Lynne Coyle Master of Wine | O'Briens Wine Director
With over 1,000 wines on our shelves, knowing which bottle to buy next can be confusing, so we designed the O’Briens Wine Compass to help you navigate the wonderful world of wine. It makes it easy to discover something new with the flavour characters you know you like.
We have condensed all of our white and red wines into six simple categories that each share common characteristics. For example, if you love a refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, we know you’ll love Albariño Contrapunto; it's fine and fruity with a pleasant floral note.
Keep an eye out for our Wine Compass in store and online the next time you’re looking for something new to try. Here's how it works:
Dry Refreshing White
Flavour Profile: Green Apple / Green Pear / Lemon / Lime / Greengage / Honeydew Melon
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These are dry wines with a moderate aroma profile and light-to-medium body. They’re easy to enjoy, with refreshing acidity and good primary fruit flavours and no significant oak influence.
Aromatic Fruity White
Flavour Profile: Grapefruit / Red Apple / Apple Blossom / Bell Pepper/ Basil / Gooseberry
These wines have powerful aromatic profiles, with a heady bouquet of fruit, flowers or herbs. The aromas come from natural compounds in the grape variety and this fruity style of wine can be found in dry and off-dry styles.
SHOP THE COLLECTION HERERich Lucious White
Flavour Profile: Honey / Mango / Buttered Toast / Quince / Pineapple / Lemon
The most full-bodied and richly textured dry white wines, many will have a significant influence from the winemaker such as oak fermentation, barrel ageing and extended lees contact giving a luscious mouthfeel.
SHOP THE COLLECTION HEREJuicy Lively Red
Flavour Profile: Raspberry / Strawberry / Red Currant / Cranberry / Lavender / Nutmeg
Lighter in tannin and body, usually with noticeable fresh acidity and bright juicy fruit flavours, these lively wines are generally from cooler climates. They don’t have a heavy oak influence and are often made to be drunk young.
SHOP THE COLLECTION NOWSmooth Supple Red
Flavour Profile: Blackberry / Cherry / Blueberry / Thyme / Vanilla / Nutmeg
These medium-bodied red wines, are darker in colour with moderate tannin levels and soft, smooth, supple fruit flavours that tend to lean towards darker fruits. They will often express some subtle use of oak.
SHOP THE COLLECTION HERERich Robust Red
Flavour Profile: Blackcurrant / Black Olive / Plum/ Cinnamon / Vanilla / Espresso
The heaviest and most full-bodied red wines with a robust body and rich, ripe fruit flavour profile. They will often have higher alcohol and tannin levels, and many will have a significant influence from the winemaker, including extended oak ageing.
SHOP THE COLLECTION HERELynne Coyle Master of Wine is O’Briens Wine Director and sources and selects our wine and Champagne range. One of only 421 Masters of Wine worldwide, she has dedicated her career to the food and drinks industry. Lynne also writes, judges at international wine competitions, is a Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Certified Educator and makes her own wines in Spain.
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