Thinking about booking a private wine tasting in Wiltshire? Here’s everything you need to know — from what actually happens to how many people you need and what it costs.
You’ve got a birthday coming up, a hen party to organise, or a dinner party you want to make a bit more special. Maybe someone suggested a wine tasting — but you’ve got questions.
Here’s the thing, a private wine tasting doesn’t need to be fancy. It really doesn’t have to be. And here’s everything you need to know to make your decision.
I’ve been running tastings in living rooms, barns, back gardens and village halls across Wiltshire. Every single one has been different. Every single one has been brilliant.
What actually happens at a private wine tasting?
I bring everything you need — the wines, the knowledge, and the glasses if you need them. Typically you’ll explore five or six wines over two to three hours. The venue can be anywhere: your home, a hired space, your garden, a barn, or even a pub back room.
It’s guided but relaxed. I’m not going to come round and lecture you. It’s more of a conversation — something we can enjoy together, discovering each wine as we go. Because every wine has a story: where it comes from, how it’s made, and what makes it special.
You can even incorporate food — a cheese board, some charcuterie, or a full dinner pairing woven through the evening.
You don’t need to know anything about wine. This works for complete beginners and seasoned enthusiasts equally. There are no wrong answers and no silly questions. This is just about having fun and enjoying what goes in your glass.
What occasions work best?
Birthdays
A genuinely memorable alternative to a restaurant dinner — and one you can theme around the birthday person’s favourite region or style. It works for almost any age: a 40th, 50th or 60th all work beautifully. Get in touch and tell me about them — we can orientate the whole evening around what they love.
Hen parties
Who doesn’t love a drink when you’re celebrating your best friend’s upcoming wedding? A wine tasting is relaxed, sociable, and a little indulgent — whether the group are wine enthusiasts or total beginners. Add a cheese and charcuterie board and it becomes an evening rather than just an activity. It’s much more personal than a generic booking, and far more fun. And at a wine tasting, let’s be honest — everybody wins.
Dinner parties
Maybe you want your next one to feel a little different. Elevating a dinner party with a guided tasting — before or woven through the meal — turns a good evening into a great one. Food and wine pairings can be as structured or as relaxed as you like. Guests leave knowing a little more than when they arrived, and it gives everyone something to talk about all night.
Anniversaries and couples tastings
One of my personal favourites. These are intimate, relaxed and completely tailored. A brilliant gift idea — someone books it for their partner and we have a good chat about what that person loves. Maybe it’s a region that takes you both back to your honeymoon. Maybe it’s a style you’ve always enjoyed. We take that and create new memories around wines you may never have discovered otherwise.
Corporate events
Team away days, end of year celebrations, client entertainment — these things can feel competitive and a little grinding. A wine tasting is different. It’s engaging rather than competitive, and it works brilliantly for mixed groups who don’t necessarily know each other well. Wine gives everyone a third thing to talk about — something that isn’t work and isn’t each other. People communicate in ways they normally wouldn’t. They share opinions without fear of being wrong. I’ve got 25 years in hospitality and I know how to work a room — this is exactly what I’m good at.
Just because
Maybe you don’t have a reason. And that’s completely fine. Sometimes you just want a brilliant evening with friends. A wine tasting doesn’t have to be extravagant — it can be as casual as a night at the pub and cost no more either. If you want to do it, just organise one.
How many people do you need?
There’s no strict minimum. Two or three people can have a brilliant time. A couple can have one on their own.
The sweet spot for me is around six to eight people — each bottle gives around twelve samples, which leaves a little extra for everyone to go back to their favourites or revisit something they weren’t sure about. Groups of twelve work well too, and for larger parties we simply scale the number of bottles accordingly.
There’s no magic number. Get in touch, let’s talk through the numbers and make sure nobody goes short.
Can you choose the wines?
Yes — and here’s how I’d suggest doing it.
Leave it to me. Tell me the occasion and your general preferences and I’ll build something perfect. This is the most popular option — people love a surprise and they certainly don’t want to drink what they already know.
Choose a region. “We love Italian reds” or “take us on a tour of France” — that’s plenty for me to work with. I’ll pick a variety across that theme: some familiar, some unexpected, all worth trying.
Choose a theme. Old World vs New World, reds only, a vertical of one producer, an English vineyard from vine to glass, or a pairing built entirely around your dinner menu. All of these work brilliantly.
Set a budget. The wines are the main cost of a private tasting, so tell me what you’re working with and I’ll make it work. A tasting featuring everyday accessible wines is very different in cost to one built around aged Barolo or fine Burgundy — both are brilliant for very different reasons, and anywhere in the middle is fair game too.
Where does it happen?
I come to you. No venue hire needed if you’ve got the space at home — your living room, kitchen or dining room is completely fine. In summer, a garden works brilliantly and gives the whole thing a completely different feel.
If you’ve hired a venue — a village hall, barn, pub or hotel — that works just as well. I just need to know where we’re heading.
I cover all of Wiltshire and the wider South West. I’m based in North Wiltshire — Avebury, Marlborough, Devizes — so if you’re nearby, keep an eye on the events page for regular community tastings too. And if you’re further afield, just get in touch and let’s see what we can do.
What does it cost?
I’m not going to dodge this — everyone wants to know what things cost.
Pricing is tailored to three things: group size, location, and the wines chosen. A tasting with everyday accessible wines costs less than one built around aged Barolo or grand cru Burgundy. Both are excellent — just excellent in different ways. Tell me what you’re after and I’ll come back with a personalised quote.
What I will say is this: compared to buying wine at a restaurant for the same group, a private tasting will come out comparable or much better value. And it will definitely be more memorable.
What do you need to provide?
Honestly, not much. If you’ve got glasses, great — we’ll use those. If not, I can bring some. A table to taste from and somewhere to sit comfortably is genuinely all you need.
Food is optional and can be incorporated or kept completely separate. No specialist equipment, no complicated setup. Just people who are open to a great experience.
Is it suitable for beginners?
Totally. In fact, that’s where I thrive.
Most guests at tastings are curious about wine rather than expert in it. The whole point is discovery — finding wines you didn’t know you’d love. No jargon unless you want it, no pressure to identify anything correctly, no fear of getting it wrong.
Here’s the thing: the best reactions I’ve ever had have come from people who thought they knew nothing about wine. Because they all know what they like — they know their flavours, their preferences — and those instincts lead you straight to something new you didn’t think you’d enjoy. That’s the moment I love.
No snobbery. Just a bit of knowledge, a lot of wine and a brilliant evening.
Ready to book?
Get in touch — I’m always available. Head to the contact page, drop me a message with your date, rough group size, the occasion, and any preferences you already have. We’ll have a chat, lay down a few more details, and I’ll come back with a suggested tasting theme and a personalised quote.
Then leave the rest to me.
Available anytime, anywhere across Wiltshire and the wider South West.