Northern Wine School

Northern Wine School Fun, friendly and informal wine tasting events and WSET qualifications in Manchester. Professionally catering for public, private and corporate events.

Northern Wine School has our next 6 week, Manchester classroom WSET Level 3 Wines course coming up next month on the 21s...
20/05/2026

Northern Wine School has our next 6 week, Manchester classroom WSET Level 3 Wines course coming up next month on the 21st June, so I thought I’d ping you a heads up, in case you were considering some wine education this year.

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines is an advanced wine qualification designed for people who already have a reasonable understanding of wine and want to take things much deeper.

Who’s it for? It’s popular with enthusiastic wine lovers, people already working in hospitality or retail, and anyone considering a more serious path into wine professionally.

Despite the advanced nature of it, you don’t need to be a Master Sommelier or industry insider to take it (although if that’s you, you will get huge value from it). You just need to hold the Level 2 already, or an equivalent level of professional starting knowledge.

Whatever your profession (wine or otherwise), if you’d like to take your wine game to a whole new level, understand why wines taste the way they do, how regions differ, what influences quality, and how to taste and assess wine with more confidence, it’s perfect for you.

What does it cover? A lot!

Level 3 is broken down into two Units:

1. The Theory of Wines of the World
2. The Analytical Tasting of Wine
Within those two units, we get granular, really diving underneath the surface and giving you a whole new level of understanding, which you can use to further your career, improve the service you provide if you stock an extensive wine list, or just increase the enjoyment of your pastime!

You'll taste over 60 fantastic samples too, including Premier Cru Burgundies, Grand Cru Bordeaux & Canadian Icewine.

Book places directly online using the link below, or email [email protected] to take advantage of 10% off the total when enrolling 3 or more students.

£935pp includiong tuition, textbook, tasting samples & first attempt at the exam. Dates: 21/28 June, 5/12/19/26 July 10am-5.30pm. Exam: 26th July.

https://northernwineschool.co.uk/product/wset-level-3-award-in-wines-manchester/

Just 2 places left on our Manchester May 18/19/20 Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 2 Beer course with experienced Bee...
20/04/2026

Just 2 places left on our Manchester May 18/19/20 Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 2 Beer course with experienced Beer Sommelier Annabel Smith. There won't be another until autumn now, so get booked via the link in the post below while you still can!

It would suit sales & marketing teams, tap room, pubs or bar staff -when the product is exceptional, and the service and knowledge matches it, that breeds referrals, reviews and repeat custom.

However, no previous formal knowledge of beer is required, just an enthusuasm to learn- so it's great for enthusiasts or new or junior team members who aren't directly involved in brewing too.

Over three days, students will discover:

 The main ingredients used in beer production, how they are processed and their influence on the style of beer produced.

 How beer production influences the style and quality of beer: alcoholic fermentation process, brewing process, brewing equipment, beer production options, spontaneous and mixed culture fermentation options.

 The key principles and processes involved in the storage and service of beer: Ideal conditions for storage, packaging and shelf life, service temperatures, glassware, beer on tap, bottled beer, common faults, beer and
food.

 How over 60 beer styles are produced and labelled and their typical
characteristics: Malt-driven lagers, malt-driven ales, hop-driven lagers, hop-
driven ales, yeast-driven ales, mixed fermentation styles, other specialitybeers.

They'll get hands on with the product too, tasting 24 different styles of beer, so there’s plenty of practical to go with the theory. It's also a good opportunity to taste what your competitors are offering 😉!

At the end of the course, they’ll take a multiple-choice exam, with a certificate and a globally recognised qualification after successful completion.

Book individual places directly online using this link, £575pp inc VAT: https://northernwineschool.co.uk/product/wset-level-2-award-in-beer-condensed-3-day-course-manchester/

Free Postage Weekend On Store Items. Plus Free Aroma Wheel When You Spend £100 Or MoreThere's helpful wine books, maps a...
12/04/2026

Free Postage Weekend On Store Items. Plus Free Aroma Wheel When You Spend £100 Or More

There's helpful wine books, maps and infographics for enthusasts and students keen to learn more. We've got delightful gifts and practical accessories too like glass polishing cloths, foil cutters, bottle openers & wine pourers.

Check out our range of gifts and accessories below & get a free wine aroma wheel worth £12, when you spend £100 or more on any physical items featured in the webstore (excluding gift vouchers).

Browse the range here: https://northernwineschool.co.uk/gifts/

Use code FREEPOST in the coupon box in your basket at check out to get the deal. Offer ends midnight Sunday 12th April.

Extremely excited to announce that our founder, John Callow DipWSET, will be teaching Northern Wine School's Champagne S...
10/04/2026

Extremely excited to announce that our founder, John Callow DipWSET, will be teaching Northern Wine School's Champagne Specialist course in Manchester in September. We will be the first provider in the north to offer this.

Accredited and devised by the Comité Champagne and taught by trusted providers around the world, this course suits anyone who regularly works with, or has an interest in Champagne. It's great for professionals, enthusiasts and students, wine shop staff, sommeliers, catering professionals, food distribution professionals, executives/buyers/sellers in the wine and spirits sector, wine industry professionals, tourism professionals, wine journalists, importers, wine trainers, those who work with luxury goods or students studying hotel, catering and hospitality qualifications.

You'll learn in depth about Champagne terroir, winemaking, food and wine pairing, storage and service advice as well as soft selling skills based on consumer preferences.

There's an opportunity to taste 12 fastastic samples as well in a variety of styles from different producers.

Dates Monday 7/14/21 September, from 10am-5.30pm (10am-12.30pm week 3 for exam). Price £425pp, limited to just 8 places. So book now to secure your place, as we won;t be running another until 2027!

Find out more and book directly online here: https://northernwineschool.co.uk/product/champagne-specialist-course-manchester/

Get a delicious Easter discount this bank holiday weekend, with 15% off your next event or course booking with code NWSE...
03/04/2026

Get a delicious Easter discount this bank holiday weekend, with 15% off your next event or course booking with code NWSEASTER15. But you've got to be clucking quick! Offer ends Midnight Monday.

Treat yourself to a wine, whisky or rum tasting: https://northernwineschool.co.uk/tasting-events/

Get the knowledge with a WSET or Wine Scholar course: https://northernwineschool.co.uk/courses/

*Offer ends 12am Monday 6th April. Exclues gift vouchers, bundles, APWASI & Council of Whisky Masters courses

NEW! Affordable Bordeaux Wine Tasting. £50pp. 31st July & 19th September Manchester. Book here: https://northernwinescho...
29/03/2026

NEW! Affordable Bordeaux Wine Tasting. £50pp. 31st July & 19th September Manchester. Book here: https://northernwineschool.co.uk/product/affordable-bordeaux-wine-tasting-manchester/

Not just classed growths for collectors! Discover the hidden gems and lesser-known wines and grape varieties of Bordeaux in this guided tasting of 6 different every day, affordable wines from a selection of styles, producers and areas of this world-famous wine region. Enjoy examples of the unexpected, such as crémant, rosé & clairet.

Join Northern Wine School Founder & Certified Bordeaux Wine Educator, John Callow DipWSET to hear about the challenges and opportunities of this dynamic wine region, and how its wine makers are looking to explore making new wines that delight consumers.

Another super set of results from last month's cohort of Northern Wine School's Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 2 Wi...
18/03/2026

Another super set of results from last month's cohort of Northern Wine School's Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 2 Wines students!

Congratulations on all their hard work paying off. If you'd like to sign up to our next WSET Level 2 Wines classroom course in Manchester, we have 2 study formats available to book places online directly-

3 day condensed: https://northernwineschool.co.uk/product/wset-level-2-award-in-wines-condensed-3-day-course-manchester/

Classic 3 week: https://northernwineschool.co.uk/product/wset-level-2-award-in-wines-manchester/

3 or more students to enrol? We offer 10% off the total when registering on the same sessions. Larger group? We can come to you and run bespoke courses for any of our wine, spirits, beer or sake classes too. Send me a DM, or email [email protected] to discuss.

Last chance to enrol youself, or some of your colleagues on Northern Wine School's Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 1...
12/03/2026

Last chance to enrol youself, or some of your colleagues on Northern Wine School's Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 1 Spirits course in Manchester on the 23rd March from 10am-5pm. There are only 3 places left.

A self contained, internationally recognised 1 day course covering all the essentials of ditillation and how the world's major spirits categories are made (Cognac, Scotch & Bourbon, Tequila, rum, Vodka & flavoured spirits including gin) as well as an introduction to professional tasting technique using the Systematic Approach to Tasting.

£285pp including tuition, workbook, 10 tasting samples and first attempt at the exam. Registrations close Sunday night, book places online directly here: https://northernwineschool.co.uk/product/wset-level-1-award-in-spirits-manchester/

3 or more people you'd like to enrol on the session? There's 10% off the total if you do. Send a DM, or email [email protected] to take advantage of this.

10/03/2026

Traditional method sparkling wines get their flavour from a long period of maturation on the lees after a second fermentation in bottle, which also creates the fizz. Here's what happens when they're getting the wine ready for sale. Disgorgement comes at the end, where a very clever process removes the yeast cleanly and quickly from the bottle so that there is no sediment in the wine.

This video was taken at a winery in Champagne, during John's Educator trip last month.

Want to learn more? Why not check out Northern Wine School's Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 2 or 3 Wines classroom or online courses where you'll cover this process in depth & be able to explain it to your guests or fellow wine loving friends!

https://northernwineschool.co.uk/courses/

Slightly odd question:How would you feel about drinking wine made from mouldy grapes?I’m sure you’ll agree it doesn’t so...
10/03/2026

Slightly odd question:
How would you feel about drinking wine made from mouldy grapes?

I’m sure you’ll agree it doesn’t sound especially appealing, and yet some of the
world’s most famous (and expensive) sweet wines are made exactly that way.
I’m talking about wines like Sauternes, Tokaji Aszú, and German
Trockenbeerenauslese — bottles that collectors fight over and that can age for
decades.

So what’s going on?

Under the right conditions, a fungus called Botrytis cinerea develops on grape
skins. Instead of ruining the fruit, it actually punctures the berries and slowly
draws out the water. What you’re left with are shrivelled grapes where the sugars, acids and flavours are hugely concentrated.

Nature needs to play ball though – you need misty, humid mornings (often near
rivers or lakes) for the fungus to start growing, followed by warm, sunny afternoons to stop it getting out of control. If it doesn’t dry out, it turns into grey rot — which winemakers (and drinkers) definitely don’t want.

Because the grapes don’t rot evenly, pickers have to go through vineyards day after
day, selecting individual berries by hand over several weeks, which is one of the
reasons these wines are so expensive to make.

What does it taste like? Aside from the huge sweetness, noble rot brings its own unusual flavours, like:
 Honey
 Marmalade
 Dried apricot
 Mushroom
 Rye bread

It sounds strange on paper, but in the glass it’s incredibly complex and balanced —
especially because the grapes used (like Riesling, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon
Blanc) naturally have high acidity to keep everything fresh.

Not just dessert wine either…Most people think sweet wines are only for dessert.
But they’re also fantastic with things like:
 Pâté
 Blue cheese
 Spicy food
 Rich game dishes

In fact, some of the best food pairings I’ve ever had have involved a sweet wine
where you’d least expect it. So next time you see a bottle of Sauternes or Tokaji on a list, remember: some of the world’s greatest wines started life as… mouldy grapes!

Address

Malmaison, 1-3 Piccadilly
Manchester
M13AQ

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm

Telephone

+441618831278

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