7 October 2023 15:00
Welcome to the wonderful world of blind wine tasting! Wondering what it’s all about? Is it just a lot of bluffing?! Join us as we explore how we even begin to tell different wines apart! This first session will introduce you to the basics of blind wine tasting, including a preliminary look into recognising acid, Continue reading
15 October 2023 19:30
‘Bankers’ (Frequently Encountered Wines) Have you ever experienced that flash of memory, the gut feeling of “I swear I’ve had this before” after taking a sip of wine? Well, you are not alone! There are a number of ubiquitous, well-known, easily recognisable wines with a distinctive palate and aroma, which we call “Bankers”. Our next session to Continue reading
22 October 2023 19:30
Old World vs New World Have you ever wondered how you can tell if a wine is from France or California? Italy or Australia? And what the difference is between Syrah and Shiraz? In this beginner-friendly session, we will explore how to identify the place of origin of a wine. Broadly speaking, ‘Old World’ means Europe, while Continue reading
29 October 2023 19:30
Acid and Tannins Why is my mouth watering? What’s that grippy, sticky feeling on my teeth? This Sunday, we will learn about two of the most useful distinguishing features of wine: acid and tannins. What makes a wine fresh? Flabby? Is there really a difference between the taste of various acids? You’ll learn all about why your Continue reading
5 November 2023 19:30
Alcohol and Ripeness Climate, or terroir, affects both the alcohol level and ripeness of a wine: a grape varietal grown in a warmer climate is likely to be higher in alcohol and how ripe the fruit smells and tastes than if grown in a cooler climate. In this session, we’ll take a deeper dive into wines with differing levels of alcohol and ripeness. You’ll discover why Continue reading
12 November 2023 19:30
Oak and Quality This wine smells like toast! Wines were stored and sold in barrels for millennia before the era of glass bottles. Now that oak barrels aren’t needed any more, and given that a barrel can cost hundreds of pounds – why do winemakers bother? Join us this week to explore the world of Continue reading
19 November 2023 19:30
Age This week we will learn all about one of the most exciting aspects of wine: the way it matures. Which wines are best drunk young, and which ones can be aged for years? What does time do to a wine? How long are different wines usually aged for? Does old, aged wine mean better Continue reading
26 November 2023 19:30
Food and Wine Pairings If you’ve ever wondered why certain foods are paired with specific wines (steak and red Bordeaux, anyone?), this will be your chance to find out! Perfect to prepare for the holiday season, for those guests coming for Christmas dinner, to show off that new-found wine knowledge you’ve (possibly) amassed over the Continue reading
1 October 2024 12:00
Purchase a set of 6 ISO standard tasting glasses – recognised worldwide as the international standard for professional tasting of all styles of wine. You will need your own set of glasses for every tasting session after the intro tastings. Also ideal for punting trips and hosting wine tastings in the comfort of your own Continue reading
1 October 2024 12:00
Purchase the society’s blind wine tasting guide, which provides details on how to taste and distinguish different wines. Useful for tasting sessions, essential if you want to trial for the competitive team. We do not currently have stock of books, and will print soon, available via pre-order only. Continue reading