Wine Tasting Bath | About Us
Wine tasting Bath, Wine Course Bath, Corporate Wine Tasting Bath, Private Wine Tasting Bath, The Great Wine School Bath
Wine Tasting Bath | Our aim
The aim of the wine school is to help you demystify the world of wine and wine tasting with hands-on learning and an unstuffy, entertaining and informed learning experience.
We pride ourselves on the fun, educational and hands-on wine courses we host in Bath. At our events you can expect to feel welcome, have fun, meet new people and perhaps try something new in relaxed and friendly surroundings. We also believe that wine should almost always be thought about in terms of it's relationship to food, so expect a couple of nibbles as you go to compliment what's in your glass.
"Your natural style is engaging, informative, enthusiastic and infectious (in a great way)...The pace of the day was just right, starting more slowly, with an in depth study of the grapes and vines themselves...You samples were generous and opinions honest and the food-matching was particularly well planned and thought through..." Read more testimonials here
Behind The Glass...
The Great Wine School is run by Bristol Wine School as a partnership with award-winning Bath wine merchant Great Western Wine.
Tutor Tristan Darby has spent over 20 years in the catering and wine trade, he has certified knowledge, has been a food and wine a judge for both Bristol and Bath Good Food awards, drinks columnist for both the Bath Magazine and Bristol Magazine, is a former cookery school manager and as founder of Bristol Wine School has gained many years of experience in providing wine courses, wine training and corporate and private wine tasting events. He has studied with WSET, and truly enjoys every opportunity to share his passion and knowledge with others.
In the world of gin, Tristan has been sought out for his nose, palate and education skills as an independent presenter, educator and tutor for a major UK gin brand with whom he continues to work, and for whom he has, among other things, appeared on national TV numerous times to present on gin.
Passionate that the world of wine and spirits shouldn't be a pretentious and elitist place, Tristan has earned a solid reputation for imparting his knowledge in an engaging, informed, un-stuffy, non-patronising and accessible way. He hopes to give students the confidence and tools to break habits, expand horizons and explore new and interesting options within the world of drinks.
"The idea behind Great Wine School is to expose students to a variety of styles and wine types in a relaxed and inclusive tutored environment. We want to ignite a spark in our students that the world of wine isn't just a place for elitists and connoisseurs, but that given the right information, it is a fascinating place full of variety to be enjoyed by all!" - Tristan Darby
More Than Just a Classroom Based Wine School
As well as running courses and tastings from the atmospheric award-winning wine shop at Great Western Wine, courses are also run at some of Bath's best regarded foodie destinations such as The Abbey Hotel. We also host special events and wine dinners with top Chefs from time to time, so keep an eye out on here or subscribe to our newsletter for a heads up!
Our Venues...
great Western Wine, Bath
A delightful and atmospheric wine shop in the centre of Bath. For over 30 years award-winning* Bath wine merchant Great Western Wine has sought out distinctive, hand-crafted wines direct from independent and very individual winemakers at ‘boutique’ estates right across the world, to provide a unique wine drinking experience.
These hand crafted wines are sold throughout the UK from the shop and online to discerning private customers. A choice of over 600 different bottles from over 130 great winemakers is on offer the shop.
*IWC Regional Wine Merchant of The Year 2012, 2014 & 2015
The Abbey Hotel, Bath
Abbey Hotel is formed of three Georgian townhouses on the west end of John Wood's North Parade - a wide promenade in Bath's older quarters which overlooks Parade Gardens and is a stone's throw from the spectacular Pulteney Bridge.
Until 1890, the Georgian townhouses were used as lodging houses, before being transformed into The Fernley Temperance Hotel. During World War II, the hotel was requisitioned by the Admiralty for use as offices, but was returned to its owners after the war and refurbished and reopened as the largest hotel in Bath.
Today, Abbey Hotel has been named as one of Bath's best-loved boutique hotels. Home to ArtBar and Koffmann & Mr. White's, a brasserie-style eatery headed up by renowned chefs Pierre Koffmann and Marco Pierre White, the hotel is the ideal choice for visitors and residents alike with many of Bath's top attractions right on the doorstep.
Preferential room rates are available to customers attending a wine school course, please email events manager justinefortune@abbeyhotelbath.co.uk to find out more and make a reservation.
The 'Pop Up' Wine School
Our renowned wine tastings are also available for hire with private and corporate wine tastings, where we can send a host to 'pop up' at your offices or event venue with anything from a wine quiz to Champagne tasting.
We can even help you to recommend a suitable hire venue to suit your budget and event type, using our experience of hosting events in Bath, Bristol and beyond! Click here to find out more...
Partners & Friends...
