WELCOME TO THE LONDON WINE ACADEMY
Our Story
Established in 1993, The London Wine Academy is proud to be one of the UK’s oldest independent wine schools. For over 30 years, we have been sharing the joy of wine through engaging and informative wine tastings, award-winning courses, bespoke wine events, and tailored staff engagement training.
At the heart of The London Wine Academy is a commitment to making the world of wine accessible, enjoyable, and inspiring for everyone—whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned enthusiast.
Meet our founder
Leta Bester, founder and director of The London Wine Academy, discovered her passion for wine while studying ‘Commerce and Wine Culture’ at Stellenbosch University, situated in the heart of South Africa’s Cape Winelands. Her journey has taken her across the globe, from exploring and studying in key viticultural regions to working in the Wine Trade in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK.
Leta completed her WSET Diploma in Wine in just five months and began the Master of Wine programme in the same year. After five years as a freelance wine educator, Leta’s vision grew into creating a global programme of structured wine courses, designed with a clear purpose: to make the world of wine approachable and exciting at all levels.
Our philosophy
- Guide participants on their wine appreciation journey.
- Demystify what’s in the glass with clear, practical insights.
- Help attendees improve their tasting skills and confidently select wines they’ll love.
We’re committed to delivering high-quality, value-driven wine education in a friendly, professional, and contemporary environment.
What our customers say
“Very knowledgeable, professional and friendly tutors and held in excellent venues. I also enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and meeting other wine and food enthusiasts” – Sue Davies
“Leta was a super instructor and host and struck the perfect balance between education and fun. We thoroughly enjoyed our Gourmet Wine and Food Matching Experience. Everything exceeded our expectations, and the food was superb” – Caroline M.
New Developments
We were also selected by the Comité de Champagne to offer their brand-new Champagne Professional training courses in the UK.
Sign up to the London Wine Academy today and ignite your senses!
Book one of our Wine Courses in London and discover the joy of understanding what is in your glass and how to pick your next wine with confidence.
Why should you choose us?
With unparalleled expertise, our educators are the very best in their field and include Masters of Wine, Wine Buyers and top Sommeliers. We understand that expertise is not everything and only use passionate people who have the ability to communicate and pass on knowledge, whatever your level.
So don’t delay! Book with us today…
OUR WINE EXPERTS
Our tutors are the very best in their field and include Masters of Wine, Wine Buyers and top Sommeliers. We understand that expertise is not everything and only use passionate people who have the ability to communicate and pass on knowledge, whatever your level.
WINE EVENTS AND TRAINING
We are experienced at organising bespoke wine events to suit your budget and requirements, whether for private or corporate entertainment. Please call us or see our separate corporate events brochure for more information. Staff training (restaurant, bar or retail) is also available and can be tailor-made to suit your company’s needs.
ONE DAY WINE TASTING COURSES
Our fun and informative Introductory One Day Workshops run at weekends throughout the year and are great for wine lovers of any standard seeking a comprehensive overview to the exciting world of wine. Our more specialised workshops for example the. Burgundy, Bordeaux or Champagne Workshops are tutored experts and will explore a region or subject in-depth. All workshops include a 2 or 3 course lunch and food and wine matching is always a key theme. Professional tasting glasses and course notes are provided for all workshops.
WEEKLY WINE COURSES
These longer win courses follow the systematic approach to wine tasting and cover all the main grape varieties, styles and regions of the world. Most wines are tasted “blind” or unseen so that you learn to judge the quality of a wine on merit, without any preconceptions. We aim to give you the tools to understand the wines that you are drinking and the knowledge to experiment with new styles and buy with confidence. Production methods, ageing potential, food matching, storage conditions, wine faults and other important issues are covered on all courses. Our Four Session Beginners course run over four 2 hour sessions.
From 2024 we are also offering the Comite de Champagne Official Champagne Specialist course. The only Wine School in the UK to offer this course.
WINE TASTING GIFT VOUCHERS
Wine tastings make the perfect gift for birthdays, Christmas, and special occasions. The Academy’s open-dated vouchers offer the recipient a wide choice ranging from One Day’s Beginner’s Sensory Tasting, Spanish Wine and Tapas Masterclasses , also taking home practical tips for wine and food matching.
Should you wish to give someone a wine tasting gift voucher for Christmas, birthdays or any special occasion, you will receive the voucher at the time of booking online via email. Vouchers can be booked for a specific date or you can book an open voucher redeemable against any of our courses (valid for 12 months from the date of purchase). Monetary Wine Tasting Gift Vouchers can be used towards any of our courses.
Full details to be found at: https://londonwineacademy.com/gift-vouchers/
