Spectator Wine School: a roaring success

We’re half way through our first ever eight-week Spectator Wine School. And since I had no part in the planning of it, I don’t feel in the slightest bit embarrassed saying that it’s been a huge success. Indeed, if there’s a more congenial night-school than ours, learning about wine in the Spectator’s boardroom with some of the UK’s leading independent merchants, pray lead me to it.

Our seven partners host one evening each and we’ve had James Franklin of Corney & Barrow teaching us how to taste; Adam Holden of Berrys’ on Burgundy; Esme Johnstone of FromVineyardsDirect on Bordeaux and Robert Boutflower of Tanners’ on Spain, Portugal and Italy.

Yesterday, we had Yapp Bros on the Rhône, Loire and Alsace. Everyone gets a glass of fizz when they arrive and by the end of each two hour session (Adam’s lasted three hours – something of a lock-in – so seductive were the burgundies on show) we’ve learned lots, drunk plenty (the spittoons are rarely troubled) and met affable like-minded folk.