Do I need any wine knowledge to attend the White Wine Tasting?

Not at all. Our courses are designed to be approachable and jargon-free. Beginners are always welcome, and our more advanced masterclasses are perfect if you already have some experience.

What is terroir and will it be explained during the course?

Terroir refers to the environmental factors — soil, climate, and geography — that influence a wine’s character. Yes, it’s a key part of the course and will be explained clearly by your tutor.

What is the Systematic Approach to wine tasting?

It’s a structured method for evaluating wine using your senses — appearance, nose, and palate — helping you identify flavours, quality, and style consistently. This is taught during the session.

What will I be able to do after completing the White Wine Tasting?

You’ll be confident choosing white wines in a shop or restaurant, understand how production methods affect flavour, and know which styles suit your personal taste.

What time should I arrive?

Please arrive 5–10 minutes before your session. Start times can vary by date, so check your chosen date when booking. Arriving late can also delay food service, so please allow plenty of time.

Is this course part of a series?

Yes — the White Wine Tasting is the first stop in the London Adventurer Wine Tasting Experience, which also includes other tasting sessions.

The White Wine Tasting

Taste a range of white wines from key regions side by side and see how grape variety, climate, winemaking and oak shape what’s in your glass. We’ll show you why a Chardonnay from Burgundy tastes nothing like one from Australia, and how to tell a crisp Sauvignon Blanc from a richer, oak-aged white.

By the end, you’ll know what you enjoy and how to choose whites to suit the moment — whether it’s something light for a summer evening or a fuller style to pair with food.

Level

Beginners

Duration

2 hours

Location

The Punch Bowl, Mayfair
Duke of Sussex, Waterloo

Two-Course Menu

Price

From £139 per person

Welcome to The White Wine Tasting

Understand the key differences between white wine styles through a guided tasting of classic grapes and regions.

The White Wine Tasting is a two-hour white wine tasting in London, designed to deepen your understanding and enjoyment of white wine. You’ll taste wines from renowned regions, learn how to taste them with confidence, and gain the confidence to appreciate their unique flavours and styles.

Why is tasting white wine more complex than people think?

White wines are shaped by a different set of factors to reds. Acidity, aromatics, residual sugar, serving temperature, and the choice between oak and stainless steel fermentation all play a role. A Chablis aged in stainless steel will taste completely different to a Meursault aged in oak — even though both are made from the same grape, Chardonnay.

Climate matters too. The same grape grown in a cool region like the Loire Valley produces a wine with sharp acidity and distinct minerality, while the same grape grown in warmer regions will be riper, fuller and more fruit-forward. Understanding these differences is where a little wine knowledge goes a long way in ordering wines that you enjoy.

Led by Masters of Wine trained Tutors, WSET Diploma holders and Master Sommeliers, your tutor will teach you how to identify key flavour profiles, understand the impact of winemaking on style, and recognise the differences between regions.

You’ll taste wines blind, without seeing the label, judging purely on what’s in your glass. Every wine is chosen to represent a specific style, region or technique. Your tutor will guide you through each wine using the Systematic Approach to Wine Tasting — the professional framework used by wine experts worldwide.

This isn’t about passing exams. It’s experience-led, refined over 30 years, designed to build your confidence and help you understand what styles you enjoy and why.

The White Wine Tasting is a 2-hour beginners wine tasting at The London Wine Academy in central London, priced at £139 per person. Established in 1993 and rated 4.6 on Google, the Academy is one of the UK’s most respected independent wine schools, having welcomed over 50,000 students. Part of the Adventurer Tastings series, this session focuses entirely on white wines — taking you through a selection of styles from France, New Zealand, Spain and beyond. You’ll learn to identify key grape varieties and understand how climate and winemaking shape flavour, tasting wines blind using the Systematic Approach to Wine Tasting. Led by Masters of Wine trained Tutors, WSET Diploma holders and Master Sommeliers, the session includes a two-course meal. No prior wine experience is needed — this is relaxed, sociable and experience-led, not exam-style. It’s for anyone who wants to feel more confident choosing and enjoying white wine.

What will I learn during the White Wine Tasting?

You’ll learn which whites are best enjoyed young and crisp, and which benefit from oak ageing. You’ll cover practical tips for pairing white wines with food, and understand how production methods shape what ends up in your glass.

During the tasting, you’ll cover:

White Burgundy vs Chardonnay — how the same grape produces dramatically different wines depending on where and how it’s made
Sancerre vs Sauvignon Blanc — the Loire classic compared with New World styles
Riesling around the world — from bone-dry Alsace to off-dry German styles
White Rhône varietals — Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne
Italian and Spanish varietals — Pinot Grigio, Garganega, Albariño and more
Oak vs stainless steel — how fermentation and ageing shape flavour and texture
The influence of terroir on style — why the same grape tastes different in different regions
White wine and food — practical pairing tips you can use at home

White Wine Tasting Agenda

Start times may vary. Please check your chosen date for the correct start time.

Arrive 5–10 minutes early to meet your tutor and the other guests.

Your tutor outlines the session format and introduces the Systematic Approach to Tasting — the framework you’ll use for every wine.

You’ll taste through six or seven white wines, including a sparkling style. Each one is chosen to teach you something specific about grape variety, region or technique. The tutor introduces each wine, you taste it, and the group shares observations. It’s interactive and relaxed — more like a dinner party hosted by someone who really knows wine than a classroom.

A two-course meal is woven through the tasting, with discussion of how food and wine pair together.

By the end, you’ll have a clearer sense of which white wine styles suit you, and practical knowledge you can use the next time you’re choosing a bottle.

Wend your way to our perfectly partnered venue and introduce yourself to one of the London Wine Academy experts waiting to welcome you to your chosen White Wine Tasting. You’ll be greeted and seated with like-minded, white wine enthusiasts, and together you’ll step out on your first foray into exceptional wine education.

Along this road, you’ll hear all about the Systematic Approach to wine tasting, while sipping socially on six or seven crisp, cool white wines. Peckishness just won’t do when you’re spending an afternoon with the London Wine Academy, so enjoy your carefully crafted two-course meal, and while you’re eating, hear all about how best to pair vibrant white wines with your favourite dishes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many wines will I taste during the session?

You will be tasting 6-7 premium white wines throughout the afternoon, including a sparkling wine style wine.

What white wine grape varieties will be covered?

During the white wine tasting, you will taste a number of different white varietals from different regions of the world, including but not limited to:

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
South African Chenin Blanc
White Burgundy
Alsace Pinot Blanc
Chablis

How does oak vs stainless steel affect white wine?

Oak ageing adds flavour complexity, texture, and richness to white wines, while stainless steel preserves fresh, crisp fruit flavours. Both methods are covered in the course to demonstrate the differences found in wine styles.

Will food be provided during the tasting?

Yes, absolutely, food is provided during the White Wine Tasting. You will enjoy a two-course meal during the experience. If you have any dietary requirements or allergies, be sure to confirm them at the time of booking.

Where does the White Wine Tasting take place?

The White Wine Tasting takes place at our partner venues in London and Mayfair. Venues vary depending on the date of the experience – confirmed venues are available on our calendar.

At what temperature should white wine be served?

Most white wines are best lightly chilled, around 8–12°C. Too cold and you lose the flavour; too warm and they can feel flat. A good rule? Take it out of the fridge 10–15 minutes before serving.

How much does the White Wine Tasting cost?

The White Wine Tasting costs £139 per person, and includes 6 White Wines as well as a Two-Course Meal over 2 hours

How long does the White Wine Tasting last?

The White Wine Tasting takes place over 2 hours. Start times may vary depending on the day so check the Calendar dates for the correct times

Can I book the White Wine Tasting as a gift?

Absolutely, the White Wine Tasting can be purchased as a gift. You can find the “Buy Voucher” button below to gift this experience to a loved one.

Feature Venue

The Punch Bowl

Famously previously owned by Guy Richie and Madonna, The Punch Bowl is one of Mayfair’s most historic and celebrated pubs.

Feature Venue

The Duke of Sussex

The Duke of Sussex is a reflection of the needs of the local community - the food is simple and harks back to the days when the British Pub first came about.