Inside Jonathan Staunton’s EuroCave.

The Lebanese wine that changed everything

“Graduating from university in the Ireland of the 1990s, wine was not yet a major part of my world. A proud Dubliner, the home of Guinness, I was far more familiar with pints than with Pinot. All of that shifted thanks to a completely unexpected discovery: a lone bottle of 1990 Château Musar sitting on a back shelf in a city-centre convenience store. I had just read about this extraordinary Lebanese estate and its legendary owner, Gaston Hochar, who managed to complete the harvest while civil war raged around him. The story was astonishing — and buying that bottle felt like stepping into it. It was the most I’d ever spent on wine, and I remember the sense of anticipation as I opened it. The flavours were rich, savoury, layered, and utterly unique. More than that, the bottle revealed a truth that has shaped my entire wine journey: that geography, history and humanity can come together in a single glass. From that moment, I knew that wine would be a lifelong passion.”

When passion becomes a path

“Over time, my curiosity deepened. I travelled more, read more, and eventually formalised my studies with WSET Levels 1, 2 & 3 – a course of study that gave shape and structure to everything I had been absorbing intuitively. In 2023, I was named The Irish Times Amateur Wine Champion, a milestone that encouraged me to take my love of wine more seriously. Starting my WineListGuy account soon after felt like a natural extension of what I was already doing — sharing discoveries, opening conversations, and demystifying the world of wine. Today, more than 35,000 people follow along on Instagram, and my mission remains the same: to spark curiosity, not to preach expertise.”

Why Spain is leading the way

“People often ask which wines I’m most drawn to. I adore France, Italy, Germany, and so many other regions — but I truly believe that Spain today offers the best combination of quality and value anywhere in the wine world. There is a new generation of winemakers working with old, reclaimed vines, or revitalising relatively young DOs with passion, precision and a mix of tradition and modernity. The results are extraordinary: authentic, terroir-driven wines that punch far above their price point. And from a communication perspective, Spain is remarkably sophisticated. Its digital and social media culture is dynamic, collaborative, and creative — something I really admire. Whether meticulously planned or spontaneous and impulsive…, every trip to Spain leaves me energised. New people, new wines, new food pairings — that feeling of discovery never fades.”

His EuroCave with a whole world inside

“For my 40th birthday, I finally gifted myself something I'd wanted for years: a EuroCave. It changed everything. It turned me from someone who bought wine into someone who collected it — and who wanted to collect it well. It’s a three-temperature model, always full, holding about 180 bottles. And yes, I’m already planning a second one for my next milestone birthday, mostly to rescue the bottles currently stashed optimistically around the house.

Open the door and you’ll see the wines that define my tastes: Champagne, Northern Rhône Syrah, aged Bordeaux, Riesling, dry Sherry, Rioja (both white and red), Mencía, Godello, Chenin, and Loire Cabernet Franc. On the top shelves I keep reds that are ready to drink — perfect for weeknights and spontaneous dinners. The cooler lower section holds Champagne and Sherry. The rest is organised broadly by country and region, though “organised” is definitely a generous word.”