Mann, Alsace
Domaine Vincent Girardin, Burgundy
Chateau Pedesclaux – Pauillac, Bordeaux and
Domaine Bott, Rhone Valley
A light lunch will follow where the renowned experts will offer first-hand insight on the effects of climate change on their vineyards in France.
Guests will then work up an appetite with plenty of time to explore all that the Ashford estate has to offer and will return to drinks and canapés in the Castle’s 16thCentury wine cellars followed by a six-course dinner in the historic Connaught Room.
Packed with seasonal flair, the menu has been devised by Ashford Castle’s Executive Chef, an advocate of local, seasonal produce, Philippe Farineau.
Meet the Makers is a wonderful idea for luxury Christmas gifting and an event wine enthusiasts and explorers can look forward to year on year.
Ashford Castle’s wine cellars were originally used as the servants’ entrance, a coal bunker and underground walkway and have since been lovingly transformed. They now provide intimate private spaces where guests can enjoy wine tasting from the Castle’s expansive list of over 600 wines along with special dining experiences.
Prices for this exclusive Wine and Dining Experience start from €950* per person sharing.
Breakfast
Each morning, guests will enjoy Ashford Castle’s award-winning Irish Breakfast that includes its famous carved ham, porridge with a little drop of Irish whiskey, Irish smoked salmon with poached eggs and a selection of juices from the juice sommelier from the trolley.
/Experience starts from €1,900.00 per room per couple for Corrib Lake View Room. Subject to availability.
Reservations:www.ashfordcastle.com [email protected]r call 094 954 6003
Caring for guests
Rigorous arrangements have been made to allow for social distancing in all dining and public areas at Ashford Castle. Staff have been meticulously trained to ensure that guests can relax knowing that they are being looked after to the highest of standards that go beyond government and health regulations.
Ashford Castle
Sitting on the shores of Lough Corrib, Ashford Castle is surrounded by ancient Irish woodland and beautifully manicured lawns, where guests have been enjoying exceptional levels of hospitality for more than 80 years.
Exquisite interiors, unique artwork, sumptuous fabrics, and chandeliers decorate the 83 individually designed bedrooms. The great outdoors is part of the estate’s quintessential charm with over 25 activities on the estate grounds to choose from.
Dining is always an experience at Ashford Castle where the team of executive chefs selects the finest local, seasonal produce to create their culinary magic in each of Ashford Castle’s unique restaurants.
Part of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection and a member of Leading Hotels of the World, Ashford Castle is the only hotel in Ireland to have earned a 2021 Five-Star Forbes Travel Guide Ranking for the second year in a row.
