Mark Anstead promises “Wine Tasting for everyone! Fun, informal and informative Wine Tastings and Courses in Cambridge” and delivers with ease.

This is my first wine tasting course and I joined to crack the mysterious jargon of “ Lovely brambly nose and a hint of spice”, “Nuances of warm leather”, “Sweet black cherry notes“, “Vanilla oak”. Now I make furniture from oak but a brambly nose???

Mark is a very knowledgeable and friendly host who makes the evenings fun, relaxed and thoroughly informative. The “class” is a happy bunch keen to learn more about the different wine styles of the world, what to drink with what food and how the taste of wines change with different food – what would you serve with your hard cheeses? Nibbles are available so you pair up cheese and pepper steak with about 6 or 7 wines each evening. We do learn about grape varieties, appearance and those mysterious terms “nose” and “palate” but I am not sure I can find the brambly nose yet [it lives in a Rioja I hear].

A great way to spend an evening and I highly recommend Mark's 8 week courses to all who want to learn the basics about wine or extend their knowledge. The course is flexible and you can miss one evening and catch up later. There are also a supporting range of specials such food and wine, champagne and more.