A One-Day Wine Course

The Premium Beginners Wine Course

The Premium Beginners Wine Course in London

An enjoyable introduction to wine, with guided tasting, a three-course menu and a practical approach that makes wine easier to understand and enjoy.

Beginners wine course in London: The Premium Beginners Wine Course is a 4–4.5-hour course with The London Wine Academy, an independent wine school established in 1993 that has welcomed over 50,000 students. The Academy is rated 4.7 by guests on Google and verified as a Top Rated Wine Educator 2026 by Trustindex. Discover sparkling, white and red wines from key regions around the world, with a three-course menu. Led by Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers and WSET Diploma holders, the course teaches the International Systematic Approach to Wine Tasting in plain language, how to read a restaurant wine list, how to choose wine in a shop, how to spot common wine faults, and why certain wines work with certain dishes, in small, interactive classes. No experience is needed, and gift vouchers are available. The London Wine Academy was a finalist for Wine Educator / Communicator of the Year 2026 at the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Industry Awards.

Since 1993

Over 30 years teaching wine in London

Expert Tutors

Led by Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers and WSET Diploma holders

IWC 2026 Finalist

Wine Educator / Communicator of the Year

50,000+

Students taught across three decades

At a Glance

Duration

4–4.5 hours

Wines

10+ wines

Menu

Three-course menu

Venue

Central London

Level

Beginners

Price

From £229 per person

Booking at least six weeks ahead? Save £30 with our early-bird ticket

Welcome to The Premium Beginners Wine Course in London

Our beginners wine course in London is for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by a wine list, stuck choosing the same familiar bottles or unsure what to order beyond “the second cheapest”. You’re not alone — and you’re exactly who this course is for.

The Premium Beginners Wine Course is a guided tasting experience run by The London Wine Academy, with courses taking place across London. It’s our wine appreciation course in London: a practical introduction to wine, designed to help you discover what you enjoy and why.

Wines are served without their labels, so you learn to judge what’s in the glass on its own merits, not by the price tag or the packaging. Each wine has been carefully chosen to represent a specific style, region or technique, so nothing is there by accident.

Your tutor introduces the International Systematic Approach to Wine Tasting in clear, practical language. The syllabus has been refined over more than 30 years, giving you a sound foundation for understanding wine and recognising the styles you enjoy.

What will I learn on the beginners wine course in London?

Judging what’s in the glass

With the label hidden, you can concentrate on the wine itself and form your own view of its quality and style.

The International Systematic Approach to Wine Tasting

The professional framework used across the wine trade, taught in straightforward, practical language you can use long after the course is over. It’s a practical skill you can use whenever you choose a bottle.

Sparkling, white and red wines from key regions

Taste a selection of sparkling, white and red wines, exploring styles from key wine-growing regions around the world.

Wine and food

A three-course menu is woven into the session, with your tutor using the food to show why certain wines work with certain dishes.

Small, interactive classes

Classes are kept small and the format is interactive, not lecture-style. Your tutor will involve everyone and ask for your opinions. If you’re looking for wine classes for beginners, this gives you time to ask questions and join the discussion.

A foundation to build on

Experience-led rather than exam-based, but with the same structure used by professionals – a solid foundation if you want to take your wine education further.

Your Premium Beginners agenda

01

Settle in

Your session begins with a glass of sparkling wine – time to meet the other guests before the tasting starts.

02

An introduction to tasting

Your tutor introduces the International Systematic Approach to Wine Tasting in clear, practical language.

03

Sparkling, whites and reds

Taste a selection of sparkling, white and red wines from key wine-growing regions around the world, with each wine chosen to illustrate a particular style, region or technique.

04

Three-course menu

A three-course menu is served during the tasting, with discussion of why certain wines work with certain dishes.

05

Knowledge to take home

Leave with a clearer sense of the styles you enjoy and a practical framework for spotting quality.

A couple tasting wine on the beginners wine course in London
Guests with their favourite wines at an early bird wine course in London
A row of red wines on a white table
A tutor talking a guest through the tasting notes on our wine appreciation course in London

What Our Guests Say

Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely. No experience needed at all. The course is designed to be jargon-free and enjoyable from the first glass. Most of our guests are starting from scratch — and that’s exactly who it’s for.

Yes. The Premium Beginners Wine Course is our wine appreciation course in London, the perfect place to start if you want to enjoy wine more and understand what you’re drinking.

Three things: the wines, the venue and the tutors. You’ll taste a selection of premium wines at a hand-picked venue in central London, led by Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers and WSET Diploma holders. Add a three-course menu and a syllabus refined over 30 years.

Yes — it’s one of the most useful things you’ll take away. Your tutor will share practical tips for spotting value, avoiding common traps and choosing the right bottle.

The more you understand, the better your choices, and the more you’ll enjoy every glass. Get the best from any wine list, find great value at every price and learn to trust your palate. We make learning easy and clear, so you see exactly how grape variety, region and style shape what’s in the glass. That gives you a practical framework for choosing wine in any shop — without relying on just the label or the price tag.

Yes. Your tutor will show you how to spot the most common faults — including corked wine — so you’ll know when to send a bottle back.

A three-course menu is served throughout the session, and it’s very much part of the learning. Your tutor will use the dishes to show why certain wines complement certain flavours — so by the time you leave, you’ll have a much better instinct for pairing wine with food. If you have any dietary requirements or allergies, please let us know when you book.

The Premium Beginners is the full experience — white and red wines covered in a single session of 4–4.5 hours with a three-course meal. The White Wine Tasting and Red Wine Tasting are the same content split into shorter, standalone sessions, so they’re a good option if you prefer one over the other, have less time, or want to try before committing to the full day.

Absolutely — a large number of our guests come on their own. We always make sure solo guests are seated together, and it’s genuinely one of the things people love about the experience — many leave having made new friends, and some even stay in touch long after the class.

The Platinum pairs fine wines from top producers around the world with a five-course degustation menu — each course matched to bring out the best in the wine. It’s a wonderful experience for anyone who loves wine and food, whether you come with friends or on your own. The Premium Beginners is a broader introduction, covering the essentials across a range of styles and regions with a three-course menu. If you’re starting out, start here. If you already love wine and want an afternoon built around exceptional bottles and food, the Platinum is for you.

You can move to a different date with at least four weeks’ notice, for £25 per person. For full details, please see our terms and conditions.

Entirely up to you. Your tutor will use a spittoon throughout the session — that’s standard practice in professional tasting — so there’s no awkwardness if you’d prefer to spit. Equally, if you’d rather enjoy every sip, that’s absolutely fine too.

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Where this course is held

Our courses run in private rooms at hand-picked central London venues

Judy’s Dining Room at The Punch Bowl, Mayfair, one of our wine tasting venues in London

The Punch Bowl

Famously previously owned by Guy Ritchie and Madonna, The Punch Bowl is one of Mayfair’s most historic and celebrated pubs.
St Pancras Bar & Brasserie by Searcys on the Grand Terrace at St Pancras International

Searcys St Pancras

A private Tasting Room at St Pancras Bar & Brasserie by Searcys, on the Grand Terrace of St Pancras International in King’s Cross.

Explore More at The London Wine Academy

Enjoyed your course? Here’s where to go next.

Premium Beginners Wine Course - Sample Menu