Explore Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand make some of today's most popular styles of wine. Discover what makes them so good and what else these two countries have to offer. 

Today Australian wine is more complex and varied than it used to be. There are hot, warm, cool, dry and wet locations and this contributes towards a kaleidoscope of different styles.

There are also a growing number of boutique wineries producing handmade wines in small quantity (in contrast to big brands) and we will be tasting some of these wines. 

New Zealand is now a benchmark for Sauvignon Blanc, but there is much more to the country than that. The South Island produces some wonderful Pinot Noir and thoroughly zesty Riesling, while the warm climate of the North Island is home to some delicious reds and ripe white wines.

Among other things, we will compare Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at different prices to discover if being expensive always means better quality.

During the evening we will cover:

• understanding winemaking and its influence on flavour
• the influence of local geography on the vineyards
• how to assess quality against price

All tastings include: a minimum of 6 wines sourced locally so you can find them easily if you like them, full tasting notes, use of professional tasting glasses and some food pairing using cheese.

This evening tasting is part of our flagship World of Wine course. You can book a place on the 6 Week World of Wine course for £200 and get one tasting FREE here.