Wine tasting in Manchester comes in many forms, from a fun evening with friends to a professional WSET qualification. At Northern Wine School, based at Malmaison on Piccadilly, you can do all of it in one welcoming place. This guide helps you find the right experience for you.
We are Manchester’s friendly drinks education school, founded in 2014 by John Callow. Our small team of WSET-qualified educators love sharing what they know, with no stuffiness or snobbery. Bring yourself and a sense of fun and adventure, and we will bring the rest.
Maybe you simply enjoy wine and want to understand it better. Our tasting evenings are made for exactly that. A qualified educator guides you through a flight of six very different wines, showing you how to read each one by sight, smell and taste. You learn what you like and why, and gain the confidence to choose well in a shop, supermarket or restaurant.
If you love the wines of a particular country, our Wines of the World tastings let you explore further. Travel through France, Spain, Portugal and Italy, or go further afield to South America and beyond. A tasty platter of appetisers helps bring each region to life. You can see the full range on our Manchester wine tasting experiences page and book upcoming dates on our tasting events page.
Want to mark a special occasion in style? Our luxury wine tasting experiences are perfect for a treat, and our cheese and wine evenings are among the first to sell out, so it pays to book early. If food is your thing, our guide to food and wine matching is a lovely place to start.
If a night of tasting leaves you wanting more, our accredited courses turn curiosity into real knowledge. WSET qualifications are recognised around the world, and we guide you through every step on our wine courses pages.
The WSET Level 1 Award in Wines is the ideal starting point, with no experience needed. You learn the main grape varieties, how to taste step by step, and how to pair wine with food. Next, the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines digs into regions, styles, and how wine is made, so you can understand what is behind the label. The WSET Level 3 Award in Wines then takes you to a professional standard that opens doors in hospitality, retail and the drinks trade.
You can study in our Manchester classroom or online, so learning fits around your life. You will find current dates and prices on each course page. If you plan to take more than one level, our course bundle deals can save you money along the way.
Prefer to specialise? Explore our Champagne Specialist Course, French Wine Scholar and Spanish Wine Scholar programmes too. New to Spanish wine? Our Spanish wine guide is a friendly introduction.
Every student gets our free study guides, created in-house and refined over years of teaching. They are yours to keep and return to before the exam, and they are one of the things students tell us they value most. You can see them on our WSET wines study guides page.
Wine might be where most people start, but it is far from the whole story. We cover all four drinks categories under one roof, with qualified educators across every discipline. So you can keep exploring once the wine bug bites.
If you love a good pint, our beer courses range from the WSET Level 1 Award in Beer for newcomers to the WSET Level 2 Award in Beer for a deeper dive into styles and flavour.
Spirits fans are well looked after too. Beyond our gin tastings, you can study the WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits and WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits. You can also work towards a whisky qualification with The Council of Whiskey Masters.
Curious about sake? It is one of the most rewarding drinks to discover, and our guide to what sake is makes a great first read. When you are ready to go further, the WSET Level 1 Award in Sake, Introductory Sake Professional and Certified Sake Sommelier qualifications take you from first sip to genuine expertise.
A wine tasting is a brilliant way to bring people together. You might be celebrating an anniversary, planning a hen party or rewarding a hard-working team. We handle the planning, the venue and the experience, so you can simply turn up and enjoy it.
Expect friendly competition with our sensory kit imported from France. Can you tell one aroma from another, or pick a Chardonnay from a Pinot Gris when tasting blind? You might struggle at the start, but you will be amazed at how much you can tell by the end.
Not just a wine lover? You can choose a gin tasting instead, sampling six different craft gins and playing with garnishes and mixers to find your favourite. If a hen party is on the cards, we know how to make it one to remember. You can request a quote on our private and corporate events page.
For businesses, a tasting makes a memorable team day or client thank-you. If your team needs sharper product knowledge for work, our Train Your Team sessions bring tailored wine, spirits and sake training to your venue, around your shifts.
Every private session is led by a qualified educator, often founder John Callow himself. Your group learns the tricks of the trade while having a genuinely good time. Everyone leaves knowing more about reading a wine list and choosing a bottle to enjoy at home.
Stuck for a present that feels personal rather than predictable? A tasting or course gives someone a real experience to remember, not another bottle gathering dust on a shelf. Browse our gift ideas for wine lovers or head straight to our gifts page to treat someone special.
You learn from WSET-certified educators who visit the vineyards and producers they teach about, so your knowledge is grounded in real experience. You feel welcome from the first minute, whether you have never looked beyond supermarket Pinot Grigio or already know your Burgundy from your Bordeaux.
You also support a small, independent Manchester business with a real founder behind it. You can meet the team who will guide your tasting or course, and see the consistent five-star reviews our students leave on Google, Tripadvisor and Facebook.
Taste more, learn more, enjoy more. Whenever you are ready, get in touch, and we will help you find the right experience for you.
Do I need any experience to try wine tasting in Manchester?
Not at all. Our tasting events and the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines are designed for complete beginners, with no prior knowledge needed. You just need to bring a sense of fun and adventure.
Where are your wine tastings held?
Our courses and tastings are based at Malmaison, 1-3 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 3AQ, in the heart of the city centre and a short walk from Piccadilly station. For private events, we can also come to a venue of your choice.
What is the difference between a tasting event and a WSET course?
A tasting event is a relaxed, social way to enjoy and learn about wine in an evening. A WSET course is an accredited qualification, studied over a longer period, that builds professional knowledge recognised across the drinks trade.
Can you run a private wine tasting for a hen party or work team?
Yes. We host private and corporate tastings for hen parties, birthdays, anniversaries, team building and client entertaining, and we take care of all the organisation for you.
Can I give wine tasting as a gift?
You can. A tasting or course makes a thoughtful, memorable gift, and you can choose from our gift vouchers and curated gift ideas for the wine lover in your life.
Looking for a Sake Sommelier Course Manchester can rely on? You have found it. If you would love to taste...
Ask anyone who has sat the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines what stayed with them, and it is rarely...
