68 Wine Appreciation & Oenology courses

We tour the stunning vineyards of the Loire Valley for refreshing, mineral and bone-dry wines. We'll go East to taste a steely Sauvignon Blanc, through the Touraine Region to experience a Sancerre and thus enjoy the sharp delights of a mouth-watering Sauvignon Blanc. Discover why the Loire Valley wines are some of the most expensive wines today, and how to find the best value for money wines from this region.

Learn why France still makes some of the best wines in the world. Discover the best value from Bordeaux, and taste some wines from the left bank. Compare these Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated wines to the right bank and the top appellations of Saint Emilion and Pomerol, where Merlot makes up the majority of the blend.

Grape varieties are landmarks on the map of wine. The wine drinker finds it useful to know the varitey used because this is a major clue to the taste and character of the wine in the bottle. A wine made from Pinot Noir will have certain taste characteristics, wherever in the World it is made

Chardonnay is the most successful white grape in the world. We will explore oaked, unoaked, youthful as well as aged versions of the most reknown and beloved of grapes.

Red wine lover? Compare some of the best Malbec from Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia (yes, Malbec is no longer just grown in Argentina!) with some of the best Malbec from Cahors (yes, Malbec actually originates from France!). Think you only like a particular type? Then prepare to have your tastebuds challenged ...    

If I drink one more glass of Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand, I will scream! It's everywhere, from restaurants' wine lists to supermarkets shelves, to my own fridge (guilty). But today I feel like having something different! So if you feel like rebelling too, then come and join me for a fabulous tour of the World for 'weird and wonderful' wine-producing countries. 

Only 12 places available, so please do hurry booking as this exclusive tasting will sell out quickly. There will be no more opportunities to taste these extremely rare wines. These Champagnes were released in very small quantities in the first place and then aged in my own wine cellar to perfection, so none of them are still available on the market to purchase.

The combo of Fish and Chips with good white wines is a brilliant one – especially if some of those wines are sparkling! We’re equally thrilled to be able to host this tasting at The Real Greek in central Manchester, home of impeccable fish and chips and much more besides. We’ll kick off the evening by trying a trio of still wines that make great Fish and Chip partners – expect things like Spanish Albariño, Australian Riesling, Greek Assyrtiko and South African Sauvignon Blanc. There’ll also be some classic Greek flatbread and dips on the side to stop tummies rumbling too much. And then for the main event, we’ll try our fish and chips alongside three sparkling wines, including Champagne. If past experience is anything to go by, expect a fun-filled tasting where you’ll learn a little, laugh a lot and enjoy a great evening of food and wine. (a vegetarian alternative of Halloumi & Vegetable Skewer and Chips is also available - please notify us at the time of booking if you'd prefer this option. Also, let us know at the time of booking if you have any specific dietary requirements and we will liaise with the restaurant to try and accommodate them.)

Spain’s most famous wine region could arguably stake a claim to being the world’s most popular one too – it’s a rare wine drinker who hasn’t been wooed by the charms of Rioja. And while we’re big fans of the good everyday bottles – what we think of as Wednesday night, sausage-and-mash gluggers – we thought it was time for another tasting to show what happens when the producers pull all the stops out. Because this is a place with a magnificent heritage, a magnificent terroir – or to be more accurate several magnificent terroirs – and a magnificent array of grape varieties. So join us as we explore the higher reaches of Rioja, and look at the many expressions of its wines. There’ll be traditional wines, there’ll be modern ones. There’ll be wines made from a variety of grapes, there’ll be ones made from just one. There’ll be young wines, there’ll be older wines. There'll be blends from across the region, but there'll also be examples of the recently-introduced 'Viñedo Singular' - single vineyard wines. And in among the delicious reds, there’ll be at least one of the undersung white wines. We’ll be trying at least eight wines with an average price of over £25 – and there’ll be some Manchego to nibble on the side. It’s a great opportunity to see what makes a great wine region great, and we look forward to sharing these treasures with you.

If you know what you like, but want to understand why - then this evening is for you. We will taste six wines from around the world and provide many pointers which will enhance your appreciation of wine. NO previous wine tasting experience necessary.