Oddbins on hunt for ‘amateur palate’

High street wine merchant Oddbins is on the hunt for the UK’s “ultimate amateur palate”, as it launches its The Palate 2015 contest.

A unique tasting competition now in its fourth year, The Palate 2015 is inviting palates from across the UK to enter, for the chance to be prove yourself as a super taster.

No expert knowledge of wine is required, with thousands of curious wine drinkers encouraged to take part.

Its aim is to help smash through the “snobbery that still dogs the wine world”, according to one of its judges, wine critic and educator Sarah Ahmed.

“It is an incontrovertible fact that many, many people feel too intimidated to taste wine confidently and The Palate plays a vital role in demystifying and democratising the world of wine”, she said.

“It’s about showing people that anyone can do it – and it was truly moving to see people on that journey from self-doubt to confidence last year.”

Last year 21,000 people took part in the competition, which will this year again see contestants whittled down over four increasingly challenging rounds, culminating in wine Boot Camps with Ahmed, TV presenters Peter Richards MW and Susie Richards MW and Oddbins’ Buyer Ana Sapungiu and an intense final filmed in London.

Round One runs over the weekends of June 20/21 and 27/28 in all Oddbins shops and also at the Taste of London food and drink festival from June 17-21.

Click here for more information.