Tasting Online

Beginners' wine tasting — online

Six wines, a structured framework, no jargon. A 90-minute session for anyone who wants to learn to taste properly.

Six wines

A kit of six 187 ml samples covering dry white, rosé, sparkling, light red, full red and sweet — posted to you in advance.

Live host

A WSET-qualified host pours each wine and leads a structured tasting conversation, covering appearance, nose and palate.

90 minutes

The session moves at a relaxed pace. No prior wine knowledge is expected or needed.

No jargon

The focus is on describing what you actually taste, not matching textbook descriptors. Every observation is valid.

How the session works

Order your kit at least five days before the session date so the wines arrive in time. On the evening of 12 November, join via the video link sent with your booking confirmation. The session opens at 19:00 GMT and runs for 90 minutes.

Your host — a WSET-qualified taster — pours each of the six wines in sequence and leads a structured conversation using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting: appearance, nose, palate. You will build the habit of describing wines in your own words — what you actually experience — rather than trying to match a list of standard descriptors. By the end of the session, you should be able to apply the same framework to any wine you try at home.

What you will taste

The six bottles cover the main wine styles. Roughly in tasting order: a crisp dry white (typically Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio), a rosé, a sparkling wine, a lighter-bodied red (Pinot Noir or Gamay), a fuller red (Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah/Shiraz) and a sweet wine. This range introduces the concepts of acidity, body, tannin and sweetness in a practical context. The main grape varieties guide has flavour profiles for the key grapes you will encounter.

If you want to understand your own palate preferences before or after the session, the seven-question style questionnaire takes under three minutes and maps your answers to wine styles.

Kit delivery: UK mainland only for the posted sample option. International participants can join the session with locally sourced equivalents — a wine list is provided on booking. Booking deadline: 7 November 2026. Corrections via the contact form.

Prepare for the session

05 · Taste — Guide How to taste wine 01 · Grape — Guide Main grape varieties Tool Style questionnaire Events All wine events

Questions

About the online tasting.

What wines are in the tasting kit?
The six-bottle kit covers the main wine styles: a crisp dry white (typically Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio), a rosé, a sparkling wine, a light red (typically Pinot Noir or Gamay), a full-bodied red (Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah) and a sweet wine. The specific producers change each month. All are 187 ml individual bottles. For a preview of the styles you'll encounter, the main grape varieties guide covers the flavour profiles of the key grapes.
How does a structured tasting work?
The WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT) moves through three stages: appearance (colour depth and hue), nose (aroma intensity and character) and palate (sweetness, acidity, tannin, alcohol, body, flavour and finish). You'll use this framework for each wine in the session. It's the same method used in formal wine examinations. The How to taste wine guide explains each stage in detail so you can prepare in advance.
Do I need special glasses?
A standard tulip-shaped wine glass works well. Avoid very wide bowl glasses (balloon-shaped) as they spread aromas too broadly. If you have ISO tasting glasses — the standard professional wine tasting glass — those are ideal but not required. Keep your glass clean and free of detergent residue; rinse with water and allow to air-dry before the session. Avoid wearing strong perfume or cologne as it interferes with tasting.
Is it suitable for complete beginners?
Yes — it is specifically designed for people with little or no wine background. No prior reading is required, though the How to taste wine guide and a quick look at the style questionnaire will give you a helpful head start. The session assumes no knowledge and builds from the basics. The aim is to give you a repeatable framework for tasting any wine, not to teach specific facts.
Can I use the kit to taste with a group?
The kit is priced per person and the 187 ml bottles are sized for one taster. However, if you want to share the experience, you can order multiple kits and taste together on screen — the session works well as a shared activity for two or three people in the same room, each with their own kit. For larger groups wanting a private session, the contact form has a group enquiry option.