The Classic Beginners Wine Course

Q: Do I need any prior wine knowledge?

No prior wine knowledge is needed at all. The Classic Beginners Wine Course at The London Wine Academy is designed for complete beginners. Your tutor — holding a WSET Diploma, Master of Wine qualification or Master Sommelier certification — will guide you through everything in straightforward, jargon-free language. Over 50,000 students have taken this course since 1993, many with no wine experience whatsoever.

Q: Is the Classic Beginners Wine Course still available?

Yes, the Classic Beginners Wine Course is available on selected dates throughout the year. It offers the same curriculum as The London Wine Academy's Premium Beginners Wine Course — 4 hours of guided blind tasting across 9 to 11 wines with a 2-course menu — but at the early-bird price of £199 per person. Places are limited and dates sell out, so early booking is recommended.

Q: What is the best course for a complete beginner?

The Classic Beginners Wine Course or the Premium Beginners Wine Course are both ideal for complete beginners. Both cover the same immersive, experience-led curriculum — professional tasting techniques, grape varieties, wine regions, food pairing and how to spot quality. The Classic is the early-bird option at £199; the Premium is £229 and includes a 3-course menu instead of 2. Both run at The Punch Bowl in Mayfair and The Duke of Sussex in Waterloo.

Q: Do you offer anything shorter than a full beginners' course?

Yes. The London Wine Academy runs 2-hour Adventurer Tastings in the evening, priced at £139 per person. These focus on a single theme — such as the White Wine Tasting or Red Wine Tasting — and include a 2-course menu. They are perfect if you want a shorter introduction or an enjoyable evening out with friends.

Q: Are early-bird places available on every date?

No. Early-bird places at £199 are only available on selected dates and in limited numbers. Once the early-bird allocation for a date sells out, remaining places are sold at the standard Premium price of £229. Check the course dates page for current availability.

Q: How far in advance do I need to book an early-bird place?

Early-bird places can sell out several weeks in advance, particularly for popular weekend dates. Booking as early as possible gives you the best chance of securing a place at £199. The London Wine Academy recommends booking at least 3 to 4 weeks ahead for weekend dates.

Q: What price points are the wines?

The wines tasted during the Classic Beginners Wine Course range from everyday drinking wines to premium bottles, giving you a real sense of the quality spectrum. Your tutor will explain what drives price differences — from grape variety and region to winemaking techniques and ageing — so you can make smarter choices at every budget. All wines are independently selected by The London Wine Academy.

Our early-bird saver route into beginner wine education — the same expert-led curriculum as the Premium course, at an exceptional price.

Level

Beginners

Duration

4 hours

Location

The Punch Bowl, Mayfair
Duke of Sussex, Waterloo

Two-Course Menu

Price

Early Bird Saver Tickets from £199 per person

Welcome to The Classic Beginners Wine Course

A clear, confidence-building introduction to wine with practical guidance you can use in real life.

If you have ever felt overwhelmed by wine lists, intimidated by sommeliers or stuck choosing the same familiar bottles, you are not alone.

Many people come to us because they want to understand wine better but do not know where to begin. Our beginner experiences are designed to help you build confidence, discover new favourites and enjoy wine in a way that feels approachable, practical and genuinely enjoyable.

You will taste a range of wines blind, learn to recognise quality for yourself, and begin to understand the key factors that shape flavour. Everything you learn is designed to be immediately useful — whether you are choosing wine in a shop, ordering in a restaurant or entertaining at home.

The Classic Beginners Wine Course is The London Wine Academy’s early-bird saver route into beginner wine education in London, with tickets from £199 per person on selected dates. Established in 1993 and rated 4.6 on Google, the Academy has welcomed over 50,000 students and remains one of the UK’s longest-running independent wine schools. The course covers the same curriculum as the Premium Beginners Wine Course — 4 hours of guided blind tasting across 9 to 11 wines, with a two-course menu included. This is experience-led wine education, not an exam — designed to build your confidence and enjoyment. All tutors hold a WSET Diploma, Master of Wine qualification or Master Sommelier certification. Available on limited dates with restricted spaces, it’s ideal if you’re flexible on timing and want exceptional value. The course runs at The Punch Bowl in Mayfair and The Duke of Sussex in Waterloo.

What will I learn during the Beginners Wine Course?

You will be introduced to wine in a clear, engaging and confidence-building way, with guided blind tasting, practical explanation and straightforward teaching that makes sense in real life.

You will learn the Systematic Approach to Tasting in a clear, practical way, giving you a reliable framework for understanding wine more confidently. While our courses are designed to be enjoyable rather than exam-led, this structure forms the foundation of professional wine tasting and gives you a sound base to build on.

Blind tasting plays an important role throughout, helping you focus on flavour, structure and genuine quality rather than labels or assumptions.

You will also begin to recognise the styles you naturally enjoy, understand what makes wines taste different from one another, and gain straightforward guidance for choosing wine in shops and restaurants with greater confidence.

how to taste wine in a clear and structured way
what makes wines taste different from one another
how grape variety, climate and winemaking influence flavour
how to recognise quality more confidently
how to identify the styles you naturally enjoy
practical guidance for choosing wine in shops and restaurants
simple and effective food and wine pairing principles
a stronger understanding of how to taste, choose and enjoy wine with confidence

Our current recommended route for beginners

For many years, the Classic Beginners Wine Course was the route through which people first discovered The London Wine Academy.

Today, our most complete beginner experience is the Premium Beginners Wine Course. For those booking ahead, a limited number of Early Bird Saver Ticket places at a reduced rate, from £199, are released on selected dates, giving you access to this fuller beginner day at a lower entry price.

If you would like the most complete beginner experience, with a fuller lunch and a little more depth, this is the route we would usually recommend.

Your Beginners Course Agenda

Start times may vary; please check your chosen date for the correct schedule. Please arrive 5–10 minutes early to settle in before the class begins.

The Classic Beginners Wine Course moves at a clear, focused pace. You will begin with a short introduction before moving into a series of guided blind tastings designed to build confidence and sharpen your palate.

Across 9–11 wines, you will explore essential styles, understand what shapes flavour, and see how different grapes and regions compare. A two-course menu is served during the session to help bring simple, effective food and wine pairing to life.

You will leave with practical confidence, clearer preferences and a stronger understanding of how to taste and choose wine.

Looking for a shorter or different option?

Not everyone is looking for a full beginners’ day. If you would prefer something shorter, more focused or at a different price point, you may also enjoy one of our other beginner-friendly wine experiences.

Discover our Voyager Wine Masterclasses

A great choice if you would like a themed wine experience in a shorter format.

Our Adventurer White Wine Tastings

Ideal if you would like a more focused introduction through white wines.

Our Adventurer Red Wine Tastings

Perfect if you prefer reds and would like a shorter, practical tasting experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need any prior wine knowledge?

Not at all. Our beginner courses are designed to be approachable, practical and jargon-free, so they are ideal for anyone starting out or looking to build confidence.

Is the Classic Beginners Wine Course still available?

Our beginners’ offering has evolved over time. Today, our main beginner day experience is the Premium Beginners Wine Course, with a limited number of early-bird places available on selected dates from £199 when booked in advance.

What is the best course for a complete beginner?

For most people, we recommend the Premium Beginners Wine Course. It offers the fullest and most complete introduction to wine in a clear, practical and beginner-friendly format.

Do you offer anything shorter than a full beginners’ course?

Yes. We also offer themed wine masterclasses as well as shorter white wine and red wine tasting experiences.

Are early-bird places available on every date?

No. Early-bird places are limited, available on selected dates only, and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. They are offered at a reduced rate, are non-refundable, non-transferable and no date changes are permitted.

How far in advance do I need to book an early-bird place?

Early-bird places close at least 4 weeks before the class date, subject to availability. They are only valid for the date booked.

What price points are the wines?

Wines tasted are typically between £18 and £40 a bottle retail.

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.