Meet John McCabe
John McCabe is the Wine Buyer and Owner of Web Wines. Since 1986, he has been sourcing, tasting and selecting wines from leading wine regions around the world. With almost 40 years of experience, John personally assesses every new wine added to the Web Wines collection, drawing on decades of vineyard visits, relationships with producers and first-hand tasting experience to recommend wines that deliver exceptional quality and value.
Over 40 Years of Wine Buying Experience
John began his career in the family hospitality business before returning to Dublin in 1986 to open a specialist wine shop with Jim McCabe.
At a time when wine was still a relatively small market in Ireland, they focused almost exclusively on sourcing quality wines from around the world. Their Blackrock shop became one of Ireland's best-known independent wine retailers, winning Off Licence of the Year on multiple occasions.
Over the years the business expanded with additional specialist wine shops before evolving into today's online wine merchant, Web Wines.
How John Selects Wines
Every new wine added to the Web Wines online collection is personally assessed before it joins the range.
Rather than chasing famous labels, John looks for wines that genuinely stand out for their quality, character and value.
Every wine must:
- Deliver exceptional quality for its price.
- Represent its region or style well where appropriate.
- Offer something better than comparable wines at the same price point.
- Be a wine John would confidently recommend himself.
Some long-standing favourites may be restocked without a formal re-tasting, but every new listing is assessed before being offered to customers.
First-Hand Experience in Wine Regions
Over the years John has travelled extensively to understand the regions, producers and winemaking traditions behind the wines he recommends.
John's experience includes visiting vineyards and wineries across:
- Burgundy
- Bordeaux
- Rhône Valley
- Provence
- Loire Valley
- Rioja
- Ribera del Duero
- Tuscany
- Piedmont
- Sicily
- Portugal
- Germany
- South Africa
- Argentina
- Chile
- Australia
- United States
These visits have helped build long-standing relationships with producers while providing first-hand knowledge of how climate, vineyards and winemaking influence every bottle.
Wine Tasting Philosophy
Wine isn't selected because of the label.
It is selected because it deserves a place in the collection.
When tasting wines, John considers:
- Balance and structure
- Typicity of the region where appropriate
- Value for money
- Drinking enjoyment
- Vintage character
- How the wine compares with others at a similar price
The aim isn't to stock the biggest range possible. It's to stock wines that customers can buy with confidence, knowing each bottle has earned its place.
Areas of Wine Expertise
Over almost four decades John has developed particular expertise in:
Wine Regions
- Burgundy
- Bordeaux
- Rioja
- Ribera del Duero
- Rhône Valley
- Tuscany
- Piedmont
Wine Styles
- Fine wines
- European wines
- Direct import wines
- Food pairing
- Wine gifts
- Wine tasting events
Grape Varieties
Continuing to Taste and Source Wines
Although the business has evolved from specialist wine shops to online retail, tasting remains central to everything Web Wines does.
John continues to meet producers, attend wine tastings and review new vintages throughout the year, ensuring the collection continues to reflect the quality and value customers expect.