I remember the first time I entered a wine store feeling so intimidated. I even pretended to be a snob just so no one would approach me, I ended up not loving how the wine tasted!
Well, there’s no need to pretend now, thanks to Ireland’s wine stores, even those who just turned 18 will be welcomed by friendly and accommodating staff!
So if you’re ready to begin your wine journey, keep on reading!
How we chose:
1. Delas Cotes du Rhone at The Corkscrew Wine Merchants
Consumer Rating: B+
| Google reviews score | 4.4/5 |
| Total reviews | 5/5 |
| Score consistency | 5/5 |
Our Rating: B+
| Affordable wine list | 4.7/5 |
| Proactive staff | 4.5/5 |
| Wine descriptions | 4.8/5 |
| Simple descriptions | 4.8/5 |
| Visual cues for taste profiles | 4.8/5 |
| Sampling | 4.5/5 |
| Miniature bottles | 4.5/5 |
| Sampler variety | 4.5/5 |
First-time wine drinkers can try their Delas Cotes du Rhone from France, perfect for those who like to taste raspberries, black cherries, herbs, licorice and some pepper. Even better, this wine is under €20–no need to break the bank for a first-time purchase!
We also appreciate that the wine store indicates what food matches the wine, which we think is a good guide for beginners.
Another thing that we love is that customers can just buy online if they don’t have the time to go in-store. Their website has all the necessary details, guiding their shoppers on what to buy based on price point, country of origin, or taste notes.
However, it’s worth noting that there were a few cases of delayed deliveries.
Meanwhile, for those shopping in-store, it’s quite commendable that the staff takes their time to share taste profiles and descriptions. They even share back stories about the wine, including wine storage tips, which we love.
The store offers wine tasting, allowing customers to try out different wines and spirits, and answer questions about them too.
On top of that, we love that the staff remembers their clients, including their selection which we think is an added value touch.
The staff makes good recommendations
“Excellent store, with a wide range of premium spirts, wine, and champagne, the store is really well laid out, the staff are super friendly who take their time to go through the products and make recommendations and theres always some products on sample. There’s also a beautiful space downstairs where they carry out wine and spirit tasting.”
Wayne Devlin, Google Review
Fair prices
“High-end wine store, with very good selection (some things you can’t easily get, especially from Australia). Prices are fair, not cheap, but that’s in part because they carry very good wine.”
Bertram Malle, Google Review
2. McLaren Vale Shiraz at Jus de Vine
Consumer Rating: B+
| Google reviews score | 4.8/5 |
| Total reviews | 5/5 |
| Score consistency | 5/5 |
Our Rating: B+
| Affordable wine list | 4.7/5 |
| Proactive staff | 4.5/5 |
| Wine descriptions | 4.8/5 |
| Simple descriptions | 4.8/5 |
| Visual cues for taste profiles | 4.8/5 |
| Sampling | 4.5/5 |
| Miniature bottles | 4.5/5 |
| Sampler variety | 4.5/5 |
One of the beginner-friendly wine stores in Ireland is Jus de Vine. We love going through their wide selection of wines, spirits, craft beers, and whiskeys, making them a convenient one-stop shop before heading to a party.
We love that they cater to every budget, showcasing common wine bottles to rare types.
Customers can also get a good bottle of McLaren Vale Shiraz for just €13.99, a great wine for beginners out there!
What we like about this wine store is that they guide their customers through the sections, educating them about the types of vino to try according to their preferences.
They will also gladly show the customers some bottles hidden at the back!
Even better, they make sure that the clients are happy with the selection even before they check it out at the counter.
We love that we can also purchase good wine glasses and decanters that won’t cost us an arm and a leg. Because of this, we think it’s a great add-on for those who are planning to have wine as a gift.
However, for those who want to purchase online. It’s worth noting that inventory could be limited. Additionally, their website lacks wine details, which won’t appeal to those who would like to begin their wine journey.
Great wine merchandise selection
“Possibly the best wine shop/off license in Ireland and a winner of this title many times! Knowledgeable, friendly staff help guide you through purchasing and enjoying premium wine, whiskeys and craft beers. Their selection of Riedel and other fabulous wine glasses and decanters is second to none. Very good value too”
Damien Peat, Google Review
Impressive client service
“Great shop From the wine/beer selection. To the beautiful cigars. Staff always willing to go the extra mile to get you what you want.top class service and a very professionaly run business. Hats off”
Rob Black, Google Review
3. Mandrarossa Costadune Nero d’Avola at Baggot Street Wines and Spirits
Consumer Rating: B+
| Google reviews score | 4.6/5 |
| Total reviews | 5/5 |
| Score consistency | 5/5 |
Our Rating: B+
| Affordable wine list | 4.7/5 |
| Proactive staff | 4.5/5 |
| Wine descriptions | 4.8/5 |
| Simple descriptions | 4.8/5 |
| Visual cues for taste profiles | 4.8/5 |
| Sampling | 4.5/5 |
| Miniature bottles | 4.5/5 |
| Sampler variety | 4.5/5 |
We love that Baggot Street Wines and Spirits’ staff is knowledgeable enough about each type of wine, allowing them to help out their customers, especially first-time wine drinkers!
The staff would even offer advice if they feel like their clients are a bit doubtful about their purchase.
When it comes to beginner-friendly wines, customers can try the Mandrarossa Costadune Nero d’Avola which only costs €18.95. Meanwhile, wine enthusiasts will surely enjoy their fine wine collection too.
We love that they also have limited-edition wine bottles that aren’t available in other wine stores in the area.
Another thing that we love about this wine store is its great location. We love that we can conveniently go to the city center and purchase our favorite vino bottles.
However, since it’s a busy street, parking can get quite limited in the area. This may be a little challenging, especially for those who wish to buy multiple bottles.
Aside from wine, customers can also get a stock of whiskey, craft beer, and spirits in this shop.
Meanwhile, we love attending wine tastings at Baggot Street Wines and Spirits, allowing customers to try lesser-known labels and boutique brands before they purchase the full bottle.
Accessible location
“Gorgeous wine boutique in a lovely, central location! Love the diversity and variety of wines ordered and now clearly everything is laid out. Such a good selection – perfect for picking up a bottle of something as a treat/gift/for a special occasion but equally good for finding a reasonably priced wine that you know will be of very good quality.”
Ruth Hannah Lally, Google Review
Good range of wines and spirits
“Best place to buy your wines and spirits! I’ve been a customer for the last 3 years and they never disappointed me. The range of wines and spirits is unreal but best thing from all is the customer service. The staff is amazing! They know what they are selling and come with solutions straight away. Always happy to give advices (for those who have doubts on what to buy) I love go there. My fav place to buy my fav wine style: Cabernet Franc 💕🫶🏼❤️ you guys are amazing!”
Camila Eceiza Petroni, Google Review
4. Alves de Sousa Caldas Tinto at Celtic Whiskey Shop & Wines
Consumer Rating: B+
| Google reviews score | 4.7/5 |
| Total reviews | 5/5 |
| Score consistency | 5/5 |
Our Rating: B+
| Affordable wine list | 4.7/5 |
| Proactive staff | 4.5/5 |
| Wine descriptions | 4.8/5 |
| Simple descriptions | 4.8/5 |
| Visual cues for taste profiles | 4.8/5 |
| Sampling | 4.5/5 |
| Miniature bottles | 4.5/5 |
| Sampler variety | 4.5/5 |
Since 2003, Celtic Whiskey Shop & Wines has been a home to wine and whiskey lovers in Ireland.
We love how specific their staff can get when it comes to recommendations. They would carefully listen to our preferences, and would even ask about our usual wine pairings before they suggest a bottle.
On top of that, we never felt rushed. Their staff allows us to take our time in deciding which vino to buy.
When it comes to their inventory, we love that even popular wines are well-stocked, allowing us to buy our favorites every time we visit the store.
Meanwhile, those who are first-time wine drinkers can also enjoy their budget-friendly selection. One good wine recommendation that’s under €20 is the Alves de Sousa Caldas Tinto, a rich blend of dark fruits and chocolate, perfect for a charcuterie night!
We’re quite impressed that this wine store can offer their customers personalized wine bottles. They even have those miniature bottles, perfect for when we need to buy thoughtful gifts!
What’s great about this wine shop is that its website has enough information about its wines and spirits. Because of this, clients can conveniently shop wherever they are without second-guessing their purchase.
Offers miniature bottles
“Such a great place to buy the minis. In fact, it’s the only place that we found in all of our Ireland and distillery tours. We won the hop on tour when we found it. Came to Ireland with pubculturebeercations.com. Which was a super good tour.”
Carrie Jeske, Google Review
Can arrange international shipping
“Incredible shop with an impressive selection.it was hard to stop grabbing bottles to buy! They do international shipping as well so when I’m back home I’ll definitely be buying a lot more!”
Andrew Oliver, Google Review
5. Feudo Arancio Nero D’Avola at Mitchell & Son Wine Merchants
Consumer Rating: B+
| Google reviews score | 4.4/5 |
| Total reviews | 5/5 |
| Score consistency | 5/5 |
Our Rating: B+
| Affordable wine list | 4.7/5 |
| Proactive staff | 4.5/5 |
| Wine descriptions | 4.8/5 |
| Simple descriptions | 4.8/5 |
| Visual cues for taste profiles | 4.8/5 |
| Sampling | 4.5/5 |
| Miniature bottles | 4.5/5 |
| Sampler variety | 4.5/5 |
Mitchell & Son Wine Merchants has been in the family business of wines and spirits for over 200 years, which explains the growing loyal clientele in Ireland.
This also tells us why they have a wide selection of wines across regions, including vintage and rare collections that are appealing to collectors.
Even with their years of experience, we admire them for making an effort to create a friendly website, allowing them to tap the new generations of wine drinkers. They even have wines below €20 such as the Feudo Arancio Nero D’Avola.
They also provide customized hampers, great for giving gifts on any occasion. We like that companies also love tapping this wine store for corporate events because of this service.
On top of that, we love that we can conveniently order online. Even better, they’re known for their fast delivery, making them a reliable choice for immediate wine needs.
When it comes to shopping in-store, we love how their staff remains friendly and helpful, gladly assisting clients and giving them recommendations of which wine to choose, which is perfect for beginners.
We also love attending Mitchell & Son’s wine-tasting events as they normally do it in a more relaxed setting, which is less intimidating to first-timers.
Fast delivery
“I recenbtly purchased a half case of Château Lagrange Lussac-Saint-Emilion and the order was promptly delivered and I was very happy with the service. 5/5 will use them again.”
Robert McKenna, Google Review
Friendly website
“Would definitely recommend this business- great website- great selection of wines, super fast delivery- well packaged.”
Fiona MDonovan, Google Review