Nestled in the heart of Galway city, The Wine Buff Galway is one of the most beloved wine shops in the west, and much of that charm comes from its new owner, Tuğba Kilinc, and her husband, Alan. Discover more about their story here(and keep reading to find out all of Tuğba’s wine recommendations for Christmas).
Since taking over the store earlier this year, the couple has brought fresh energy, warm hospitality and a passion for discovery that has resonated with every shopper. An Aladdin’s cave of wines from all over Europe, Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa, it has never been easier to find the right bottle.
When Tuğba talks about The Wine Buff Galway, she does so with an affection that makes you forget she bought the business only seven months ago. But that’s the first hint that this story isn’t just about wine; it’s about the unexpected paths life takes you on. And like all great beginnings, it started with a bottle of wine.
“During Covid, my husband received two bottles from [The Wine Buff],” she recalls. “Until that, we had never heard of The Wine Buff before, but when we tried it, we loved the wine.”
At the time, Tuğba was working in advertising at TikTok, living in Maynooth, and putting money aside for a mortgage. She and her husband bought more wine from the brand, ordering online from Dublin and they never expected what ended up happening next.
One day, they heard that The Wine Buff shop in Galway was up for sale. “I talked to my husband, and we decided to buy it,” she says. “Rather than buying the house, we put every single cent into this business.” It was a huge decision, but for Tuğba and Alan, it felt right. It was a dramatic leap from spreadsheets and Zoom calls to a shop filled with French reds, Portuguese blends, and the start of something entirely new.
When Tuğba opened the doors under her ownership, she realised she knew far less about wine than she thought. “I like drinking wine, but I didn’t know anything,” she admits. “When someone asked, ‘What do you think of this wine?’ all I could say was, ‘It’s delicious’ but you need to know the technicalities.” Since then, she’s tasted her way through regions she’d never explored before -Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand- and is slowly uncovering the notes behind each bottle. “I’m a student now that I am learning about wine. I want to be professional,” she says.
Her husband has become her unofficial tasting partner, offering a contrasting palate to her own preferences. While Tuğba loves juicy, fruity blended wine, Alan is a fan of dry styles. She explains that thanks to him, she now feels confident recommending options for customers who prefer drier wines.
Since taking over the shop, Tuğba has enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life. One afternoon early on, a man walked in, saying he wasn’t buying anything, just killing time before an interview at the University of Galway. He was buzzing with excitement, pacing around the shop, chatting to Alan and Tuğba about the opportunity. “When we asked what the position was, he said, ‘President for UoG.’ We were shocked.” Tuğba and Alan kept an eye on the news, and when he landed the role, she sent him a congratulations card. He returned the next day to thank her personally, and a few weeks later brought his wife in to introduce her and pick up a few bottles.
The Wine Buff Galway now has regulars who arrive each week eager to try something new, academics who take recommendations with good-humoured trust, and couples who turn the shop’s paint-and-sip evenings into date nights. These are the parts of the job Tuğba loves the most because wine is about people.
And with the festive season in full swing, Christmas is the time when wine takes centre stage; on the table, in gift hampers, and in cosy gatherings as the evenings draw in. Tuğba’s recommendations starts with a simple question, “I ask people two questions: what kind of wine do you like, and will you drink it with food?” From there, her suggestions take shape.
Right inside the door of The Wine Buff Galway is a table with Tuğba’s favourites, perfect for cosy, no-food-needed sipping. Smooth, juicy reds ideal for Christmas movie nights and long chats, include: Tempranillo, Rioja, Noir-style light reds and Italian blends.
For the Christmas dinner table, whether you’re pairing it with turkey, ham, or rich seasonal dishes, she recommends: Montepulciano “My husband’s favourite. This would be really nice with ham and turkey.” Barbera and selected Portuguese reds.
For gifting, the hampers available in-store blend wine with artisan treats. On the shelves in the centre of the shop are cards, artwork, and gifts that make lovely Christmas presents, many of these are by women makers, something that is personally important to Tuğba. “I try to source from women. We have to support each other because it’s mainly a man’s world. For this reason I’m trying to support other women in business,” she shares.
Over the past 25 years, The Wine Buff has grown from a single shop in Limerick into a well-loved network of independent wine stores across Ireland and France. Its legacy is built not only on the expertise of its owners and the relationships they’ve fostered, but also on the remarkable people who have passed through its doors, from first-time wine explorers to well-known figures. One of Tuğba’s most cherished anecdotes from becoming part of The Wine Buff family was discovering that Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries regularly visited the original Limerick shop to select wines for herself and Christmas hampers for fellow Irish icons like Bono and Enya. Being a longtime fan of The Cranberries, Tuğba was amazed to find this unexpected connection.
As the business celebrates a quarter-century, stories like this serve as a reminder of the community The Wine Buff has built. And in its warmly lit shop on Eglinton Street, surrounded by bottles from every corner of the world, Tuğba is continuing that legacy and growing a space where people wander in for a recommendation and end up sharing a story.
For more information about The Wine Buff Galway, visit them in-store at 12 Eglinton Street, and give them a follow on Instagram @thewinebuffgalway.
All photos by Ciarán MacChoncarraige.
