6-Week World of Wine Course - Spring 2025

Our World of Wine course runs for 6 Tuesday evenings. No experience necessary and the emphasis is upon learning by tasting lots of different wines!

What will I get from this course?

• You’ll taste 40 different wines from over 10 countries, and over 20 different grape varieties.
• You’ll learn how to sniff, swirl and sip like a professional and how to describe a wine to family and friends.
• You’ll understand the flavour and aromas associated with the world’s major grape varieties.
• You will know the world’s major wine regions and the wine styles they produce.
• How wine is made, the importance of soils and climate and the influence of the winemaker.
• How to identify a faulty wine.
• How to read and decipher wine labels.
• The best ways to store and serve wine.
• You’ll learn all about pairing food and wine, giving you lots of ideas to try at home.
• How to choose better wine in shops and restaurants.
• A whole new wine vocabulary, plus you will meet like-minded people who enjoy wine.
• And most importantly…you’ll understand which wines you like and why.

What if I can’t make one of the evenings?

Not a problem. You can either send a substitute, pick up the session on the next course or request a credit voucher.

Course Programme and Dates

Sessions run on 6 Tuesday evenings. They start at 7pm and last for approximately 2 hours, ending at around 9pm

4th  February : The Tour de France

The most famous wine-producing country in the world produces a myriad of styles and most grape varieties you've heard of are grown here.  In this special evening we taste seven classic French wines, and decode the mysterious word "Terroir".

• Alsace: Riesling or Gewurztraminer or Pinot Gris
• Burgundy: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
• Loire Valley: Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc
• Bordeaux, Left Bank: Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot
• Northern Rhône Valley: Syrah

11th February: Magnificent Italy

A real treat as we visit the largest wine producing country in the world, to sample seven from its multitude of famous wines.  We also explore the principles of ensuring your food and wine match perfectly.

Our Italian wines will be seven selected from the list below with at least one from each named region.

• Veneto: Corvina or Gargenega
• Piedmont: Cortese and/or Barbera and/or Nebbiolo
• Tuscany: Sangiovese
• Puglia/Campania/Basilicata: Primitivo or Negroamaro and/or Fiano or Aglianico
• Sicily: Nero d’Avola

18th February: Discover Spain & Portugal

From super refreshing white wines, to oaky aged wines from classic indigenous grape varieties there is so much to enjoy here, all accompanied by some Spanish-themed snacks. We also explore some of the science behind ageing wines in oak barrels.

Our Spanish and Portuguese wine tour will be like this:

• Galicia: Albariño
• Duero Valley: Verdejo
• La Rioja: Tempranillo
• Catalonia: Garnacha
• Alicante: Monastrell
• Portugal: Touriga Nacional

25th February: Explore Australia & New Zealand

More than anywhere else, New Zealand and Australia are the flagbearers for the "Brave New World" of wine.  If you've only ever drunk mass-produced supermarket wines you're in for a treat, with six great wines that are uniquely from "Down Under".

• New Zealand: Sauvignon Blanc
• New Zealand: Pinot Gris
• New Zealand: Pinot Noir
• Australia: Riesling
• Australia: Shiraz
• Australia: Cabernet Sauvignon

4th March: Chile & Argentina - The Beautiful South

Two of the UK's most popular countries for supplying wine, Chile for its dazzling array of fruity favourites and Argentina for its powerful Malbecs.  Join us for this tasting and discover both countries have more to offer than you might think.

• Chile: Chardonnay
• Chile: Merlot
• Chile: Carménère
• Argentina: Torrontes
• Argentina: Cabernet Franc
• Argentina: Malbec

11th March: South Africa and USA - A Grape Encounter

Six lovely wines showcasing the very old "New World" winemaking of South Africa and what Californian wines can deliver away from those supermarket brands.  Iconic Pinotage and Zinfandel backed by a host of other varieties basking in the sun.

• South Africa: Chenin Blanc
• South Africa: Pinotage
• South Africa: “Cape Blend” – Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Pinotage
• USA: Chardonnay
• USA: Cabernet Sauvignon
• USA: Zinfandel

Professional ISO tasting glasses, all course materials including tasting sheets & water are provided, along with some suitable regional snacks to help the wine along.