Europe's harvest season may evoke wines, but Ireland's special drinks have their own distinctive flavor. Across the island, vineyards, orchards, distilleries, and breweries invite visitors to meet the makers and savor every sip.
Ireland's wine scene is small, but growing fast. County Wicklow’s Wicklow Way Wines offers guided tours and tastings of its Móinéir wines, handcrafted from Irish berries. Dublin's Lusca Vineyard’s private tours with winemaker David Llewellyn explore grape growing in the Irish climate, followed by tastings of wine, perry, and cider.
In County Wexford, The Old Roots invites visitors into Ireland's largest vineyard for expert-led tours exploring its vines and wines. On to County Waterford, Viking Irish Drinks leads tours through its organic vineyard and orchards, followed by tastings of wine, pét-nat, and cider, with local cheese and bread.
Ireland's wine scene is evolving and continues to grow, yet whiskey is at the heart of the island's beverage story. In Dublin's Liberties, Teeling Whiskey Distillery offers guided tours and tastings behind the scenes. In County Cork, the Midleton Distillery Experience follows whiskey's journey from grain to glass, while the historic Kilbeggan Distillery in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands brings centuries of whiskey-making history to life.
Ireland's craft drinks scene continues to flourish. In County Kilkenny, Highbank Organic Orchards combines orchard tours with tastings at its tiny distillery. Guided tours and tastings are offered nearby at Ballykeefe Distillery’s field-to-glass distillery; in County Kerry at Dingle Distillery, which explains how its whiskey, gin and vodka are made. Craft beer lovers can tour Rascals Brewing Company in Dublin or sample Galway Bay Brewery beers at its Galway bars, including Oslo and The Salt House.
Northern Ireland's heritage is equally rich. On the Causeway Coast, Old Bushmills Distillery shares more than 400 years of whiskey-making through guided tours and tastings. In County Down, Echlinville Distillery takes visitors from field to glass on tours exploring the barley, stills and skills behind its spirits. In Derry~Londonderry, Walled City Brewery serves locally brewed craft beer alongside seasonal food, with tasting experiences offering a flavor of the city's thriving food and drink scene.
Gin lovers can continue the journey at Rademon Estate Distillery, home of Shortcross Gin, where tours introduce visitors to locally foraged botanicals before a guided tasting. In County Fermanagh, Boatyard Distillery's Taste & Tour takes visitors behind the scenes to discover how its spirits are made before a guided tasting.
Harvest season shines in County Armagh: tour Long Meadow Cider’s family orchards and taste its award-winning cider. Time your visit for the Armagh Food and Cider Weekend, when the region celebrates its famous orchards with tastings, tours and seasonal food and drink experiences.
Ready to raise a glass across Ireland? Start planning your journey!
