Wine & Chocolate

Toast hosts a wine and chocolate tasting on Thursday 18 March, run by the Hertfordshire Wine School. It's a guided evening where six different wines are each paired with a separate chocolate, so you'll work your way through twelve treats in total over the course of the night. The school describes it as a fun, indulgent evening for any wine and chocolate lover, and you don't need any prior tasting experience to join in.

There's a bit of a lesson tucked into the tasting, too. You'll hear why chocolate can be such a tricky partner for wine, and how things like sweetness, bitterness and texture change the way a pairing works. Along the way, they'll show you the basics of how to swirl, sniff and sip like a pro, so you leave with a few practical tips you can actually use next time you're opening a bottle at home.

It's worth knowing who's behind it. The Hertfordshire Wine School is an independent wine school that runs guided tastings, food-and-wine evenings and masterclasses across the county, with a regular programme here in St Albans and WSET Level 1 and Level 2 Awards in Wines over at Oaklands College. This particular session is one of their more accessible nights — no tasting experience required, just a love for the two things on the table. A couple of practical bits to keep in mind: guests must be 18 or over, and the school can't provide vegan pairings.

Toast sits in the heart of St Albans, just off St Peter's Street, about a 15-minute walk from both St Albans City and St Albans Abbey stations. The tasting runs from 19:00 to 21:00, and tickets are £47.50.