Bordeaux Masterclass

Hertfordshire Wine School is running a Bordeaux masterclass at The White Rooms on Wednesday 25 November, starting at 7:00pm. It's a dedicated session on one of the world's most famous wine regions, and it's the wine school running it rather than the venue itself.

The evening covers the basics of Bordeaux: its history, the key grape varieties it's known for, and the winemaking techniques that produce its world-renowned wines. You'll taste six distinctive Bordeaux wines side by side, and the whole point is to see how they differ. As you go, the session explains how terroir, blending and ageing shape the style of each bottle, moving from fresh and approachable to rich and structured. You'll be tasting them right next to each other, so you can actually spot the differences rather than just hearing about them.

There's no prior wine experience needed—just a love of wine—so it works as well if you're starting from scratch as it does if you already know your way around a wine list. The tasting is accompanied by a few nibbles rather than a full meal, so it's more of a drinks-focused evening than a dinner. One practical thing to keep in mind: the tasting space is on the first floor and is accessible only by stairs, with no lift, so it's not suitable if you can't manage a flight. And since it's a wine event, everyone has to be at least 18. The masterclass is £55.00, and it kicks off at 7:00pm at The White Rooms, Hart House, 6 London Road, St Albans, AL1 1NG.