Wine Tasting F.A.Q
I know absolutely nothing about wine. Are these events for me?
These events are specifically for you.
Whether you’re an absolute novice or a seasoned professional, my tastings are all about learning and exploring something new. If you’re new to wine, don’t worry at all – you’ll be guided through the basic steps of how to taste wine and what to look out for, with no pressure and no jargon.
If you’re more experienced, you’ll hopefully sharpen your palate, discover new styles and still come away having learned something new.
How much wine will be served at a wine tasting?
The amount of wine served can vary depending on the event or the style of wine being poured. As a guide, my standard tastings feature six wines, each poured at 50–75ml depending on the wine. Each tasting sample lasts around 20 minutes, giving you time to savour the wine, discuss it with fellow guests, and for the host to visit everyone and answer any questions.
Any variations to this will always be clearly advertised at the booking stage.
That’s more wine than I’d normally drink in one session. Do I have to drink it all?
Absolutely not.
While we usually explore the wines one at a time, it can actually be really helpful to keep a little back as we move through the tasting so you can revisit and compare wines later. It’s a great way to learn more about aromas, flavours and the structure of different wines.
Each tasting sample lasts around 20 minutes so there’s no rush. This gives you time to savour the wine, discuss it with fellow guests, and for the host to visit everyone and answer any questions.
If you’d prefer to simply taste rather than drink, that’s completely fine too. Spittoons are available – although there’s often someone sitting nearby who’ll happily finish it for you.
What if I don’t like a particular wine?
That’s perfectly OK.
Wine tastings are about discovery, and finding a wine you don’t like can be just as useful as finding one you love. It means you now know what to avoid ordering in a restaurant or picking up in the supermarket.
All wines are personally curated and, in the opinion of the host, are of good to outstanding quality. That said, there are countless styles of wine in the world and even excellent wines won’t appeal to everyone’s taste.
Do we have to slurp and spit wine like those wine professionals on the telly?
Not at all.
Slurping does help introduce oxygen and release aromas, but there are discreet ways of doing it – and you’re under absolutely no obligation to do so. Taste wine in whatever way feels comfortable to you.
Will there be food?
Crisps / bread will be provided. These are intended to complement the wines – and in some cases help explore how food can influence the flavour of specific wines – rather than replace a full meal, so it’s best not to arrive starving.
A good tip for the day of the event is to have a slightly larger lunch, followed by a light snack before heading out in the evening. That way you can avoid the post-work scramble of trying to cook a proper meal before coming along.
Any food included will always be mentioned at the booking stage.
Book a Wine Tasting
Explore upcoming tastings in our events calendar, or if you’re planning something more tailored – get in touch and we’ll help shape the perfect experience.