Handford Wines hold regular tastings at The Cellar, downstairs in our South Kensington store. We run various styles: formal tutored style tastings and informal walkabout tastings, our wine-school, and even winemaker dinners. We also hold our big Summer and Christmas tastings at external venues.

Upcoming Tasting Events

Our upcoming tasting events are:

For more information on each tasting, see below.


Rhone Rangers Tasting. En Primeur + Current Release - Thurs 27 February


Rhone Rangers Tasting: En Primeur + Current Release - Thursday 27th February
@ Handford Wines, 105 Old Brompton Road
5pm - 830pm
£40.00 per ticket.

The world is getting hotter. Winegrowers must either search for cooler sites or embrace the heat. For the latter scenario, vintners look to the grapes of the Southern Rhone. Grenache, Shiraz, Viognier, Marsanne _ Grenache Blanc have wondered far and wide. They are less dependent on water, bud after spring frosts and cope well in higher temperatures. As a result they are highly preferred material when replanting their vineyards with these varieties as climate change takes hold. At this informal walking tasting, the Handford team have selected their market favourites to truly explore the international scene and provide you with a greater understanding and appreciation of these warm climate varieties.


Burgundy 2023 En Primeur Tasting - Wed 29th January


En Primeur Tasting Evening - Second Chance
Wednesday 29th January
4.00pm-8.00pm

£50.00 per person
(Ticket price redeemable with Burg23 En Primeur purchase.)

For those who missed out first time round we are running a second Burgundy EP Tasting Wednesday 29th Jan.
Our growers have done a tremendous job of this. Tasting 2023s in early November was a joy as wines were generous, forward and yet remained true to their origin. They were way beyond expectation and that always puts a smile on my face. Whites are beautifully ripe, almost tropical in their fruit style, but with a squeeze of citrus and refreshing bite. They are for the medium term as it was never going to be easy to manage pH and acidity in perfect order. We will open over 40 whites and reds all offered at opening prices prior to shipment later in 2025.


Burgundy Series. Côte de Nuits Reds - Wed 19th February


Burgundy Series: Côte de Nuits Reds
in The Cellar at Handford Wines
Sit-down tasting hosted by James Handford MW
6.30pm to 8.30pm
£100 per ticket


This series will equip you with an in-depth review of the stylistic differences to be found from different vintages, producers & vineyards in each sub-region.

The first part of Burgundy series covers reds from the Cotes de Nuits, the northerly section of the Cote d'Or. This is Burgundy's heart and the ancestral home of Pinot Noir. The tasting will feature eight wines from five different communes, including three premier crus and one grand cru wine. James will be discussing all of the wines and fielding all your questions.

James has been visiting growers in Burgundy twice a year since 1986. He has selected each of the wines being shown in this series as a benchmark for both the village and the vintage. They were all tasted by him, direct from barrel, in the November succeeding each harvest.

Gevrey Chambertin Clos Prieur 2022 Frederic Esmonin
Vosne Romanee les Violettes 2021 Christian Clerget
Chambolle Musigny aux Croix 2020 Christian Clerget
Nuits St Georges 1er Cru les Vaucrains 2019 Jean Chauvenet
Morey Saint Denis Tres Girard 2018 Hubert Lignier
Cotes de Nuits Village 2017 Sylvie Esmonin
Clos Saint Denis Grand Cru 2016 Georges Lignier
Nuits St Georges 1er Cru les Vaucrains 2012 Jean Chauvenet


Handford Weekend Wine School - Sat 1st March


Weekend Wine School – Saturday 1 March 2025
Handford Wines, 105 Old Brompton Road
1130am – 1.00pm
£25.00 per person

Join shop manager Vito on the first Saturday of every month for an engaging introductory wine-tasting session in our newly refurbished cellar. Whether you're curious about grape varieties, terroir, winemaking techniques, wine history, or anything else, this class is the perfect environment to ask them. Together we will decode and articulate the flavours in the glass while refining your palate with 8 different wines.
These sessions are perfect for anyone looking to widen their appreciation of wine while discovering their unique taste preferences. Plus, you'll gain the confidence to make smarter, more personalised wine choices.

Vito began his wine career at British Columbia's renowned Quail's Gate Winery, under the tutelage of four accomplished sommeliers. Following his time working with London's largest Italian wine collection, where he led introductory wine tasting classes, Vito took up the WSET Diploma on arrival at Handford Wines. Immensely passionate and incredibly knowledgeable, Vito is the ideal guide to explore the nuances of the world of wine.
All levels are welcome — just bring your curiosity for wine!


Burgundy Series. Côte de Beaune Reds - Wed 19th March


Burgundy Series. Côte de Beaune Reds
in The Cellar at Handford Wines
Sit-down tasting hosted by James Handford MW
6.30pm to 8.30pm
£100 per ticket

In the second part of our Burgundy series we are covering the reds of the Côte de Beaune, the southerly section of the Cote d'Or - Burgundy's heart and the ancestral home of Pinot Noir. The tasting will feature eight wines from seven different communes, including five premier crus.

Maranges La Fussiere 1er Cru 2022 Thierry and Pascale Matrot
Savigny les Beaune 2021 Jean Marc Millot
Santenay Rouge 1er Cru Passetemps 2020 Quentin Jeannot
Beaune 1er Cru Tuvilans 2019 Georges Noellat
Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Les Duresses Rouge 2018 Domaine Guy Roulot
Pommard Clos des Epeneaux 2017 Dom Comte Armand
Volnay 1er Cru Santenots du Milieu 2016 Comtes Lafon
Pommard Clos des Epeneaux 2014 Comte Armand
Volnay 1er Cru Mitans 2014 Michel Lafarge


Handford Weekend Wine School - Sat 5th April


Weekend Wine School – Saturday 5 April 2025
Handford Wines, 105 Old Brompton Road
1130am – 1.00pm
£25.00 per person

Join shop manager Vito on the first Saturday of every month for an engaging introductory wine-tasting session in our newly refurbished cellar. Whether you're curious about grape varieties, terroir, winemaking techniques, wine history, or anything else, this class is the perfect environment to ask them. Together we will decode and articulate the flavours in the glass while refining your palate with 8 different wines.
These sessions are perfect for anyone looking to widen their appreciation of wine while discovering their unique taste preferences. Plus, you'll gain the confidence to make smarter, more personalised wine choices.

Vito began his wine career at British Columbia's renowned Quail's Gate Winery, under the tutelage of four accomplished sommeliers. Following his time working with London's largest Italian wine collection, where he led introductory wine tasting classes, Vito took up the WSET Diploma on arrival at Handford Wines. Immensely passionate and incredibly knowledgeable, Vito is the ideal guide to explore the nuances of the world of wine.
All levels are welcome — just bring your curiosity for wine!


Burgundy Series. Côte d'Or Whites - Wed 23rd April


Burgundy Series: Côte d'Or Whites
in The Cellar at Handford Wines
Sit-down tasting hosted by James Handford MW
6.30pm to 8.30pm
£100 per ticket

In the last tasting of our Burgundy series James will be chatting about whites from Burgundy's heart - the Cote d'Or (“golden slope”) outside of Dijon. We will be featuring an Aligote and seven different commune's Chardonnays, including two premier crus and one grand cru wine. All are from the 2022 vintage to better compare the subtle differences between the villages.

Bourgogne Aligote 2022 Jean Marc Millot
Marsannay Blanc les Etalles 2022 Alain Guyard
Santenay Blanc Clos des Hates 2022 Quentin Jeannot
Saint Aubin 1er Cru Murgers des Dents de Chien 2022 Gerard Thomas
Morey Saint Denis Blanc les Crais 2022 Christian Clerget
Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru les Chenevottes 2022 Gerard Thomas
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru la Garenne 2022 Gerard Thomas
Meursault 2022 Philippe Chavy
Puligny Montrachet Rue Rousseau 2022 Philippe Chavy


Handford Weekend Wine School - Sat 31st May


Weekend Wine School – Saturday 31 May 2025
Handford Wines, 105 Old Brompton Road
1130am – 1.00pm
£25.00 per person

Join shop manager Vito on the last Saturday of May for an engaging introductory wine-tasting session in our newly refurbished cellar. Whether you're curious about grape varieties, terroir, winemaking techniques, wine history, or anything else, this class is the perfect environment to ask them. Together we will decode and articulate the flavours in the glass while refining your palate with 8 different wines.
These sessions are perfect for anyone looking to widen their appreciation of wine while discovering their unique taste preferences. Plus, you'll gain the confidence to make smarter, more personalised wine choices.

Vito began his wine career at British Columbia's renowned Quail's Gate Winery, under the tutelage of four accomplished sommeliers. Following his time working with London's largest Italian wine collection, where he led introductory wine tasting classes, Vito took up the WSET Diploma on arrival at Handford Wines. Immensely passionate and incredibly knowledgeable, Vito is the ideal guide to explore the nuances of the world of wine.
All levels are welcome — just bring your curiosity for wine!


Handford Summer Tasting 2025 - Wed 4th June


Wednesday 4th June 2025
4.00pm to 8.30pm (Last Entry - 8.00pm)
£60.00 per ticket

Ognisko Polskie (The Polish Hearth)
55 Princes Gate
Exhibition Road (opposite Imperial College)
South Kensington
SW7 2PN


South Kensington’s favourite wine event returns to our beloved venue in the Grand Ballroom of the Polish Hearth on Exhibition Road. We'll be presenting new discoveries of 2025, popular entries from cellar tastings and some of our iconic lines. It's a tremendous evening filled with over 45 summer wines at special on-the-night prices, do not miss out!

We recommend arriving no later than 7.45pm to have time to explore the wine selection.


To book tickets for any of these events, purchase online or call us on 020 7589 6113.


Special Offer – All Three Burgundy Series Tastings *Plus* 2023 Burgundy En-Primeur


Private Tastings in the Handford Cellar

If you would like us to organise a bespoke tasting for your friends or colleagues then we can accommodate up to 19 people for a sit down tasting or up to 34 people for a stand up tasting in our cellar. The costs are:

  • Room hire and a wine expert – £700 (VAT incl.)
  • Room hire and Master of Wine – £900 (VAT incl.)

Plus minimum spend on wine is £300 (VAT incl.). Please contact us for more details