When in 1994, newly married Seán & Françoise Gilley decided to open their own wine shop in Donnybrook Dublin 4, their youth protected them from realising the immense challenge ahead of them. They couldn’t have known that the next twenty years would be tumultuous for Ireland with a great economic boom followed by a crushing recession!
In the mid 90’s it was a real challenge to open a “wine-only” shop in the largely Off-Licence culture of Ireland. The Gilleys with their quality driven passion for good wine and food wanted to create a special environment for true wine lovers. They sensed a gap and therefore an opportunity to create an outlet that did not exist in Dublin at the time: a stylish shop where the very best of wines were available with the finest speciality foods, wine accessories and gifts.