][1]The Hotel du Vin group has always attracted wine fans like bees to a picnic. Their latest cunning ruse is to offer wine school weekends.
On Friday 8 and Saturday 9 April, the Edinburgh Hotel du Vin will be running a wine school hosted by their director of wine Ronan Sayburn. One of only 180 Master Sommeliers in the world, Sayburn has worked for everyone from Gordon Ramsay to Raymond Blanc.
The term starts on Friday evening. Prep for your studies starts with dinner in the bistro where you can enjoy a glass of wine or two while meeting the other scholars on your course. After dinner, the more keen students can retire to the bar and cram for the next day’s lessons.
Following breakfast, Saturday morning will be spent enjoying a wine tasting and master class. The main subject on the curriculum for this term is New World wine and students will be expected to sit up at the back and pay close attention to several wines from these areas.
Central Otago Pinot Noirs from New Zealand, Leyda Sauvignon Blancs from Chile and Hunter Valley Semillons from Australia are just some of the countries, grapes and regions which will be up for sniffing, slurping and discussion.
You have the afternoon off and then it’s back to the hotel for a dinner which has been designed to complement the wines you have been tasting.
The cost is £299 per person for two nights bed and breakfast; dinner with aperitifs and wines; a tasting and the master class.