Ard Bia Café Restaurant, Spanish Arch, Galway.

Ard Bia Café Restaurant, Spanish Arch, Galway. To kick start my review of restaurant wine lists I met with Aoibheann and Patrick proprietors of Ard Bia. Ard Bia a multi award winning restaurant located in the picturesque Spanish Arch in Galway. Along with its sister restaurant Nimmos on the pier they have been treating Galway patrons to high quality food for a number of years now.

Having recently overhauled their wine list, a task they complete twice yearly with minor amendments in between depending on availability, I was hugely interested in seeing what Aoibheann and Patrick had chosen. With Patrick's background as a wine buyer for Harvey Nicholls in London, and Aoibheann vast knowledge of food and wine I was anticipating great things - I wasn't disappointed.

In line with the ethos of the restaurant, the wine list is fresh, vibrant, and up to date with current wine trends. With the help of some of the best wine distributors in Ireland - Sheridan's Cheesemongers [fantastic Italian wines], Simon Tyrell [of Tyrell's wines whose knowledge of the Rhone Valley and French wines is encyclopaedic], and Wines Direct [exciting new world selections], they have created a truly fascinating wine list with something for everyone.

I really believe that you can learn a lot about a restaurant by its choice of House Wines. The ability to source a wine that is interesting, affordable and can be matched with a large variety of foods is a challenging task. This is something that Aoibheann and Patrick also feel very strongly about. The D'Orsaria Friulano [house white] and Merlot [house red] from Northern Italy comfortably cover all the bases on this front. Both wines are fresh, inviting, fun, and easy drink. Strutting along that fine line of party pleaser and wine geek appeaser. Both wines are competitively priced [€20 a bottle is amazingly good value] with the gulf in quality versus the standard new world offerings at this price astounding.

Pressecco is hugely popular across the wine world, due to its ability to deliver quality sparkling wine at competitive prices. Should you feel like starting your evening with a glass of bubbles, you are well catered for in the small but sufficient Champagne and Sparkling wine section of the wine list. Both Presseccos on the list offer fun fizz at decent prices [€32 and €43 respectively], with the Bianca Vigna also available by the glass [€7.50]. If you are feeling flush, or on a company night out, the consistently solid Henriot offers a reliable alternative.

The White wine side of the list offers a huge choice in terms of wine regions, styles, and varietals. Covering grapes from Chenin Blanc to Viognier there is something here for everyone. If there was to be an overall theme to the wine side of the list it would have to be fresh, crisp, dry, Old World whites. The new world fan might be a little confused and concerned with just two New World options, the hugely popular Paddy Borthwick Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Gris from Mount Difficulty,. However fear not, as the Old World selections are all solid performers with one of Patrick's current favourites being the Gavi di Gavi Brogila 2007 a lovely fresh, crisp, citrus, white from Piedmont in Northern Italy. It would be fair to say that all you "Anything but Chardonnay" fans are well and truly spoilt for choice, but Chardonnay lovers worry not there are some quality Chablis, Macon, and Montrachet wines to keep you happy.

On the Red wine side of the wine list, there is a clear French and Italian influence. For the New World fan there are some more options here with Australian Shiraz [Coriole Diva 2004], New Zealand Pinot Noir [Roaring Meg 2006] and a grape that I particularly enjoy Argentinean Malbec [Crois 2007] providing good accompaniment for the meatier style dishes that the restaurant offers. Old World Fans are truly spoilt for choice, with some excellent Cotes du Rhone, Crozes Hermitage, Rioja, Chianti, and Barolos all available again with reasonable corkage markups.

Overall I was hugely impressed with the wine list that Ard Bia have put together. The attention to detail, passion and knowledge of food and wine really comes through. The wine list is fresh, vibrant and innovative a fact mirroring the style of the restaurant. The ability to combine a list of up and coming varietals with solid bankers is fantastic, I love being able to order what I am going to eat based on the wines that I fancy on the list.

Robertfranciswine Recommendations from the wine list at Ard Bia:

White:

House White: D'orsaria Friulano - absolute must try, if you haven't already. Any seafood or salads will go great with this wine.

Paddy Borthwick Sauvignon Blanc - Sauvignon Blanc fans will not be disappointed with this Sauvignon from the up and coming region of Wairarapa on the south tip of the North Island of New Zealand. Gooseberry, tropical fruit and crisp acidity exactly what we know and love from our Kiwi mates.

For that little something different why not try the Viognier "Rosine" from Michel et Stephane Ogier - stone fruits, lemon, honey and vanilla with good acidity. Would be great with a nice piece of cod or pork.

Red:

House Red: D'orsaria Merlot - solid red wine. Juicy red berry fruit and good acidity go well with most lighter dishes or as a one bottle covers all at a work night out.

Crozes Hermitage, Domaine Yann Chave 2006 - really well made red wine from one of the most consistent wine appellations in the Rhone Valley. Lovely spicy syrah with really good aromatics - great choice for those meatier dishes on the menu.

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo "Colle Morino" Barba 2006 - lovely cherry and blackberry fruit to this wine. Good acidity with a touch of spice on the finish. A lovely medium bodied bottle of wine for with pork, chicken, or veal dishes.