Irish wine
Small-scale viticulture in Ireland's cool, favourable south and east.
Irish wine comes from a handful of vineyards, mostly in the south and east, where the climate works best. The industry is still small, but it’s expanding, and the European Commission now lists Ireland as an emerging wine producer.
Wine first reached Ireland with the Celts, likely from Greece; pottery stained with wine has been found at sites dating back to 500 BC. Early attempts to grow grapes for wine include a 5th-century vineyard planted by monks at a monastery in County Kilkenny, later a Cistercian house, and other monastic communities followed suit, making their own wine. In 731, Bede wrote that Ireland had “no want of vines,” but Gerald of Wales contradicted this in the 12th century, claiming Ireland never had vines—though he noted plenty of imported wine, especially from Poitou.
Grape varieties that suit the Irish climate include red Rondo and white Madeleine Angevine. Besides grapes, berries such as strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are also used to make wine in Ireland.
- Field
- Viticulture and winemaking
- Nationality
- Irish
- Known for
- Small-scale wine production in a cool climate
- Key grape varieties
- Rondo (red) and Madeleine Angevine (white)
- Other wines
- Berry wines from strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries
Lore & Background
The Celts first introduced wine to Ireland, likely of Greek origin, with wine-stained pottery found at archaeological sites dating to 500 BC. Records show attempts to cultivate vines for wine production as early as the 5th century, when monks at a later Cistercian monastery in County Kilkenny planted a vineyard, followed by other monastic communities. In his Ecclesiastical History of the English People (AD 731), Bede described Ireland as not lacking vines, but this was contradicted in the 12th century by Gerald of Wales, who said Ireland had never had any vines, though he noted abundant imported wine and identified Poitou as a major exporter to Ireland.
Reader's Guide
Irish wine occupies a niche but growing position in European viticulture. The industry is small-scale, concentrated in the south and east where the climate is most favourable, and is recognised by the European Commission as an emerging wine-producer. Grape varieties suited to the climate include the red Rondo and the white Madeleine Angevine. In addition to grape wines, berry wines made from strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are also produced. The historical record contains conflicting accounts: Bede in the 8th century claimed Ireland had vines, while Gerald of Wales in the 12th century denied this, though he acknowledged substantial wine imports from Poitou. This tension reflects the long but intermittent tradition of viticulture in Ireland, which today is experiencing renewed growth.
Did You Know?
- Wine-stained pottery from 500 BC suggests the Celts introduced wine to Ireland, likely of Greek origin.
- Bede wrote in AD 731 that Ireland had no want of vines, but Gerald of Wales in the 12th century said Ireland had never had any vines.
- Berry wines in Ireland are made from strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries.
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