At this temple to superb wine in the old Silver Tassie venue, wine industry veteran David Whelehan has assembled a seriously impressive team around him – including Martina Delaney, who garnered many admirers during her tenure as sommelier in l’Ecrivain. Located just off the N11, this all-day emporium is well worth the small detour when passing or indeed a special trip of its own.
The spacious store has been laid out to ensure that browsing is a pleasurable process for every level of wine lover: explanations are engaging and accessible, and the wines themselves are a delight, with some interesting representations from many of Ireland’s best importers alongside Whelehan’s exclusive imports directly from small wineries they know and love, alongside a well-curated selection from Irish craft beer and cider producers.
Staff such as Wine Store Manager Gavin Watchorn are happy to share their considerable knowledge, and always have various bottles open for tasting – worth the stop-off alone!
The excellent café at Whelehans was a destination in itself but, after it became a victim of the pandemic, a lively new restaurant Eleven (see entry) has opened upstairs and is operated independently by John Farrell of popular Dublin restaurants Dillingers, The Butcher Grill, 777 and Amy Austin.
On the wine side, education is key and the tasting events that are a highlight of the superb Whelehans’experience continue, and there's a Tasting Bar on Fidays and Saturdays (free to join and no reservations required). Also for those with a serious and/or professional interest, they operate the globally recognised 'WSET' Level 2 and Level 3 Award in Wines courses.
Since its 2014 opening, Whelehans has become a local favourite for wine lovers but its accessibility just off the M50 also makes it a smart choice for a jaunt, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.
