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About Us

Welcome to Hertfordshire Wine School, an independent wine education company offering wine tasting for everyone. We are not tied to any wine merchant or retailer and offer impartial advice, tasting only wines that we believe are good examples of their type.

"David is great and very knowledgable" (8-week course attendee).

We learn about wine by concentrating on the flavours and aromas of the wines. We look at the wine’s taste profile and understand the characteristics of the grape variety, the climate and the winemaking style. 

As we do not sell wine we can advise where to buy the best wines locally and at the best prices. We work closely with local independent wine merchants to bring you the best tasting and most interesting wines currently available. Our evening tastings and courses are held in Harpenden, St Albans and Hertford and include a minimum of six wines. Every few weeks on Saturdays we run a daytime tasting at Darcy's Restaurant in St Albans, which includes Champagne, a three-course lunch and a taste of ten different wines. 

The tastings and courses are, above all, fun and entertaining and set in a relaxed atmosphere. They are seated, and tutored, and usually include visual aids and notes. Professional ISO tasting glasses are provided and no previous wine tasting experience is required. Our guests come by themselves, in couples or in larger groups and it is also a great way to meet others with the same interest in tasting and learning about wine. We also run corporate and professional tastings and have recently done so for Marks & Spencer, North Hertfordshire College and Gonzalez-Byass UK. 

Hertfordshire Wine School is an Approved Programme Provider of Wine & Spirit Education Trust Courses. WSET Level 1 and 2 Wine & Spirit Courses are Government-accredited qualifications aimed, in equal measure, at wine enthusiasts and those working in the drinks, retail or hospitality sectors. Also, since September 2012 we have been a partner of the Bordeaux Wine School (Ecole du Vin), and David is a Bordeaux Accredited Wine Educator. Look out for dedicated WSET and Bordeaux Wine Courses, which run throughout the year.  

 The wine school network also runs courses in other locations including Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and London.  We will be adding other locations soon.

Not sure which course to choose? Just call me on one of the numbers below or send a note via the contact page.  

David Rough   Tel: 01582 621139    Mob: 07794 313873

                                         WINE TASTING FOR EVERYONE IN HERTFORDSHIRE

• First vines planted at Bordeaux's Cite des Civilisations du Vin
  Bordeaux's new multi-million pound Cité des Civilisations du Vin made its debut this morning, as the first stone and set of vines were unveiled during a special preview ceremony.
• Fear of Chinese blockade speeds wine shipments from Bordeaux
  A threat by the Chinese government to impose an anti-dumping tax on European wines appears to be speeding wine shipments out of Bordeaux this week, as importers rush to stockpile supplies.
• Bordeaux negociant Cordier Mestrezat unveils luxury large-format storage
  Cordier Mestrezat Grands Crus are launching a range of luxury wine storage boxes to house rare collections of large-format Bordeaux bottles.
• Vinexpo expands to shows in Beijing, Tokyo and Hong Kong in 2014
  Vinexpo will launch in Beijing for the first time in 2014, alongside shows in Hong Kong and Tokyo.
• Aurelio Montes takes up new Wines of Chile position
  Improving Chile's image overseas will be top of the agenda for Aurelio Montes Sr following his appointment as international vice-president of Wines of Chile.
• Cazes family and Rocha release Lynch Bages cookbook
  Jean-Michel Cazes, proprietor of Grand Cru Classe Lynch Bages in Pauillac together with Jean-Luc Rocha, the two Michelin starred chef of Chateau Cordeillan-Bages debuted their new book at Vinexpo this week.
• 200% increase in English wine sales boost Majestic profits
  Rising sales of English sparkling wine helped retailer Majestic Wine post a slight increase in full-year pre-tax profits today.
• Wine Mosaic will protect original wine grape varieties, say founders
  A new project to preserve, protect and promote the original grape varieties of the Mediterranean will kick off in Porto later this year.
• Hailstorms decimate Loire vines
  A hail storm at in the early hours of Monday morning has caused widespread damage across much of the Loire communes Vouvray and Reugny.
• 1855 classification seeks UNESCO World Heritage status
  Bordeaux's oldest wine ranking, the Grands Cru Classés en 1855, is applying for the same UNESCO World Heritage status as the climats of Burgundy, and the cellars of Champagne.