Northern Ireland Wine and Spirit Institute
About
We have monthly wine tastings - and occasionally spirit tastings - at the Ramada by Wyndham, Belfast City Centre. You don't have to be a member to attend our tastings, and you don't have to know much about wine. We love to welcome new members and we encourage them to learn more, and even to study for qualifications certified by the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) the largest global provider of wine education.
What makes us so special is that we're not for profit so all of our membership and tasting fees go directly into providing the best and most exciting wines for those attending our tastings to experience.
If you would like to attend a tasting, all are welcome.
Our latest tastings are all available to view and book on the events section of this website.
Adventures in wine
We host regular, usually monthly, tastings led by experts – Masters of Wine, importers, growers, wine educators.
You can see our upcoming events here - keep an eye on our social media for full details and to purchase tickets.
We have occasional tastings of spirits, and visits to distilleries.
Watch out for special events throughout the year including our gala dinner and European wine tasting trip.
To join NIWSI, please email niwsisecretary@yahoo.co.uk
Or you can just come to one of our tastings - listed under EVENTS on this website - and sign up on the night. We love to welcome new members.
Tastings & Events
Blog
The Institute
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.
Richard Lee
Chairperson
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 next one, 2023, is to Germany.
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.
Committee
Vice Chair - Dennis Ensing Vice President - Tim Hughes Vice President - Susan Rees Secretary - Lisa Wilson Treasurer - Paul Kavanagh Members - Joe McGlade, Róisín Lee