The must-try €8.99 easy drinking Aldi wine with cherry aromas & the 2 intense Portuguese reds from lesser-known regions
While the emergence of these odd-shaped concrete receptacles might seem like a modern innovation, they have actually been around for a long, long time.
6
Wine can move more freely than it would in a traditional barrel or tank during fermentation
Archaeologists in Georgia found the ancient remains of large, earthen vessels containing the remnants of wine inside.
Radiocarbon dating and chemical analysis of the residue confirmed these findings.
After further tests boffins at the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, in
These egg-shaped vessels, called qvevri, are still in use in
The eggs are made from sand, gravel, spring water and cement.
READ MORE IN WINE
The unlined concrete is then treated with tartaric acid to prevent corrosion or any reactions with the wine during fermentation and ageing.
But why this egg shape? Science suggests that as all fermentation creates heat, and that in turn creates convection currents that encourage the fermenting wine to move around, which is most effective in an egg.
Without corners, it provides a smooth, continuous surface, thus allowing the wine to move more freely than it would in a traditional barrel or tank during fermentation.
This process allows complex flavours to develop through continuous contact with the lees (spent yeast cells) after it has finished its job of turning the grape juice into alcohol.
MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN
The concrete walls of the egg provide excellent insulation, keeping the wine's temperature stable, thus cutting out the need for any artificial cooling systems.
The unlined eggs also allow a tiny amount of oxygen to meet the wine, softening tannins, and developing more complex flavours.
Wines aged in the inert and airless environment of stainless-steel take much longer to achieve similar levels of aging.
So, what about the
But wines made in this way tend to be more expensive because, for now, the eggs are small, thus producing small batches of wine from better vineyard plots.
Expert reveals the top everyday food pairings for bargain supermarket wine
Talk to your friendly, local off-licence proprietor for a recommendation.
FIVE wines reviewed this week, with two excellent, beefy reds from
I have also re-visited two
Herdade da Mingorra Reserva 2021 (ABV 14.5%)
6
Currently €17.99 on promo @ Molloys Liqour Stores
Grapes: Touriga Nacional, Syrah & Alicante Bouschet
FROM the family owned Mingorra estate in Portugal's Alentejo region, comes this deep ruby, almost purple palate pleaser.
With intense aromas of ripe red and black fruit and dark chocolate, the palate is full-bodied and quite complex, with dark fruit flavours to the fore, good acidity and integrated tannins, with a nice persistent finish. Let wine breathe for 30 minutes for pouring.
Enjoy with:
Grilled, bone-in pork chop
Irish Sun Star rating:
***
Herdade da Mingorra Touriga Nacional 2021 (ABV 14.5%)
6
Currently €16.99 on promo @ Molloys Liqour Stores
Grape: Touriga Nacional
THE backbone of all the great Ports from the Douro, but here a super tantalising, single varietal Touriga.
An intense and powerful red wine with a deep garnet colour when poured, with jammy red fruit, blackberry and blueberry aromas.
The palate is rich and juicy delivering spicy, black-fruit flavours. Very noticeable firm tannin kick, balanced acidity, and persistent but enjoyable finish. Let wine breathe for 30 minutes for pouring.
Enjoy with:
Super with roast beef.
Irish Sun Star rating:
****
Specially Selected Caladoc Rouge 2024 (ABV 14%)
6
€11.99 @ Aldi outlets
Grape: Caladoc
ONE of the joys of my life is tasting, and then writing about a new wine grape varietal.
In this case its Caladoc, a cross between Grenache and Malbec, created in 1958 in
Here it produces a deep red wine, with complexity, and a little rusticity.
The fruit, grown in the Languedoc, delivers blackcurrant and plum flavours, along with wild herb notes.
The palate is juicy and fruit forward with grainy tannins. Nice length and a satisfying finish.
Enjoy with:
A feast of hard cheese and crusty bread.
Irish Sun Star rating:
****
Classic Martinolles Gris de Gris 2024 (ABV 12.5%)
6
Currently €11.99 on promo @ Molloys Liqour Stores
Grape: Grenache Gris
NOW here is something of a rarity, a pinkish-grey mutation of the Grenache grape, with limited plantings in the Languedoc and Roussillon, southern France.
A pale salmon pink colour, with a lovely floral bouquet of roses, peach and cherries on the nose.
Nice dry, mid-weight, fresh palate, nice acidity, with wisps of raspberry and stone fruit. Refreshing, lingering length.
Enjoy with:
Smoked haddock or salmon.
Irish Sun Star rating:
***
THIS WEEK'S MUST TRY BARGAIN BOTTLE UNDER A TENNER
OUR promise is to bring Irish Sun wine lovers a taste-tested wine each weekend for under a tenner.
The cost of glass, packaging, labelling and transport have sky-rocketed in recent years.
So, finding excellent value tipples is getting harder - but we have sourced some great wines and will bring you a super sipper recommendation every weekend.
Macedonian Primitivo Kratosija 2023 (ABV 13.5%)
6
€8.99 @ Aldi Outlets
Grapes: Kratosija & Primitivo
NORTH
A blend of the Balkan grape Kratosija and Italy's Primitivo – with very many similarities – has aromas of ripe redcurrants and cherries.
The palate is rich and soft, with plum and blackcurrant notes and supple tannins. Deliciously satisfying finish.
Enjoy with:
Pasta.
Irish Sun Star rating:
***
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The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
The must-try €8.99 easy drinking Aldi wine with cherry aromas & the 2 intense Portuguese reds from lesser-known regions
AN INCREASINGLY common site these days, amongst the rows of stainless-steel fermenters and storage tanks in wineries, are concrete eggs. While the emergence of these odd-shaped concrete receptacles might seem like a modern innovation, they have actually been around for a long, long time. 6 Wine can move more freely than it would in a traditional barrel or tank during fermentation Archaeologists in Georgia found the ancient remains of large, earthen vessels containing the remnants of wine inside. Radiocarbon dating and chemical analysis of the residue confirmed these findings. After further tests boffins at the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, in These egg-shaped vessels, called qvevri, are still in use in The eggs are made from sand, gravel, spring water and cement. READ MORE IN WINE The unlined concrete is then treated with tartaric acid to prevent corrosion or any reactions with the wine during fermentation and ageing. But why this egg shape? Science suggests that as all fermentation creates heat, and that in turn creates convection currents that encourage the fermenting wine to move around, which is most effective in an egg. Without corners, it provides a smooth, continuous surface, thus allowing the wine to move more freely than it would in a traditional barrel or tank during fermentation. This process allows complex flavours to develop through continuous contact with the lees (spent yeast cells) after it has finished its job of turning the grape juice into alcohol. MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN The concrete walls of the egg provide excellent insulation, keeping the wine's temperature stable, thus cutting out the need for any artificial cooling systems. The unlined eggs also allow a tiny amount of oxygen to meet the wine, softening tannins, and developing more complex flavours. Wines aged in the inert and airless environment of stainless-steel take much longer to achieve similar levels of aging. So, what about the But wines made in this way tend to be more expensive because, for now, the eggs are small, thus producing small batches of wine from better vineyard plots. Expert reveals the top everyday food pairings for bargain supermarket wine Talk to your friendly, local off-licence proprietor for a recommendation. FIVE wines reviewed this week, with two excellent, beefy reds from I have also re-visited two Herdade da Mingorra Reserva 2021 (ABV 14.5%) 6 Currently €17.99 on promo @ Molloys Liqour Stores Grapes: Touriga Nacional, Syrah & Alicante Bouschet FROM the family owned Mingorra estate in Portugal's Alentejo region, comes this deep ruby, almost purple palate pleaser. With intense aromas of ripe red and black fruit and dark chocolate, the palate is full-bodied and quite complex, with dark fruit flavours to the fore, good acidity and integrated tannins, with a nice persistent finish. Let wine breathe for 30 minutes for pouring. Enjoy with: Grilled, bone-in pork chop Irish Sun Star rating: *** Herdade da Mingorra Touriga Nacional 2021 (ABV 14.5%) 6 Currently €16.99 on promo @ Molloys Liqour Stores Grape: Touriga Nacional THE backbone of all the great Ports from the Douro, but here a super tantalising, single varietal Touriga. An intense and powerful red wine with a deep garnet colour when poured, with jammy red fruit, blackberry and blueberry aromas. The palate is rich and juicy delivering spicy, black-fruit flavours. Very noticeable firm tannin kick, balanced acidity, and persistent but enjoyable finish. Let wine breathe for 30 minutes for pouring. Enjoy with: Super with roast beef. Irish Sun Star rating: **** Specially Selected Caladoc Rouge 2024 (ABV 14%) 6 €11.99 @ Aldi outlets Grape: Caladoc ONE of the joys of my life is tasting, and then writing about a new wine grape varietal. In this case its Caladoc, a cross between Grenache and Malbec, created in 1958 in Here it produces a deep red wine, with complexity, and a little rusticity. The fruit, grown in the Languedoc, delivers blackcurrant and plum flavours, along with wild herb notes. The palate is juicy and fruit forward with grainy tannins. Nice length and a satisfying finish. Enjoy with: A feast of hard cheese and crusty bread. Irish Sun Star rating: **** Classic Martinolles Gris de Gris 2024 (ABV 12.5%) 6 Currently €11.99 on promo @ Molloys Liqour Stores Grape: Grenache Gris NOW here is something of a rarity, a pinkish-grey mutation of the Grenache grape, with limited plantings in the Languedoc and Roussillon, southern France. A pale salmon pink colour, with a lovely floral bouquet of roses, peach and cherries on the nose. Nice dry, mid-weight, fresh palate, nice acidity, with wisps of raspberry and stone fruit. Refreshing, lingering length. Enjoy with: Smoked haddock or salmon. Irish Sun Star rating: *** THIS WEEK'S MUST TRY BARGAIN BOTTLE UNDER A TENNER OUR promise is to bring Irish Sun wine lovers a taste-tested wine each weekend for under a tenner. The cost of glass, packaging, labelling and transport have sky-rocketed in recent years. So, finding excellent value tipples is getting harder - but we have sourced some great wines and will bring you a super sipper recommendation every weekend. Macedonian Primitivo Kratosija 2023 (ABV 13.5%) 6 €8.99 @ Aldi Outlets Grapes: Kratosija & Primitivo NORTH A blend of the Balkan grape Kratosija and Italy's Primitivo – with very many similarities – has aromas of ripe redcurrants and cherries. The palate is rich and soft, with plum and blackcurrant notes and supple tannins. Deliciously satisfying finish. Enjoy with: Pasta. Irish Sun Star rating: ***
The Irish Sun
19-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Mysterious ‘alien-like' sea creature that can devour prey 3 TIMES its size is found on UK beach
BEACHGOERS are being warned to be on the lookout for a mysterious "alien-like" creature after one was discovered on a UK beach. "Sea mice" are marine worms with a furry appearance that are unlike anything else in the sea and can grow up to six inches long. 1 'Sea mice' are active predators but are often washed ashore A dog walker found one of the strange critters recently on a beach in Wales. They are active predators, hunting small crabs and other worms on the It comes after beachgoers were urged not to pick up cone snails' shells as their venom can cause instant paralysis or even death. While they are not typically harmful to humans, "sea mice", which get their scientific name from Simon Parker recently discovered one of the creatures on a Welsh beach prompting discussion on social media due to its curious appearance. Compared by many to a fossil and even an "alien", the sighting has left many admitting that they had never seen anything quite like it. Simon was left flabbergasted after discovering one of the six-inch long creatures at Pensarn Beach, Conwy, and turned to tech to determine exactly what it was. Uncertain of its identity and intrigued by its green-flashing fringe he used Google Lens to determine it was a sea mouse. Most read in The Sun "I found it at the water's edge just after low tide," he told Wales Online. "Unfortunately it didn't appear to be alive. The sea mouse was approximately five or six inches long with brightly coloured bristles down the sides." Sea mice are not a rare species but their sightings are infrequent, often being washed ashore during stormy weather or left behind by exceptionally low tides. Another of them was located in March on Oxwich beach in Swansea. Mum shares urgent warning for summer beach trips with kids as pal's left in hospital following massive allergic reaction The Wildlife Trusts say the sea mouse is "unlike anything else in the sea". Despite its potential to reach 20cm in length and 6cm in width this intriguing find is in fact a type of Although it has a tendency to bury itself head-first in the sand this creature boasts a remarkable set of skills. Its spines typically have a deep red sheen, serving as a warning to potential predators. However when exposed to light, they flash blue, green, and gold, giving the worm a dazzling, iridescent appearance. This phenomenon, known as pseudo-birefringence, is the only known example of "photonic engineering" in nature, says the WT. The spines process light with nearly 100% efficiency – a necessity in the dimly-lit depths of the sea. Read more on the Irish Sun Some researchers believe that this unique ability could lead to the development of new communication technologies. Beauty and the beast While this creature is technically a marine worm, it is believed that the name "sea mouse" originated from its resemblance to a bedraggled mouse when washed up on shore. Its Latin name, Aphrodita aculeata, is equally peculiar. While aculeata translates to "spiny" the genus name Aphrodita refers to the ancient Greek Goddess of Love – allegedly due to the worm's resemblance to female genitalia. The sea mouse is an active predator that feeds on small crabs and other worms and is capable of consuming prey over three times its own body length. Every now and then they can be seen wriggling across the sand – a sight that invariably unnerves beachgoers.
The Irish Sun
09-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Fat jabs like Ozempic could ‘CURE' binge drinking ‘slashing boozing by two thirds'
FAT jabs like Mounjaro and Wegovy could slash boozing by two-thirds, a study has shown. It's not the first time the 2 You may be less interested in drinking wine if you start using weight loss jabs Credit: Getty 2 The class of GLP-1 medications mimic the action of the natural GLP-1 hormone, which plays a key role in regulating blood sugar levels, appetite, and digestion. They were initially developed to treat Now, anecdotally, people have reported that their desire to drink is slashed once they start GLP-1. The study was led by Professor Carel le Roux, of University College Dublin and presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025). Professor Le Roux said: ' 'Now, the beneficial effects beyond obesity, such as on alcohol intake, are being actively studied, with some promising results.' The team looked at data on the alcohol intake of patients who were being treated for obesity at a clinic in Dublin. It involved 262 adults with a Most read in Health They were prescribed either semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) or liraglutide (Saxenda) for weight loss. Mounjaro is the brand name for another medication, tirzepatide. Thirty-one patients did not drink, 52 rarely drank, and 179 were regular drinkers, based on self reporting. How to save calories when drinking alcohol Some 188 of the 262 patients were followed-up for an average of four months. None of them had increased their alcohol intake. Average alcohol intake decreased from 11.3 That's the equivalent of drinking almost four large glasses of wine to one and a bit. Or, about six or seven pints of beer to roughly two. Even more so, among the regular drinkers, intake decreased from 23.2 units per week to 7.8 units. The reduction of 68 per cent is comparable to that achieved by nalmefene, a drug used to treat alcohol use disorder in Europe, notes Professor le Roux. He adds: 'The exact mechanism of how GLP-1 analogues reduce alcohol intake is still being investigated but it is thought to involve curbing cravings for alcohol that arise in subcortical areas of the brain that are not under conscious control. 'Thus, patients report the effects are 'effortless'.' Alcohol use disorder is a relapsing condition that accounts for 2.6 million deaths a year – 4.7 per cent of all deaths globally. Around one in 20 adults in England are deemed to be heavy drinkers – men who drink more than 50 units a week and women who drink more than 35 units. Deaths from alcohol use at a record high. More than 8,200 people died because of alcohol in 2023 which is 42 per cent higher than in 2019. Treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), therapies that aim to strengthen motivation to stop or reduce drinking and medication can be very successful in the short-term. Read more on the Irish Sun But 70 per cent of patients relapse within the first year, the study authors noted. Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
