Sinead Smyth – Ambassador of Wine Shop Lanzarote in Ireland and Northern Ireland

We’re delighted to announce Sineád as Ambassador of Wine Shop Lanzarote where you will find her representing us at events held throughout the year.  Sinéad has been friends of the company since a tour with our sister project Wine Tours Lanzarote in 2017.  We remained in contact ever since both across in Ireland and in Lanzarote.

Sinéad is a Dublin native and works as a freelance wine consultant.  She holds a WSET Level 3, a Spanish Wine Specialist Diploma and a Cheese Academy Level 1 certification.  Sinéad is the chairperson of Wine Spirit Women, a grassroots organisation that aims to strengthen women's voices in the drinks trade through education and mentorship. Wine Spirit Women was founded in 2019 by Lynne Coyle, Master of Wine and Justine McGovern, joint trade director of the California Wine Institute UK and Ireland. After inviting Sinéad to join the committee, the founders asked her to take on the responsibility of running the organisation.

Her food and travel writing background has allowed her to meet and work with some of the industry's top chefs, producers, and professionals. After embarking on her WSET course in 2019 she realised her passion for all things wine and decided on a career in the drinks industry. Her favourite thing about working in wine is the fascinating people she meets, learning the stories behind the bottles and the network of inspiring people she now calls friends. 

Sinéad holds a BA in Culinary Arts from TU Dublin, where she wrote her thesis on Botrytis cinerea and its role in sweet winemaking. She holds an MSc in Insight and Innovation from DCU, where she was a part of Bord Bia’s talent programme, and her thesis subject was sustainability and innovation in winemaking. In 2022 Sinéad was awarded a scholarship to attend the MAD Academy in Copenhagen, where she completed their Environment and Sustainability programme. The MAD Academy is a school founded by Noma founder René Redzepi to train hospitality professionals worldwide.

She has been invited to attend the prestigious Champagne Academy 2024 in France, where she will spend a week in the region learning about all things Champagne this summer.  Sineád is also one of the Irish Times 50 people to watch in 2024!

Importantly for us, Sinéad is a regular visitor to Lanzarote, and following her tour with Wine Tours Lanzarote became a fan of the island's unique vineyards and unique wines. Adopting the "wine in Rome" mentality, her favourite thing to do when eating in the island's many restaurants is drink the local wine and sample the delicious culinary delights.

You can read about Sinéad’s Wine Tours Lanzarote vineyard adventures here.

You can also keep up to date with Sinéad’s world in wine here.