The Premium Beginners Wine Course
The Premium Beginners Wine Course London
An enjoyable and confidence-building introduction to wine, with blind tasting, a three-course menu and a practical approach that makes wine easier to understand and enjoy.
Level
Beginners
Duration
4.15 hours
Location
Duke of Sussex, Waterloo
Menu
Three- to Four-Course Menu
Price
From
£229
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Welcome to The Premium Beginners Wine Course London
If you’ve 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 London is a guided tasting experience in Mayfair, London, run by The London Wine Academy.
Wines are tasted blind — without seeing the label first — 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.
You’re guided by Masters of Wine trained Tutors, WSET Diploma holders and Master Sommeliers, with a syllabus refined over more than 30 years. It’s experience-led wine education designed to leave you more confident, more curious and with a deeper understanding of wine.
The Beginners Wine Course London is a 4-hour and 15-minute immersive wine experience in central London, run by The London Wine Academy — established in 1993, rated 4.6 on Google and trusted by over 50,000 students. At £229 per person, this is not an exam-style class. It’s an independent, experience-led introduction to wine for people who want to learn by tasting, not by textbook. You’ll taste more than 10 wines from France, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina — all blind, so you focus on flavour rather than labels. Your tutor — holding a WSET Diploma, Master of Wine qualification or Master Sommelier certification — will walk you through professional tasting techniques in straightforward language, covering grape varieties, regions, food pairing and how to spot quality. The format is integrative and sociable, following an independently curated syllabus refined over three decades. A three-course lunch is included. The course runs at The Punch Bowl in Mayfair and The Duke of Richmond in Hackney.
What will I learn on the Premium Beginners Wine Course London?
On the Premium Beginners Wine Course you’ll start the day with a glass of sparkling wine to settle in, and from there your tutor will guide you through a structured tasting of white and red wines from key wine-growing regions around the world.
You’ll be introduced to the Systematic Approach to Tasting — the professional framework used across the wine trade — taught in straightforward, practical language that you can use long after the course is over. Even though our courses are experience-led rather than exam-based, you’re learning with the same structure used by professionals, so if you ever want to take your wine education further, you’ll already have a solid foundation.
By the end of the session, you’ll have a clearer sense of the styles you enjoy, a practical framework for spotting quality, and the confidence to order, choose and talk about wine without second-guessing yourself.
What to expect on the day
A three-course menu is woven into the session, with your tutor using the food to show why certain wines work with certain dishes in a way that makes sense at your own table.
It’s consistently one of the things our guests comment on — that the day was better than they expected, that they learned more than they thought they would, and that they’d love to come back. Many do.
Your session begins with a glass of sparkling wine — time to settle in, meet the other guests and relax before the tasting starts.
From there, your tutor takes you through a structured programme of white and red wines, introducing you to the Systematic Approach to Tasting — the professional framework used across the wine trade — in language that’s clear and practical, not academic.
Classes are kept small and the format is interactive, not lecture-style. Your tutor will involve everyone, ask for your opinions and make sure nobody is left out. Think of it more like a dinner party hosted by someone who really knows wine than a classroom. There’s plenty of laughter, and by the halfway point, things start to click — styles begin to make sense, your confidence builds, and you start to trust your own palate.
Before you book
The Beginners Wine in London Start times vary by date — please check your chosen session for the correct schedule. We recommend arriving five to ten minutes early to settle in and meet the other guests before the class begins.
The session runs for approximately four hours, with a three-course menu served during the tasting. Everything is included in the ticket price.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is thie Premium Beginners Wine Course London suitable for complete beginners?
Absolutely. No experience needed at all. The course is designed to be relaxed, jargon-free and enjoyable from the first glass. Most of our guests are starting from scratch — and that’s exactly who it’s for.
What makes this course "premium"?
Three things: the wines, the venue and the tutors. You’ll taste 10 premium wines at The Punch Bowl in Mayfair, led by Masters of Wine trained Tutors, WSET Diploma holders and Master Sommeliers — each with decades of real trade experience. Add a three-course menu and a syllabus refined over 30 years, and you’ll take away more in one afternoon than most courses cover in two days.
Will I learn how to read a restaurant wine list?
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 with confidence.
How do I know which wines to buy in a shop after the course?
By the end of the session you’ll understand how grape variety, region and style affect 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.
Will the course cover how to spot wine faults?
Yes. Your tutor will show you how to spot the most common faults — including corked wine — so you’ll feel confident sending a bottle back if it’s not right.
What food will be served and how does it tie into the course?
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.
How is this course different from the individual White or Red Wine Tasting experiences?
The Premium Beginners is the full experience — white and red wines covered in a single four-hour session 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.
Can I come on my own?
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.
What is the difference between the Platinum Fine Wine Experience and the Premium Beginners Course?
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.
What happens if I need to cancel or change my date?
You can transfer to a different date up to four weeks before your class for a small admin fee. For full details, please see our terms and conditions.
Do I need to spit the wine?
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.
