London Wine Week schedule announced

A celebration of all things vinous will be taking place in London throughout the week of the London Wine Fair, beginning on Monday 18 May.

Billed as the highlight of the week is London’s biggest self-guided wine tasting, the Wine Tours, helping consumers discover new grapes, varieties and vintages.

From dusty wine vaults to classic hotel bars and restaurants, London’s Sommeliers will be guiding wine fans through their choice of three wines in specially created flights, each just £5.

Many venues and independent merchants are also planning paired menus, special deals on corkage and drop-in tastings when presented with a London Wine Week wristband – which also comes with a free London bar guide.

Beyond the Wine Tours there will be an array of pop-ups, parties and masterclasses, some of which are highlighted below. The full event schedule at www.londonwineweek.com/events.

The Nyetimber Hub at Devonshire Square

The Bengal Warehouse, Devonshire Square, EC2M 4WQ

Mon to Sat Midday-9pm, Sun Midday-5pm

The Nyetimber Hub sits at the heart of the action in Devonshire Square. Collect a wristband and relax in the pop-up bar while enjoying a free sample of Nyetimber English sparkling wine, or brush up at one of the daily masterclasses where guests will be led through a tasting of current vintages for just £15 per ticket.

Wristband wearer bonus: Free Nyetimber samples and specially created Nyetimber flights for £5.

Wines of Portugal Discovery Bar

Western Courtyard, Devonshire Square, EC2M 4WQ

Mon to Sat 12.30-9.30pm, Sun 12.30-5pm

Popping up all week in the Western Courtyard of Devonshire Square will be The Wines of Portugal Discovery Bar.

Wristband wearer bonus: A choice of four Portuguese wine flights for £5.

Franciacorta Pop-up Bar

1901 Restaurant and Wine Bar, Andaz Liverpool Street, 40 Liverpool Street London, EC2M 7QN

Mon to Sat Midday-9pm 

Exclusively for London Wine Week, the Italian sparkling region of Franciacorta and the 1901 Wine Bar will be co-hosting a pop-up bar at the luxury boutique Andaz Hotel, just a stone’s throw from the LWW hub in Devonshire Square.

Wristband wearer bonus: Franciacorta flights for £5.

Rothschild evening in the stars, £125

Aqua Shard, Level 31 The Shard, 31 St. Thomas Street, London, SE1 9RY

Mon 18th May, 7pm 

Waddesdon Wine – Rothschild Collection are hosting a one hour wine masterclass followed by a Champagne aperitif and four course dinner paired with a selection from the winery collection.

Wristband wearer bonus: 10% discount on the ticket price.

Under The Table, £50

The Table, 83 Southwark Street, London, SE1 0HX

Mon 18th May, 6.30pm

Wine tasting and comedy plus a three-course meal, hosted by award-winning comedian Jarred Christmas (Buzzcocks, Dave’s One Night Stand, Mock the Week) and wine expert Giles Smith-Walker.

Wristband wearer bonus: Free glass of bubbly upon arrival.

Wine Bluff to Wine Buff, £20

Hixter Bankside 16 Great Guildford Street, London SE1 0HS

Mon 18th & Tues 19th May, 7pm

This wine jargon-busting master class from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust will take you from wine bluff to wine buff in little over an hour!

Wristband wearer bonus: Wine taster flights for £5.

The Lawn Club by Celebrity Cruises, £15

The White Space, 5 Great Newport Street, London, WC2H 7HY

Tues 19th & Weds 20th May, various evening sessions

Join renowned wine expert Oz Clarke on Tuesday and Kiki from A Grape Night In on Wednesday who will be hosting wine tasting masterclasses in this picnic-style pop-up.

Wristband wearer bonus: Special ticket price of £12.

A “Hedonistic” Lunch Break, Free

Hedonism Wines, 3-7 Davies Street W1K 3LD, London

Weds 20th May, Midday-2pm

A free event to brighten up your lunch break, showcasing a range of wines from the Rothschild families, including Rothschild Blanc de Blancs Champagne and Château Clarke 2009.

A Wine for Every Occasion with Le Cordon Bleu, £25

Le Cordon Bleu London, 15 Bloomsbury Square, London, WC1A 2LS

Thurs 21st May, 7pm, Sat 23rd May, 11:30am

Le Cordon Bleu London is aiming to teach guests what to drink with different courses, and how to source it.

The A to E of Wine, with Jane Parkinson, £10

Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings, 42 Northampton Road, London EC1R 0HU

Thurs 21st May, 6.30pm

BBC1 Saturday Kitchen’s wine expert Jane Parkinson will take guests through five wines that not only represent the start of the alphabet but something new or interesting in the world of wine.

Wristband wearer bonus: Wine flights in the bar for £5.

Honest Grapes Taste Lab, £25

Secret Central London Location

Thurs 21st & Sat 23rd May, various sessions

Guests will step into the Lab for a new, experimental way to test their taste buds and build their own wine profile.

Wristband wearer bonus: A free £5 voucher for use on the Honest Grapes website.

An Evening of Petanque and Regal Rogue Aperitifs, Free

L’Entrepot, London Borough Wines, 230 Dalston Lane, Hackney, E8 1LA

Fri 22nd May, 7pm-10pm

Regal Rogue will host an evening of boules complete with aperitifs. Bookings can be taken for specific times or guests can pop in.

Wine Tasting Games with Berry Bros. & Rudd Wine School, £49

Berry Bros. & Rudd, Pickering Cellar, 3 St James’s Street, London, SW1A 1EG

Fri 22nd May, 6.30pm

This interactive Wine School will use games to help guests learn how wines taste and differ. Hosted by Head of the Wine School, Rebecca Lamont, guests will get to taste three flights of three wines including Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rioja.

Wristband wearer bonus: A free Berry Bros. & Rudd corkscrew and Champagne stopper.

Wine Stories at Waterstones, Free

The Plaza, 120 Oxford Street, London, W1D 1LT

Fri 22nd May, 7pm

Hosted by wine writer and presenter “The Winebird”, Cape London presents an evening of wine stories, discoveries, tastings and fun. Guests will hear about what wine to match with different foods, and why different grape varieties are like rugby players, ballerinas, goddesses and ladyboys.

Kent and Sussex Wine Tours, £99 (special LWW price)

Mid or West Sussex

Fri 22nd & Sat 23rd May, 9.55am

On Friday guests will be escorted to the wineries of Mid Sussex, or on Saturday head to West Sussex. On the tours guests will visit three vineyards and wineries, tasting the wines they make and enjoy lunch overlooking a vineyard vista.

The LWW Wine Workshop, Various ticket prices

Hix City, 9a Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4AE

Sat 23rd May, 12-7pm

A jam-packed afternoon of masterclasses hosted by some of London’s most renowned wine experts including Michael Sager-Wilde, Noble Rot, Ruth Spivey and Chris Orr.

Wristband wearer bonus: Wine flights in the bar for £5.

The LWW Closing Party: Big Bottles Taste Better, £25

Mission, Paradise Row, E2 9LE

Sun 24th May, 4pm

Noble Rot and Sager & Wilde will celebrate the end of London Wine Week with a list of unique and rare wines, all served exclusively from magnums. There will also be a BBQ and DJs to help guests make the most of their bank holiday Sunday.