Berry Bros. & Rudd's 6-Week Introductory Wine Course, Tuesdays, 25th February to 1st April 2025
Tutored Tastings
Treat yourself, your family or a client to one of our exclusive tutored tastings. One of our experts will guide you through a range of wines or spirits while educating you on the evening’s topic. From style and regional focusses to cheese and wine pairings, these are unmissable chances to broaden your wine and spirits knowledge.
When is a wine ready to drink?
We provide drinking windows for all our wines. Alongside the drinking windows there is a bottle icon and a maturity stage. Bear in mind that the best time to drink a wine does also depend on your taste.
Not ready
These wines are very young. Whilst they're likely to have lots of intense flavours, their acidity or tannins may make them feel austere. Although it isn't "wrong" to drink these wines now, you are likely to miss out on a lot of complexity by not waiting for them to mature.
Ready - youthful
These wines are likely to have plenty of fruit flavours still and, for red wines, the tannins may well be quite noticeable. For those who prefer younger, fruitier wines, or if serving alongside a robust meal, these will be very enjoyable. If you choose to hold onto these wines, the fruit flavours will evolve into more savoury complexity.
Ready - at best
These wines are likely to have a beautiful balance of fruit, spice and savoury flavours. The acidity and tannins will have softened somewhat, and the wines will show plenty of complexity. For many, this is seen as the ideal time to drink and enjoy these wines. If you choose to hold onto these wines, they will become more savoury but not necessarily more complex.
Ready - mature
These wines are likely to have plenty of complexity, but the fruit flavours will have been almost completely replaced by savoury and spice notes. These wines may have a beautiful texture at this stage of maturity. There is lots to enjoy when drinking wines at this stage. Most of these wines will hold in this window for a few years, though at the very end of this drinking window, wines start to lose complexity and decline.
Book
Description
Our comprehensive six-week Introduction to Wine Course has been created specifically for beginners to wine. Based in our historic London cellars, this unique wine course will give you the opportunity to build your knowledge and confidence.
Over the course of six evenings, your tutor, Victoria Bubb, will take you on an enriching wine journey in a relaxed and informal setting. With more than 50 high-quality wines to sample, you will discover over 15 iconic grape varieties and many of the key styles from across the globe. You will also look at matching wine with food and deciphering wine labels, while discussing serving tips and techniques.
The journey will start by understanding the components that make up the wine in your glass. During this wine course, you will be able to ask all of your burning wine-related questions, challenge common wine myths and gain confidence in describing wine as you cover basic tasting techniques, discover your preferences and the reasons behind them.
Every session will begin with a delicious apéritif before you are seated in our Pickering Cellar with your fellow students to taste and learn. Each week you will also have a varying selection of cheese and charcuterie to enjoy, alongside our chef’s homemade gougères and freshly baked bread.
Upon completion of this wine course, you will have gained confidence and knowledge, enabling you to choose wines you enjoy in both restaurants and your local wine merchant. You will also receive your own copy of our bespoke "Exploring & Tasting Wine" textbook (RRP £30), which will serve as a comprehensive guide to revisit whenever you desire.
The course will follow the below outline, with the emphasis firmly on learning through taste:
Session one: Tuesday 25th February 2025
What is in a glass of wine and how to sense it?
Session two: Tuesday 4th March 2025
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon
Session three: Tuesday 11th March 2025
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot
Session four: Tuesday 18th March 2025
Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Chenin Blanc
Session five: Tuesday 25th March 2025
Pinot Noir, Gamay, Syrah/Shiraz and Zinfandel
Session six: Tuesday 1st April 2025
Grenache, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and a review of all grape varieties covered
Wines to be tasted: the exact line-up of wines for this tasting is still to be determined and will be published closer to the time of the event.
Dress code: smart casual
Event details
Delivery and quality guarantee