John Mc Grath caught the wine bug, when he moved to France in 1991, on completion of his Business Studies Degree.
He lived and worked there for the next 3 years, spending his free-time tasting and travelling around the vineyard areas.
Trips to the Rhone Valley, Languedoc, Bordeaux, Burgundy and The Loire gave him a serious passion and interest in good French wine and food.
His very good friend and early mentor in wine was Jean-Paul Rieu, a French Country Doctor and total gentleman who opened John’s eyes to the quality of good Cotes du Rhone, Saint Emilion and Cahors.
Jean Paul’s charming and wonderful wife Annie Rieu also played a huge role in teaching John how to speak French (an invaluable tool in dealing with the winemakers) and how to tell the difference between all the different cheeses of the local region Auvergne!

On returning to Ireland, several stone heavier and several Wine Appreciation courses later, he decided to take the plunge and change trades, moving from the Tile Business to the Wine Business. Special mention and thanks to Richard Ecock (now Principle Wine Buyer with Dunnes Stores) for all his help starting John in the Wine Trade in Ireland.

He spent several years learning the Wine Trade with some well-established and well-loved wine merchants in Dublin (O’Briens and Searsons) and also managed a successful, independent wine shop in Dublin city centre.

During this time he successfully passed the Certificate, Higher Certificate and Diploma Wine Courses from The Wine and Spirit Education Trust.

Founding Nectar Wines with his friend Carl Byrne in 2000 (they met while studying French and Business in Business College) they set about bringing some new and exciting wines, from boutique, small-batch producers, to the Irish Wine Market.

Carl Byrne hails from Glenealy, Co. Wicklow and spent his early years helping out in the Family Business, Ballyknocken Guesthouse and Cookery School. Showing a flair and interest for all things culinary from an early age (he has great scone and breadmaking skills!) he helped out for many years in the family restaurant and over time gained a great interest and love for wine.

Carl met John while studying Business in college and they became good buddies, sampling Guinness and talking football, in various hostelries around Dublin 6.
At this time they spent two years learning Business French and both gained a qualification from Le Chambre de Commerce de Paris.

On completion of his Business Studies Degree Carl spent several years in Greece and Germany travelling and tasting as he went.
On returning to Ireland his dream of developing his own business began to take shape and he teamed up with John to form Nectar Wines.

Carl then successfully passed the Certificate and Higher Certificate Wine exams with The Wine and Spirit Education Trust.

With eighteen years Wine Trade experience between them John and Carl make a formidable tasting team.

Their first exciting wine discovery was Mas de Libian an excellent, organic Cotes du Rhone made by Helene Thibon, an estate which has gone from strength to strength in the years and vintages since. Mas de Libian wines have been written up many times in the Wine Press,in The Irish Times by Mary Dowey and in The Best of Wine in Ireland Guide by John Wilson. The wines were also selected to be served at the Closing Ceremony of The French Film Festival in Dublin, in recent years.

Other great wines of the Rhone Valley followed:
Domaine de Fontavin Chateauneuf du Pape – wines of Helene Chouvet
Domaine Les Bruyeres Crozes Hermitage – wines of David Reynaud
Domaine Les Terrasses d’Eole Cotes du Ventoux – wines of Stephane Saurel

Then after trips to Burgundy:
Domaine Chene Macon and St. Veran – wines of Cedric Chene
Domaine Metrat Fleurie and Chiroubles – wines of Bernard Metrat
Chablis – wines of Jean Claude Bessin

And the Languedoc:
Mas Laval – wines of Joel Laval in Aniane
Domaine Aimé Minervois – wines of Remi Bonnet

Tour of the Loire Valley:
Domaine Raimbault Sancerre – wines of Didier and Isabelle Raimbault

Bordeaux:
Chateau Laussac AC Bordeaux
Chateau Les Cabannes St. Emilion

After tasting trips to Spain:
Tobelos Rioja – La Rioja Alta
Bodegas Costers del Sio – Costers del Segre

And wine tours in Italy:
Castello del Trebbio Chianti – wines of Anna and Stefano in Tuscany
Tenuta Casadei – wines from Southern Tuscany in the Maremma area
Ca’ Lojera Lugana – wines of the Tiraboschi family near Lake Garda
Olianas – wines from Sardinia

In recent years the guys have made some fantastic discoveries
in top-drop Australian wine:

Millbrook – Western Australia
Barking Owl - Western Australia

They were delighted to land the agency for the “cult” wines of Troy Kalleske
(recent winemaker of the Year in the Barossa)

Kalleske – Barossa Valley – wines of Troy Kalleske
Pirathon – Barossa Valley – wines of Troy Kalleske

Red Nectar – Barossa Valley – wines of Tammy Schutz

Lakes Folly – Hunter Valley

In 2005 the guys opened their award-winning, wine retail shop(Bridgestone Guide 2007 and 2008)  in Sandyford Village,to work along with their core business as wineimporters and wholesalers and provide them with a showroom and window to the wine world.

Ideas and plans for the future include expanding their list of direct wine imports, developing an online wine store and opening further wine shops…

…the only definite is that they will follow their noses in search of exciting wines!