Northern Ireland Wine and Spirit Institute (NIWSI)
2026 Tastings
14 April: Brandy & Things with Peter Morris Wilson Dip. WSET
13 May: Canadian winemaker Thomas Bachelder
18 June: Tasting with our President, Master of Wine Anne McHale
8 September: TBC
18 October: TBC
19 November: Beaujolais
8 December: Festive tasting
Follow us on instagram or facebook. If you'd like to attend our tastings as a guest, or to become a member contact niwsisecretary@yahoo.co.uk.
Tastings take place at the Ramada by Wyndham Belfast City Centre, 20 Talbot St.
Next Tasting
Matthew Nugent has been a wine critic and educator for 25 years. He's written for the Dublin Evening Herald for more than a decade, the Irish Daily Mail and the Irish Sun. His popular, down-to earth and approachable style of writing has won him many admirers.
Matthew has travelled the world to visit vineyards, meet winemakers and taste their wines. Over the past five years, Matthew has fallen head over heels in love with the wines, geography, and people of South Africa. Join us as we taste some wonderful wines that Matthew has selected and learn more about the varied wine regions of South Africa.
Members: £20
Guests: £35
Ramada by Wyndham Hotel, 20 Talbot St, Belfast
About the Institute
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).
Member Benefits
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/
Our Committee
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.
Dennis Ensing
Chair
Karla Amirault
Vice Chair
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, completing his Diploma in 1994. He and his wife Mildred have been members since 1991. Alastair has a fine cellar and particularly enjoys the wine of the Loire.
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.
Lisa Wilson
Secretary
Paul Kavanagh
Treasurer
Joe McGlade
Member
Caron Cullen
Member
Past Tastings
Sinead holds a BA in Culinary Arts from Dublin Institute of Technology and is Chair of Wine Spirit Women Ireland as well as a freelance wine consultant working with several wine companies in Dublin and beyond and recently became an Ambassador for Wines of Lanzarote.
She is a great enthusiast for all things wine and in particular for these wonderful wines from the “moonscape” vineyards of sunny Lanzarote where we will taste a range from Sparkling, to mineral driven Malvasia whites, fruity reds and exquisite sweeties. Bring your parasols, sunhats and after-sun cream and expect to have your tastebuds tantilised.
Members: £35 Guests: £45, Ramada by Wyndham Hotel, 20 Talbot St, Belfast
