Tastings · WINE TASTING CLASSES
A sommelier, a bench of glasses and an hour spent learning what you are smelling. These 14 compare how many wines are poured, how technical it gets and what a place costs.
Meet your English-speaking sommelier at a 17th-century cellar near the Louvre for six French pours: one Champagne and five regional wines. You’ll learn tasting technique, labels, terroir, appellations, and pairings. Guides such as Laury, Felicity, Paul, and Clement have led engaging sessions. Add cheese or charcuterie for €15.
“Everything was great. The sommelier was incredibly knowledgeable and funny”
Spend 10 hours with a certified sommelier such as André or Mikael, visiting two family-run wineries across the Vinho Verde and Douro regions. Taste about 15 wines and ports, enjoy a DOC wine lunch, take a one-hour Douro cruise, and travel in a group of no more than eight from Porto.
“A well organised trip with a friendly and knowledgeable guide (we actually had two for the price of one). I never once felt like I was being rushed into moving on to the next destination. The boat trip was a nice touch and the food and wines were magnificent. All in all the best day of my trip to Portugal and I would highly recommend.”
Meet inside a shop across from Porto’s Palácio da Bolsa for a relaxed Port wine class led in English by hosts such as Rui, João, Ruan, and Pedro. Learn how Port began, then taste three or five styles with olives, fruit, chocolate, cheese, and brownie. Groups are limited to 10, and the five-wine option offers the fuller lesson.
“This was an excellent experience and highly recommended. Ruan, the host, was both very entertaining and informative. The ports chosen to sample were of high quality and the food pairing expertly chosen. I was a solo traveller but was with a young couple who were tremendous company so don't be put off going if you are on your own. I can't recommend this activity high enough norvthank the organiser too much for ensuring such a superb evening.”
Meet sommelier George Spirou at Hill Athens Rooftop Restaurant for a 90-minute tasting of Greek wines from small regional wineries. You will learn Greece’s wine map, sample grapes such as Roditis, Limnio, Kidonitsa, Muscat, Augoustiatis, and Mandilaras, and pair the pours with Greek tapas beneath the Acropolis.
“Loved this experience! The venue is beautiful, with a gorgeous view of the Acropolis. The Somm/manager was AMAZING, so knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. The wines were also fantastic, and we’ve both developed a new appreciation for Greek wine. Highly recommend!”
Meet Chef Sommelier Alex near Rue Monge for a short walk through the Latin Quarter and Mouffetard Market, with local tastings and food stories along the way. Then sit in a nearby restaurant for six French cheeses, three wines, bread, fruit, and interactive pairing games. The tour lasts two hours and runs in English, French, or Spanish.
“Chef Alex was incredible. Extremely knowledgeable and so friendly. he made sure we had the best experience even down to the time we visited the markets. The way he described food and the feeling you can have when eating something as simple as 1 day old goat cheese made me appreciate every little bite. I booked this on our last day of Paris and I only wish I had done it sooner so I could have appreciated the city and it's history with the people and food even more so than I already had. I spoke to him briefly afterwards about my trip to Lyon and he was so helpful.…”
Meet an English-speaking sommelier in the historic cellar of Apponny Palace and taste Slovak wines from six growing regions. Choose three, five, or a larger tasting from the National Collection of Wines, with pours tailored to your preferences. Simon and Peter have led some sessions.
“Enjoyed it Great wine and sommelier was very knowledgeable Wish I had booked a longer one as it was great”
Join a sommelier for a small-group day through the Langhe wine hills. Start in Neive, visit two wineries in Barbaresco and Barolo, stop for lunch at a traditional osteria, and return for an aperitivo. Transfers from Alba hotels are included, while lunch and possibly tasting fees cost extra.
“Fantastic day in Langhe with Eleonore our knowledgeable and passionate guide! The wineries selected were terrific with gracious family hosts. We learned so much in a day. Eleonora’s recommendations for other wineries & meals were also great. Amanda graciously shipped our wine back home for us. Highly recommend Amanda’s wine adventures”
Start with coffee or mountain tea above Chania, then taste four indigenous Cretan wines with sommelier Maria before walking the Venetian harbor and Old Town with a guide such as Nasos or Dimitris. A generous restaurant lunch includes classic Cretan dishes and local wine. Hotel pickup is included within the stated Chania area.
“Nasos provided us with a great experience getting to sample Cretan wine and food while touring the beautiful old town of Chania. I would highly recommend this tour.”
Meet an English-speaking cheese guide at the Musée Vivant du Fromage on Île Saint-Louis. In 90 minutes, taste seven French cheeses, three paired wines, and fresh baguette while learning how milk becomes cheese and why cellar aging matters. Guides may include Pierre, Agathe, Guillaume, or Marie.
“Our Guide Agathe was just the best. She has a great sense of humor and a lot of interesting facts about cheese, without going too much into detail.”
Meet Chris in Barcelona’s Gràcia district for a relaxed, private tasting of four Spanish wines. Begin with sparkling wine, then sample three more bottles with artisan cheese, cured meats, and practical advice for ordering wine or shopping in Spain.
“Great wine knowledge.....friendly and relaxing atmosphere......very flexible with group needs......hihgly recommended”
Spend four to five hours touring Santorini’s wine roads with a sommelier such as Vaios, Hercules, Elsa, or Fotis. Visit three family-run estates, taste mainly volcanic white and dessert wines, see the kouloura vine method, and pair pours with Cycladic cheese and local bites. Pickup, return transfer, and a designated driver are included.
“My husband and I had such a wonderful time on our tour. The guide was so kind and knowledgeable. We felt very taken care of all day.”
Travel about 40 minutes by train from Barcelona to Artcava for a private cava workshop led by hosts such as Santiago, Carla, or Gerard. Taste at least three cavas, tour the farmhouse and winery, then disgorge, cork, top, and label your own bottle to take home. Spanish meal upgrades are available.
“We had an excellent time with Gerald! It was just my family due to the off season and so worth it! We loved trying the great cava options and learning about them. We also loved bottling our own. It was a fantastic time!”
Travel from Paris in a luxury minivan with a small group of up to seven. Guides such as Liviu and Alexandra lead you through Hautvillers, Pressoria, Épernay, Champagne houses, and Reims Cathedral, with tastings ranging from major labels to family-run Charles Mignon. Expect a full day, lots of driving, and an itinerary that may change with house availability.
“We loved Alexandra our guide, she gave a wonderful informative tour! It was a pleasure spending the day with her in Champagne.”
Meet at Platz beside St. Stephen’s Basilica for a two-hour tasting of six Hungarian wines, from crisp whites and rosé to Bikavér reds and sweet wine. A sommelier such as Lidia or Henrietta guides you through the glasses, while Hungarian tapas, meats, cheeses, dips, and tiramisu turn the session into a filling evening meal.
“Truly enjoyed the wine tasting experience — the sommelier was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and clearly passionate about wine. Her ability to share insights while keeping the atmosphere relaxed made the whole experience both educational and enjoyable”
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