Northern Ireland Wine and Spirit Institute (NIWSI)

Next Tasting:

Tuesday 13 January - 8:00 pm: Favourites Old and New with Michael Mulgrew and Jonathan McCarthy

Come and enjoy some great company and same favourite wines to get the new year rolling. Michael Mulgrew transformed a passion for wine into a business when he opened the Wine Rack in Stewartstown, Co Tyrone, in 2005. Over 20 years Michael has developed lasting
relationships with many producers from whom he buys direct.

Johnny McCarthy was introduced to wine by his father-in-law with a bottle of 1990 Leoville-Barton. He gave up corporate life to work full time at the Wine Rack and holds the WSET Diploma, as well as being a Gérard Basset Foundation scholar. Come and enjoy some great company and same favourite wines to get the new year rolling.

Members: £25 Guests: £40

Upcoming Tastings in 2026:

10 February: Wines of Lanzarote with Sinead Germaine Smyth
10 March: Wines of South Africa with Matthew Nugent
14 April: Brandy & Things with Peter Morris Wilson Dip. WSET
May date TBC: Niagara Canada winemaker
18 June: Tasting with our President Anne McHale
8 September: TBC
18 October: TBC
19 November: Beaujolais
8 December: Festive tasting

Sorry, registration has ended.

Join us this festive season for our last tasting of the calendar year as we take journey into the wonderful world of sparkling wine! This year, we’re adding a twist — all wines will be tasted blind, challenging your senses as we explore the character and charm of sparkling styles from across the globe. Our guide for the evening is Caron, who discovered her passion for wine through social enjoyment before diving deeper into study during lockdown. Since then, she has progressed through the WSET levels and is now nearing completion of her Diploma, all while being an enthusiastic and active member of our Institute. Caron will be joined by long-time Institute member and Secretary Lisa, as together they lead us on a sparkling journey around the world. So come along, share some fizz, fun, and festive cheer — and don’t forget to wear a bit of sparkle for the evening! Let us know you can attend by emailing niwsisecretary@yahoo.co.ukRead More

Date:12/09/2025 07:30 PM - 12/09/2025 10:00 PM
Location 20 Talbot St, Belfast BT1 2LD, UK (Map)
More Info:Ramada by Wyndham Belfast City Centre

Past Events

Title	Date	Day	Location	Tickets
Greek Wines	11 Nov 2025	Tuesday	20 Talbot Street, Belfast, UK	Closed
Sustainable Wines with Delaney Sheridan, Sustainable Wine Roundtable	30 Sep 2025	Tuesday	20 Talbot St, Belfast BT1 2LD, UK	Closed
Walkaround Tasting - Wines of the World	16 Sep 2025	Tuesday	20 Talbot St, Belfast BT1 2LD, UK	Closed
Wines of Alsace with Master of Wine Anne McHale	19 Jun 2025	Thursday	Ramada by Wyndham, Talbot Street, Belfast	Closed
Oz Sercan Vatansever of Ox, Belfast	06 May 2025	Tuesday	Ramada by Wyndham, Talbot Street, Belfast	Closed
Iberian Wine with Jeremy Shaw	08 Apr 2025	Tuesday	Ramada by Wyndham, Talbot Street, Belfast	Closed
A journey through German wine	11 Mar 2025	Tuesday	Ramada by Wyndham, Talbot Street, Belfast	Closed
Wines from the Thracian Lowlands of Bulgaria	11 Feb 2025	Tuesday	Ramada by Wyndham, Talbot Street, Belfast	Closed
Christmas Tasting	10 Dec 2024	Tuesday	Ramada by Wyndham, Talbot Street, Belfast	Closed
Committee Favourites	12 Nov 2024	Tuesday	Ramada by Wyndham, Talbot Street, Belfast

The Northern Ireland Wine & Spirits Institute (NIWSI) is a not-for-profit group of wine enthusiasts who are serious about wine. Our monthly wine tastings are hosted by wine experts and special guests, on a range of topics. We welcome anyone who is curious about wine.

Tastings are held at the Ramada by Wyndham, Belfast City Centre. If you'd like to attend a tasting or join the Institute, contact: NIWSIsecretary@yahoo.co.uk. Our event and membership fees go directly into providing the best and most exciting wines for our members.

The Institute was founded in November 1979, at a meeting in the Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast and originally named the Northern Ireland Wine & Spirit Education Trust Association. The name was later changed to avoid confusion with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET).

Annual Membership

Membership runs from January to December £70 for the year, or £60 if paid before the year starts £35 from June WSET students currently enrolled save 50%

Tastings

Members save £15 off the price of tastings. Access member-only special events including the Annual Dinner, AGM, Enniskillen wine weekend and Wine Study Trip abroad.

Discounts

NIWSI members save 15% at Direct Wine Shipments in Belfast https://www.directwineshipments.com/

Anne McHale

President

Anne, originally from Belfast, is an award-winning Master of Wine. She took first class honours in French and Classics at Cambridge, discovered the delights of wine while studying in France, and joined the wine trade. We are honoured to have her as our President.

Richard Lee

Vice President

Richard took his level 4 WSET exam (Diploma) with the WSET in London before moving to Northern Ireland in 2014 and joining the Institute. He loves organising wine trips for members. The most recent trip was to France in summer 2025.

Alastair Bell

Vice President

Alastair's name is synonymous with the Institute, and indeed, with wine education in Northern Ireland. He is a member of the Association of Wine Educators and has been a member of the Institute since its inception in 1979. Alastair has a fine cellar. He particularly enjoys the wine of the Loire.