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Course Description
8-week Comparison Course: FRANCE AND THE OLD WORLD vs NEW WORLD
This fascinating course will focus on the classic wine regions of France and directly compare them against the best the New World can offer using the same grapes!
Join us each evening as we taste several pairs of wines made from the same variety, but from different countries. Can you easily tell the difference between Syrah from the south of France and Shiraz from the Barossa Valley in Australia? By the end of the course you will!
It is only when you taste these wines together that the differences start to stand out, and the comparisons can bring some amazing insights into wine styles. We will taste wines from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, California and compare them to wine from the Loire, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone and Alsace.
Course Programme (8 sessions - all FRIDAYS, starting on FRIDAY 26/09/25):
- Week 1 on 26/09/25 - Malbec from around the world: South-Western France vs New World
- Week 2 on 03/10/25 - Sauvignon Blanc from around the world: Loire Valley vs New World
- Week 3 on 10/10/25 - GSM blends from around the world: Chateauneuf-du-Pape ie Rhone Valley vs New World
- Week 4 on 17/10/25 - Chardonnay from around the world: Burgundy vs New World
- Week 5 on 24/10/25 - Pinot Noir from around the world: Burgundy vs New World
- 31/10/25 - OFF (Halloween)
- Week 6 on 07/11/25 - Pinot Gris/Grigio from around the world: Alsace vs New World
- Week 7 on 14/11/2025 - Bordeaux Red Blends from around the world: Bordeaux vs New World
- Week 8 on 21/11/2025 - Riesling from around the world: Alsace vs New World
All in all a fantastic opportunity to taste over 50 exciting wines and discover those you like best. Challenge the way you think about wine - forever!
"The past 8 weeks have been so enjoyable, entertaining and educational and your presentation excellent. Having been an adventurous wine drinker and big francophile for over 40 years it was so enjoyable to come out of each session having learned something new." (Tony Binns)
Including...
Can the New World - Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, South Africa - beat South-Western France in this BLIND tasting challenge? Well, come and find out!
Let's sample the delights of the Loire Valley against those of the Old & New World in terms of Sauvignon Blanc wines! Let the battle begin in this super fun BLIND tasting ...
Chateauneuf-du-Pape vs New World: Syrah/Shiraz & Grenache blends from Around the World, all tasted BLIND for even more fun!
THERE ARE 15 DIFFERENT STYLES OF CHARDONNAY, so I can (and I will!) present one that you'll like! No more ABCs ("Anything But Chardonnay" drinkers) amongst us then ;-)
Infuriating to grow, fascinating to taste, Pinot Noir is the "King of Red Grapes" and THE grape of great Burgundian red wines.
What’s the difference between Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio? Is it as simple as one is French and one is Italian? Find out in our down and dirty guide to Pinot Gris/Grigio, from lean, mean and a little bit green to lush, plush and mellow ... amaz...
Let the battle between Old and New World begin! ... Who will win the war when it comes to a Bordeaux blend? Watch this space ;-)
We have hand selected a world-class line up of mouth-watering and complex Rieslings from its spiritual homelands of Germany, Austria and Alsace and further afield in countries such as Australia, South Africa and the USA, all tasted BLIND!
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