Wine Tasting in London: 11 Places You Have to Try

The UK isn't exactly wine country. The cool, wet climate of the British Isles is a long way from the Mediterranean, and although there are vineyards in Britain - especially in the southeast close to London - the UK is not known as a major wine-producing country.

However, the British capital of London is a true world city by any metric. In this bustling metropolis, you can find just about anything. And of course, that includes thousands of wine bars and wine tasting events.

Drop off your bags at a Bounce luggage storage in London, and you'll quickly find that the city is a fantastic place to drink wine. There are wine tastings and wine events going on every single day in London, and they are some of the best things to do in the city at night. Wine lovers are guaranteed a great time on a visit to London, so no matter what your tastes are, you're sure to find a few glasses that are just right for you.

Denbies Wine Estate

In Britain, working vineyards are few and far between, but that doesn't mean there aren't any at all. Just to the south of London in Dorking, you'll find Denbies Wine Estate, one of the top vineyards producing wine in the UK and a fascinating place to visit for wine lovers. Covering 265 acres, this is England's largest vineyard, and the vines it maintains represent an astonishing 10% of the UK's plantings.

Visit this estate, and you can enjoy a range of fine wines, including organic and biodynamic wines, in the tasting room. You can also learn more about how the wine is produced and take a tractor train around the estate to learn more about the wines they produce. Just a short drive from central London, this vineyard is one no wine lover should miss while they are in London.

Location:

London Rd, Dorking RH5 6AA

The Mount Vineyard

The town of Sevenoaks lies just to the east of London, and here you'll find another of England's admittedly rare vineyards. The Mount Vineyard is a family-run business that was established in 1984, and it now covers 10 acres of land.

This vineyard produces a variety of award-winning white, red, and sparkling wines, and you can taste them all in the on-site tasting room. The vineyard also offers tours so you can see how the wine is made and learn more about the grapes used to produce it.

If you're looking for something a little different, The Mount Vineyard also has an on-site restaurant serving up seasonal British dishes paired with the vineyard's own wines. This is a great option if you want to spend an entire day enjoying everything this English vineyard has to offer.

Location:

Church St, Shoreham, Sevenoaks TN14 7SD

Blackbook Winery

Normally, the word winery conjures up visions of rolling hills and tranquil vineyards with their leaves nodding in the sun. But in London, you work with what you've got. Blackbook Winery is located in South London close to Battersea Park, and this is not an area that has room for sprawling acres of wine. In fact, this winery is located underneath a railway bridge, but that's no reflection of the quality of the wine they produce.

Blackbook offers an urban winery experience that will take you on a tour through English wine without leaving London. You'll get a tour of the winery, where they produce interesting wines from grapes grown outside the city, plus a private tasting of four different wines and a discount on any bottles you might want to buy from their on-site wine shop. It's a fantastic way to take a wine tour in the city and one of the best wine tastings available in London.

Location:

Arch 41, London Stone Business Estate, Broughton St, London SW8 3QR

Winemakers Club

This Victorian wine cellar is an atmospheric place to visit for wine tasting in London and is the perfect place to start if you're not already super knowledgeable about world wines. This 90-minute wine tasting experience will introduce you to six different wines and teach you how to appreciate them. Winemakers Club focuses on independent and small wine producers, so even if you're a committed wine expert, there's a good chance you'll come across something new. They also offer a great range of organic and natural wines, so this is definitely a place you should try to find time to visit on your next trip to London.

Location:

41a Farringdon St, London EC4A 4AN

Wine Unearthed

Wine Unearthed offers wine tastings with a difference - they specialize in natural and biodynamic wines, which are made without the use of chemicals or preservatives. This means that the taste of the wine is allowed to shine through, and you can really appreciate the different flavors and aromas in each glass.

Their London tasting room is located in Islington, and they offer a range of different wine tastings depending on your level of knowledge and interest. They also have an online shop so you can buy any of the wines you try during your tasting and have them delivered straight to your door.

Location:

82-84 St Martin's Ln, London WC2N 4AG

The Wine Library

The Wine Library is a great place to visit for wine tasting in London that's located in the heart of Covent Garden. They offer a range of different wine tastings, both public and private, and you can choose from a selection of over 700 different wines to taste.

Their knowledgeable staff is always on hand to help you select the perfect wines for your tasting, and they also offer other services such as wine storage and bespoke wine cellars. If you're serious about your wine, then The Wine Library is definitely the place to go.

Location:

43 Trinity Square, London EC3N 4DJ

Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels

Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels is a wine bar and shop also located in the heart of Covent. As you'd expect from the name, they specialize in award-winning wines from France, but they also find room on the menu for new world wines from the USA, Australia, and Chile, along with Swiss, German, and Italian wines. They also offer an extensive selection of cognac and some expertly crafted cocktails.

But one of the best things about this company is its wine-tasting experiences. See if you can identify the mystery wine and potentially win a bottle. You can also take part in blind tasting, cognac tasting, and lots of other tasting experiences. Their extensive wine list means you're sure to find something you like, and the tutored tastings are a great way to learn more about wine and how to enjoy it.

Location:

8-10 Neal's Yard, London WC2H 9DP

Renegade Urban Winery

Renegade Urban Winery is a small, family-run business located in Bethnal Green. They offer a range of different wine tastings, as well as the opportunity to make your own wine from grapes sourced from some of the best vineyards in England.

The Urban Winery experience includes a tour of the winery, followed by a tutored wine tasting of six different wines. You'll also get to try your hand at crushing grapes, and you'll take home a bottle of your very own English wine.

If you're looking for something a bit different, then Renegade Urban Winery is definitely worth a visit. It's a great way to learn about wine-making, and you might even come away with a new hobby.

Location:

Unit 2B, Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9NQ

Berry Bros and Rudd

Few cities in the world do luxury better than London, and that is exactly what you'll get at this historic wine cellar. Berry Bros have been in business since 1698 and have become a legendary name in the London wine industry, as well as around the world. This kind of expertise doesn't come cheap, but if your budget stretch is to it, they offer one of the most exclusive and memorable ways to enjoy wine tasting in London. After all, what else would you expect from the official wine merchant of the royal family?

Their tastings usually pick a particular region or style of wine to take a deep dive into what it has to offer. Expect tutored tastings on Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace, and other wine styles and regions, along with tastings of high-end spirits like whiskey. These tastings can run you a few hundred pounds, but they are led by genuine experts in their field and will teach you more about wine than you ever knew there was to learn. These tastings are popular, so it's best, if possible, to get on the list long before you plan to take your trip.

Location:

63 Pall Mall, St. James's, London SW1Y 5HZ

Michael Schuster

If you're a relative novice to the world of wine, or you're an experienced connoisseur who nevertheless wants to brush up on their skills, this is the place to go. Micheal Schuster offers wine tastings with a focus on education, providing multiple courses that will teach you more about the origins, history, and appreciation of a variety of different wines. You'll also learn more about the delicate art of wine matching with food, with small plates and charcuterie platters on hand to teach you how the flavor of food can enhance that of wine and vice versa.

The courses here are some of the most comprehensive you'll find anywhere, and they're led by Micheal Schuster himself, who is one of the most respected wine educators in London. If you want to learn everything there is to know about wine, this is the place to go.

Location:

107 Culford Rd, London N1 4HL

London Wine Fair

London hosts so many major events throughout the year that is difficult to keep track. That includes some major wine festivals, and the London Wine Fair is one of the most significant. Usually held in May, this event attracts more than 9000 wine merchants eager to expand their businesses and make connections in the industry. It also attracts thousands of wine drinkers and is the perfect place to try something new as well as encounter old favorites.

With more than 400 exhibitors, the London Wine Fair is a veritable paradise for wine lovers, and there are always plenty of free samples to be had. Even if you're not looking to buy anything, it's a great place to learn more about the wine industry and sample some new wines. Just be sure to pace yourself, as there can be a lot of temptation to overindulge!

Location:

Olympia London, Hammersmith Rd, Kensington, London W14 8UX

Conclusion

There are so many wine bars and wine tasting opportunities in London that a list like this can't hope to do more than scratch the surface. However, hopefully, this has given you some guidance on where to head on your next trip to the British capital. Wine novices and confirmed wine lovers alike will find tons to do here, and no matter what you like to drink, you can rest assured it will be available at a wine bar somewhere in the city.

Of course, there's more to London than just wine. Check out our guide on how to spend three days in London for some guidance on other great things in the city. With your bags safely stored in a Bounce luggage locker, you'll be able to enjoy both incredible wine experiences and the fascinating history, culture, and lively urban life London represents.