An Adventurer Tasting
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.
An Adventurer 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.
The White Wine Tasting is a 2-hour white wine tasting in London 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. You taste white wines from key regions side by side, including a sparkling style, with a two-course menu. Sample whites include White Burgundy, Sancerre, Alsace and the Rhône from France; Riesling from Germany; Pinot Grigio, Garganega and Albariño from Italy and Spain; and New World Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling. Led by Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers and WSET Diploma holders, the tasting covers the Systematic Approach to Tasting, how oak, stainless steel or amphorae shape a white wine, which whites are best young and which benefit from oak, why the same grape tastes different in different regions, and practical food pairing. Suitable for beginners, it costs £139 per person, and gift vouchers are available. The London Wine Academy was shortlisted as a finalist for the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Wine Educator / Communicator of the Year 2026.
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
2 hours
Wines
6 white wines
Menu
Two-course menu
Venue
The Punch Bowl, Mayfair
Level
Beginners
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 explore wines from renowned regions, learn what to look for in the glass and discover what makes each style unique.
Why is white wine more complex than people think?
More than meets the eye
Acidity, aromatics, residual sugar, serving temperature and the choice between oak and stainless steel fermentation all play a role.
One grape, two very different wines
A Chablis aged in stainless steel tastes completely different to a Meursault aged in oak – even though both are made from Chardonnay.
Climate matters
A cool region like the Loire Valley gives sharp acidity and distinct minerality, while warmer regions give riper, fuller, more fruit-forward wines.
Sample classic whites you’ll explore
Including a sparkling style, each wine is chosen to represent a specific grape, region or technique – from bone-dry Chablis or fantastic Gruner Veltliner to the Rhône’s Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne, and more.
What will I learn during the White Wine Tasting?
The Systematic Approach to Tasting
Your tutor guides you through each wine using the professional framework used by wine experts worldwide.
Tasting blind
You’ll taste wines without seeing the label, judging purely on what’s in your glass.
Fermenting and ageing in oak, stainless steel or amphorae, and the role of ageing
Which whites are best enjoyed young and crisp, which benefit from oak ageing, and how fermentation shapes flavour and texture.
Terroir and style
Why the same grape tastes different in different regions, and how production methods shape what ends up in your glass.
White wine and food
Practical pairing tips you can use at home.
Find what you like
No exams – it’s experience-led, refined over 30 years and designed to help you understand which styles you enjoy and why.
Agenda
- Start times may vary – please check your chosen date
- Please arrive 5–10 minutes early to settle in and meet your tutor
Settle in
Meet your tutor and the other guests.
An introduction to tasting
Your tutor outlines the session format and introduces the Systematic Approach to Tasting – the framework you’ll use for every wine.
Explore classic white styles
A selection of white wines, including a sparkling style, each chosen to illustrate a particular style, region or winemaking technique. You taste first, using the internationally recognised Systematic Approach to Tasting to assess what’s in the glass and form your own opinions. You then share observations with the group before the wines are revealed.
Food and wine
A two-course meal is woven through the tasting, with discussion of how food and wine pair together.
Practical knowledge to take home
Leave with a clearer sense of which white wine styles suit you, and practical knowledge you can use the next time you’re choosing a bottle.
What Our Guests Say
Frequently Asked Questions
How many white wines will I taste during the session?
You will taste six premium white wines, including a sparkling wine.
What white wine grape varieties will be covered?
- 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?
Where does the White Wine Tasting take place?
The White Wine Tasting takes place at our partner venues in central London. 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?
How long does the White Wine Tasting last?
Can I book the White Wine Tasting as a gift?
You May Also Like
See how grape variety, tannin, acidity and ageing shape flavour, and which reds deserve time in the cellar.
- Around 2 hours
- 2-Course Menu
- 6 Wines
Stellenbosch, Swartland and the wider Cape, with South African regional plates paired throughout.
- Around 2.5 hours
- Regional Plates Included
- 8 Wines
Champagne, Prosecco, Cava and English sparkling wine, paired with canapés and small plates chosen to complement the wines.
- Around 2.5 hours
- Canapés & Small Plates
- 8 Wines
Explore More at The London Wine Academy
Enjoyed your tasting? Here’s where to go next.