The London Wine Academy

The London Wine Academy The wine school for curious minds. Beginner courses to fine wine and food pairings & corporate events

Regular Venues:

London:
Dukes London
The Athenaeum, Mayfair
St James Hotel & Club
The Atlas

Dorset:
The Green House
Bourne Gardens
The Bunker (Christchurch)
Stanwell House Hotel (Lymington)

07/08/2026

The first surprise came before dinner: a golden welcome cocktail made with Gravelines Moelleux, served over ice and lemon.

Fresh, delicious and entirely unexpected, it delighted guests as they arrived.
Later, the same wine returned to the table with hand-dived scallops - revealing a completely different expression and setting the theme for the evening: the remarkable versatility of the wines and the diversity of the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux Region.

Hosted by our Director, Leta Bester, alongside Emma Baudry, Manager of the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region, this first evening in the Supper Club Series brought wine professionals together at St James’s Hotel & Club on 3 August to discover the region through its producers, wines and food.

Chef William Drabble’s menu provided the canvas for a series of pairings created by Leta, each chosen to draw out a different aspect of the wines. The Gravelines Moelleux from Olivier Fleury was a particular highlight: first as an uplifting aperitif, then alongside the richness and delicacy of the scallops.

Together, Leta and Emma Baudry introduced the people, places and stories behind the bottles, offering everyone around the table a deeper understanding of the appellations and terroirs that shape the Region.

For us, it was an evening of unexpected expressions, new pairings and discoveries that challenged a few assumptions along the way.
The first Supper Club - and the beginning of a much wider story.

Keep your eyes peeled for your chance to join us in October.


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17/07/2026

Ever heard of a grape that never quite made it at home but became a star abroad? 🍇

Meet Bacchus - named after the Roman god of wine, winemaking and celebrations, who, according to mythology, was born not once but twice.
Bacchus was bred in 1933 at Germany's Geilweilerhof Institute from a complex crossing of Silvaner × Riesling with Müller-Thurgau, with the aim of producing an early-ripening grape with an intensely aromatic character.

In Germany, however, it never quite found its place. Its naturally lower acidity gradually fell out of favour with local tastes, and plantings have declined to less than 2% today.
Cross the Channel, though, and the story changes completely.

England's cooler climate preserves Bacchus's freshness and vibrant acidity, bringing out classic aromas of gooseberry, elderflower and citrus that have earned it frequent comparisons with Sauvignon Blanc. Today, it's the fourth most-planted grape variety in England and Wales, behind Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

Its defining moment came in 2017, when Winbirri Vineyard's 2015 Bacchus was named Best White Single-Varietal Wine in the World at the Decanter World Wine Awards - a landmark achievement that helped put English still white wine firmly on the international map.

So the grape named after the Roman god of wine ultimately found its greatest success not in Germany, but on English soil.

Curious to taste the story for yourself? It's exactly these kinds of fascinating wine stories that we love sharing on our courses.
We'd love to welcome you to a class. 🍷



13/07/2026

There's something rather special about spending a Saturday tasting wine, sharing good food and meeting people who share your curiosity. 🍷

This weekend, guests on our Premium Beginners Wine Course experienced a guided blind tasting of a carefully selected range of wines, from crisp sparkling to robust reds, all paired with a delicious three-course lunch.

A special thank you to our tutor, Matt Day , whose knowledge, engaging teaching style and passion for wine helped make the day such a success.
And, as always, thank you to the team at , Mayfair, for the excellent food and warm hospitality.

If you'd like to join our next Premium Beginners Wine Course - or explore our other classes - head to the link in our bio. 🍷



08/07/2026

Looking for the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon?

Start with a classic oyster and wine pairing before taking a journey through the wines of France, from Burgundy and the Loire to Alsace and beyond.

Over 2½ hours, you'll taste eight carefully selected wines and enjoy a delicious four-course French-inspired lunch. More importantly, you'll discover why France has shaped the way the world talks about wine, and why understanding just a few simple principles will give you the confidence to choose French wine with ease.

You'll also see how French wine is evolving today, with exciting new producers, exceptional value and fresh, food-friendly styles that many people have yet to discover.

From fresh oysters and a beautifully paired steak to a classic Tarte Tatin, it's a relaxed afternoon of wonderful food, great wine and good company in the heart of Mayfair.

📅 Saturday 18 July | 12.30 pm
📍 The Punch Bowl, Mayfair
💷 £169 per person – including eight wines and a four-course French-inspired lunch

With the summer heat continuing - and the football on everywhere else - it's the perfect excuse to spend a leisurely Saturday afternoon enjoying some of France's finest wines.

Places are limited, and we'd love to welcome you.
Book via the link in our bio or [email protected]



30/06/2026

A different side of Bordeaux is about to come to London.

For the past two years, we've had the privilege of working with the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux Region, introducing its wines through a series of importer tastings and lunches.
Now, for the first time, we're opening that journey to a much wider audience of wine professionals.

Over the coming year, The London Wine Academy will be hosting a series of Premières Côtes de Bordeaux Region Supper Clubs - bringing together sommeliers, wine educators, buyers, journalists, content creators and other wine professionals to discover one of Bordeaux's most diverse yet least explored regions.

What makes the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux Region truly unique is that it is the only region in Bordeaux to produce all six Bordeaux wine styles – Crémant, dry white, rosé, Clairet, red and luscious golden late-harvest wines.

Beyond the diversity of styles lies something even more compelling: 145 family-owned wineries across eight appellations, each with its own story to tell, yet all united by a shared passion for producing wines of character, authenticity and outstanding value.

These private Supper Clubs will bring those stories to life through exceptional food and wine pairings, conversations with fellow wine professionals and the opportunity to discover a region that deserves to be far better known.

Attendance will be by application, with places carefully allocated to create a diverse mix of buyers, sommeliers, educators, journalists, content creators and other wine professionals.

Watch this space for details on how to apply for your place.




26/06/2026

English Wine Week 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🍾

Did you know that England is now officially a wine country?! And this week, lets take a moment to celebrate that.

English Wine Week runs 20–28 June 2026 - an annual celebration coordinated by WineGB that shines a spotlight on the vineyards, winemakers, and remarkable wines being produced right here at home.

The story of English wine is one of the most interesting in the wine world right now. And most people still only know half of it.
So consider this your invitation to discover it properly.

Part 2 is coming - and it might just change how you think about what's growing in our own backyard.

👉 Tap the link in bio to explore our Premium English Wine Masterclass.




26/06/2026

Orange wine is – surprisingly – not made from oranges.

If you've spotted it on a wine list and quietly wondered what on earth it means, you're in very good company. Orange wine is having a very loud moment in the wine world right now, and we're here to help you understand why, what and how.

It starts with white grapes. Orange wine can be made from almost any white grape variety. Producers around the world use everything from Pinot Grigio and Gewürztraminer to Ribolla Gialla, Rkatsiteli and countless others. The colour doesn't come from the grape variety itself – it comes from the way the wine is made.

What makes it orange is the process. Instead of following the usual white wine route – where the juice is separated from the skins almost immediately after pressing – producers leave the juice in contact with the grape skins during fermentation, often for days, weeks or even months. This skin contact extracts colour, tannins and flavour compounds from the skins, giving orange wine its distinctive amber hue and characteristic texture.

A useful way to think about it is this: orange wine is made from white grapes using a technique more commonly associated with red winemaking.
The technique is actually ancient. In Georgia – the country, not the state – winemakers have been fermenting white grapes in large buried clay vessels called qvevri (pronounced kweh-vree) for thousands of years, often with the skins, seeds and sometimes stems included. These wines can remain in contact with the grape solids for several months, producing deeply coloured, structured amber wines. This tradition was recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013.

The name, however, is relatively new. British wine importer David A. Harvey is widely credited with popularising the term "orange wine" in 2004 to describe these skin-contact white wines.

What we're seeing today in wine bars and on wine lists is the rediscovery of something very old – a traditional winemaking technique that produces wines with distinctive colours, textures and flavours, offering a fascinating alternative to conventional white wine.




24/06/2026

📅 29 June – 2 July 2025

Less than a week to go - and we can't wait.

On Monday, we head to the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux Region for an exclusive wine buyers' trip - three days of producer visits, vineyard tastings, and trade dinners in one of Bordeaux's most characterful corners.

We'll be sharing glimpses along the way, so keep your eyes open.

Find out more www.londonwineacademy.com/premieres-cotes-de-bordeaux-region/

This project is part of The EU Fab 6 – Savour the PDO and PGI Wines from Europe, co-funded by the European Union.




19/06/2026

We're thrilled to be joining the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux Region at the end of June for an exclusive wine buyers' trip
📅 29 June – 2 July 2025

Three days of vineyard visits, producer tastings, and trade dinners await - a valuable and rewarding opportunity to explore the diversity, freshness, and character of this remarkable corner of Bordeaux.

Make sure to keep your eyes open for snippets from the trip!

Find out more
www.londonwineacademy.com/premieres-cotes-de-bordeaux-region/

This project is part of The EU Fab 6 – Savour the PDO and PGI Wines from Europe, co-funded by the European Union.



11/06/2026

Premium Beginners Wine Course | Special Offer - Ends 17 June

Discover wine - and develop the confidence to choose, buy and enjoy it with far greater certainty.

The Premium Beginners Wine Course is our most complete introduction to wine. Over a full day in central London, you'll explore the major regions, grape varieties and styles that matter most - guided by an expert tutor who makes it practical, immersive and genuinely enjoyable.

Taste a carefully curated range of wines alongside a 3-course lunch, and leave understanding not just what you like, but why - giving you the knowledge to make better choices wherever you buy or order.

Led by our specialist tutors, this small-group experience goes beyond tasting. No prior wine knowledge required. No exams. Just a well-hosted day that changes the way you think about wine.

✔ Specialist-led wine day
✔ Premium curated wine tasting
✔ 3-course lunch included
✔ Small-group learning experience
✔ No prior wine knowledge required

Usually £229 – now only £199 for June & July
Offer ends 17 June.
Use code PREMIUM2026-JUNE at checkout.

londonwineacademy.com/courses/premium-beginners-wine-course/




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