Practical, interactive wine tastings with carefully selected wines, experienced tutors and food included — in the heart of London. No experience needed.
A good wine tasting should do more than introduce you to a selection of wines. It should help you understand what you are tasting, recognise the styles you enjoy and feel more confident when choosing wine for yourself.
The London Wine Academy has been running wine tasting in London since 1993. Our tastings are practical, interactive and experience-led — combining guided tasting, clear explanations and wine and food matching in a way that makes wine easier to understand and more enjoyable to explore.
You do not need any previous wine knowledge. We welcome complete beginners as well as people who already enjoy wine but would like to understand it more clearly.
Wine is best understood by tasting and comparing it. Rather than telling you what a wine should taste like, we help you recognise its character for yourself.
Your tutor will guide you through each wine and explain the grape variety, region, climate and winemaking decisions that have shaped it. You will compare different wines, learn what to look for and begin to understand why you prefer some styles to others. Depending on the tasting you choose, you will learn how to:
The atmosphere is informal and welcoming, but the content has real depth. Questions and discussion are encouraged throughout.
Expert-led wine tasting experiences in the heart of London, since 1993.
Over more than three decades, we have developed our own practical and interactive approach to wine tasting. It keeps you involved, encourages you to trust your own palate and helps you understand why wines taste as they do — rather than simply accepting what the label or tasting note tells you.
Some of the techniques we use may be unexpected, but that is part of what makes the experience so effective. It is a method refined since 1993 and experienced by more than 50,000 students. The difference is far easier to understand once you are in the room.
Food is included in every London Wine Academy tasting, because wine is rarely enjoyed in isolation. The menus are chosen to support the tasting and show how food changes the way a wine tastes — how acidity, sweetness, tannin, body and flavour interact with different dishes, and why some combinations work better than others.
Depending on the tasting you choose, this ranges from a two-course menu to a five-course fine-wine matching menu. Food, wine, tuition and venue are all included in the ticket price. Vegetarian guests and those with dietary requirements can be accommodated — you will provide the relevant details during booking.
From two-hour themed tastings to our one-day beginners course — every one includes wine, food and expert tuition. Prices from £139.
A two-hour guided tasting of red wines from key global regions, with a two-course menu included.
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A two-hour guided tasting exploring white wine styles from France, New Zealand, Spain and beyond.
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Our main one-day introduction to wine. 4h 15m with a 3–4 course lunch. No experience needed.
View & BookDeep-dive 2.5-hour masterclasses on French, Italian, Spanish, English, South African and Port wines — plus our seasonal Sparkling & Champagne masterclass. Each from £169, with a 4-course tapas menu.
Explore MasterclassesWe have taught more than 50,000 people over three decades, making us one of the UK's longest-running independent wine schools.
Our team includes WSET Diploma holders, Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers with extensive teaching and wine-trade experience.
Our tastings are informative without being intimidating. No previous knowledge is needed, and questions are always encouraged.
Each wine is chosen to demonstrate something specific, so you can compare styles and understand the differences for yourself.
Every course includes food, with menus ranging from two to five courses depending on the experience.
Your ticket includes the wines, food, tuition, course materials and venue.
Central London — venues in Mayfair and St James's, including The Punch Bowl, 41 Farm Street, London W1J 5RP.
Small groups. Relaxed and sociable, not lecture-style.
All wines, food (2–5 courses depending on the tasting), tuition, venue and materials.
None. Every tasting welcomes complete beginners.
Book online, or redeem a gift voucher against any tasting.
No. Complete beginners are welcome at all our wine tastings. Where a course goes into greater depth, this is made clear in its description, but no formal qualifications are required.
Our two-hour wine tastings start from £139 per person. Beginners courses start from £199, masterclasses from £169 and fine-wine experiences from £279. Wine, food, tuition and the venue are included.
Our focused tastings last approximately two hours. Masterclasses generally last around two and a half hours, while beginners and fine-wine experiences last approximately four hours. The precise timing is shown on each course page.
The number varies according to the course. Our beginners courses include more than ten wines, while shorter tastings use a focused selection chosen to illustrate the subject clearly.
Yes. Every public course includes food, ranging from a two-course menu to a five-course fine-wine menu. Please provide dietary requirements during the booking process.
Absolutely. Many guests come alone. Our tastings are welcoming and sociable, and solo guests quickly become part of the group.
No. Spittoons are available and are useful when tasting several wines, but using them is entirely your choice.
Yes. Open-dated gift vouchers are available and can be redeemed against our public wine tastings and courses. They are valid for 12 months.
Whether you want an accessible introduction, a deeper masterclass or a fine-wine experience with food, The London Wine Academy offers a practical and enjoyable way to understand what is in your glass. Choose your wine tasting, select a date and book online.
The London Wine Academy offers wine tasting in London, with experiences from £139 per person. Established in 1993 and rated 4.6 on Google, we are one of the UK's longest-running independent wine schools, having welcomed over 50,000 students. Tastings range from two-hour themed sessions to full-day courses, all held at venues in Mayfair and St James's, with wine, food and tuition included. Tutors include WSET Diploma holders, Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers.
