Fionntán Gogarty is the founder of Wildwood Vinegars, a unique artisan food company based in the little village of Rathlackin, near Ballina in County Mayo. His award-winning vinegar creations are unique, flavoursome and met with rapturous delight by increasing number of culinary fans in Ireland and abroad.
Fionntán has unique ethnic roots. “I am 1/4 Meath and 1/4 Italian-Sicilian, ¼ French, ¼ Donegal”, he says. The influence of grandmothers from both sides of his family can be found in Fionntán’s artisan vinegar creations. On the French side, his grandmother would have made wine at home as would be common to the region. They would have made their own vinegar too. On the Irish side, a Donegal grandmother’s love of berries jams would have secured Fionntán’s early awareness of the bounty of Ireland’s rural landscape. Inspired by his grandmothers and through his work, continues these age-old values, love and respect for nature.
