Annmarie Takes the Wine Route

Having worked in the hospitality sector for almost two decades, Annmarie O’Neill has joined the sales and marketing team at Boutique Wines.

Educated in the US and Ireland, she has filled a variety of roles in leading restaurants, most recently at Charlotte Quay in Dublin.

A wine enthusiast from an early age, Annmarie took a new direction with Boutique Wines because, she says, the physicality of being a hands-on restaurant manager has taken its toll and “it was a good time for a career move”.

“During my restaurant career, I gained invaluable experience in building wine lists, buying wines from a variety of suppliers and improving my wine knowledge. I hope to bring this experience to my new role.”

Founded by Johnny McMorrough in 2001, Boutique Wines is a 100% Irish-owned and operated independent wine merchant specialising in sourcing fine wines from family-run wineries around the world. Now after nearly 20 years, Boutique Wines has a portfolio of over 100 wines serving over 100 of Ireland’s finest restaurants and gastropubs as well as corporate and private clients.

“Since Covid we have been developing a presence in the retail sector, and this aspect of the business is growing,” she says.

Boutique Wines’ list has a strong Old World focus but also features carefully-selected wines from specialist producers in the New World. The list is strong on the wines of Spain and Portugal, which sit alongside many French and Italian classics.

Annmarie is conscious of the rising price of wines, but she says that research can unearth surprising quality and value.

“Johnny has a great talent in finding wine makers just a few kilometres away from large producers, who can offer comparable quality at a more attractive price, which we are more than happy to pass on to our restaurant and retail customers,” she says.