WEALTH November 7, 2026 0 Comments

Why Irish Wine’s Unexpected Boom Could Be Your Next Untapped Investment Goldmine

Irish wine? Sounds like an oxymoron, right? But hang tight—this isn’t just some quirky notion tossed around by hopefuls. We’re talking about around 40 vineyards budding across Ireland—from Dublin to Kerry—with a handful officially licensed to sell commercially. Imagine that. The Emerald Isle, famed for its rain and peat, turning heads as a legit wine producer. Let me tell you, this journey isn’t overnight. It’s rooted in history, with monks tending vines in the 5th century and the legendary Wine Geese who spread Irish winemaking abroad centuries ago. Fast forward to today, and a new Irish wine wave is quietly rising, fueled by modern pioneers experimenting with grape varieties that can actually thrive in our wild, often rude climate. Sure, climate change is a bitter pill, but it’s gifted us a warmer soil to grow something genuinely Irish. The scene is tight-knit, learning as we go, cutting through controversies, and setting the ground rules. It’s raw and real—an emerging market shaking off old assumptions and pouring new potential into every bottle. Curious about what’s actually good out there? Trust me, you’ll want to delve deeper. LEARN MORE

Have you heard of Irish wine? Stay with me here… There are now around 40-odd vineyards located in counties including Dublin, Wexford, Offaly, Mayo and Kerry, with five licensed for commercial growing. The rest are categorised for personal use, but we could see them expand as the Irish wine game grows legs, writes Jordan Murphy.

While Ireland has a long history of beverage creation, you might assume that we have no real experience with wine creation — which would be technically incorrect. In fact, there are records of monks looking after vines here as far back as the 5th century.

Irish emigrants who moved overseas during the 16th and 17th centuries were known as the Wine Geese and played a crucial role in establishing vineyards around the world, particularly in France.

On our own shores the conception of Ireland’s new wine revolution is much more recent, only beginning in the 1990s.

David Llewllyn spent time abroad to learn more about winemaking before founding Lusca Vineyard in Dublin in 1999. The first bottle made from his own vine was sold in 2005, with red wine becoming a focus eight years later.

His 2018 foray into sparkling wine was one of Llewllyn’s most popular releases and today accounts for about 75 per cent of the 150 cases of wine he produces yearly. A true small producer, Lllewllyn was perhaps slightly ahead of the game here and this allowed him to become a prominent voice in the sector. It is a tightly knit community of people who know each other well, offering assistance and advice where needed.

A lot of that advice has centred on the type of grapes that can be grown here. While our neighbours in England have been able to grow well-known varieties such as chardonnay and pinot noir, we’ve seen much more success with solaris, rondo and madeleine angevine.

Much of the difficulty in growing certain types of grapes here is caused by our climate and soil. With cold temperatures, limited sunshine, lots of wind, and sheets of rain, Irish weather isn’t exactly encouraging grapes to grow — and that’s before you consider our generally peaty soil, which grapes absolutely hate.

However, growers have found suitable pockets of land all around the country and started to experiment with grapes. Just 10 years ago, we would have really struggled with temperature and sunshine here.

But climate change has made it much warmer in Ireland, hugely benefiting the sector. While global warming is absolutely terrible, it is a massive factor in how our climate is now allowing grapes to thrive.

The European Commission officially designated Ireland as a wine-producing country in 2023, meaning they recognise the potential to be found in this sector.

As it’s a developing area, the producers we have right now are the ones creating the parameters and rules around Irish wine, without much oversight like you might see in other European countries.

This led to a recent controversy involving Fairy Trees Winery, based in Co Louth, after it was revealed their ‘Irish wine’ was not made with wholly Irish grapes — 25 per cent of those used in the company’s blended wines were actually imported from France. The backlash against Fairy Trees Winery was swift.

Distributors dropped the wine and other makers decried its deceit. The winery has since been sold, but the controversy raised a good point — how we proceed with Irish wine, from growing to labelling, selling and beyond, will create a precedent as we see more and more of it appear.

I am very much looking forward to the creativity and growth we’re about to see in the drinks industry. Here are three Irish recommendations to try this month.

Wines of the Month

Lusca Vineyard Rondo, Lusk, 12.5 per cent ABV

Lusca’s Rondo shares wonderful notes of dark fruits such as cherry and blackberry on the nose, followed by a medium-bodied sip with a lovely mouth feel and plummy finish. With its hint of spice, it’ll be a gorgeous addition to your range of winter tipples. Priced from €60, available at Wineonline.ie, Lusca Vineyards, Celtic Whiskey Shop, The Wine Centre.

Móinéir Irish Blackberry Wine by Wicklow Way Wines, Wicklow, 11 per cent ABV

This family-owned company takes a different tack by applying wine-making methods to Irish berries instead of grapes. Made with blackberries and locally foraged elderberries, this bottle has layers of spice along with its intense fruitiness. Wonderful as this is, try mixing it with tonic for a spritz or serving alongside venison for a true taste of autumn. Priced from €27.95, available at Wicklow Way Wines, Mitchell & Son, DrinkStore, Celtic Whiskey Shop.

Spirit of the Month

Micil Irish Gin, Galway, 42 per cent ABV

Made using wild flowers and herbs from Connemara, including bog myrtle, hawthorn and hawberry, Micil Irish Gin is an award-winning spirit that’s rich in flavour. You’ll find citrus on the nose, light spice and juniper on the palate, and a long, silky finish. Priced from €42, available from Micil Distillery, Carry Out Killarney, Bradley’s Off-Licence, Sweeney’s D3.