A new Croydon business is launching this week on George Street, offering what Time Out has described as “London’s loveliest wine tasting classes”.
Chardonnay champion: Roz Lawson opens the South London Wine School in Croydon this week
Roz Lawson moved to Croydon a year ago and recently took over South London Wine School. The school – part of the Local Wine School network – used to hold regular tastings in Croydon, and Lawson is now bringing them back, starting at the Basil and Grape restaurant in the town centre on Thursday, September 18, with “The Best of the Med!”
The South London Wine School’s bookings page shows that wine tasting evenings typically cost £45 per person – though there’s a three-week course available for budding connoisseurs, pitched at £120 all in.
The various evenings promise events such as “Introduction to sparkling, white and rosé wines”, “Uncorking value” and for those old enough to remember an age of Filofaxes, Sloane Rangers and Beaujolais Nouveau Day, there’s even “Brilliant Bordeaux” in late November.
As well as the evenings’ liquid attractions, what the Torygraph has called “The best wine courses and classes in the UK” also offer a relaxed and fun opportunity to socialise and make new friends with a common interest.
Lawson’s South London Wine School will usually involve tasting at least six different wines that show a variety of styles. Lawson says she “brings the passion, knowledge and enthusiasm to share her love of wine”. And she asks that you bring your curiosity, have some fun, make new friends and learn something along the way.
“I fell in love with wine on holiday in France,” Lawson told Inside Croydon.
“We’d go to a local supermarket, buy wines of different quality and price – a couple from each shelf – and taste them blind… The top shelf didn’t always win!”
Lawson brings to her wine school lessons a full set of qualifications beyond her knowledge of the wine department of her holiday supermarché, having completed the Wine and Spirit Education Trust wine education qualifications to diploma level and becoming a certified WSET educator.
What’s her favourite wine? “It’s too hard to choose… but I do love all styles of Chardonnay!”
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£120!!! That lay out is all very well for the well-heeled, snooty types of South Croydon but they don’t appear to offer any real ale. Which is a tragedy, or an omission. May I recommend Whyteleafe’s Radius Arms, where a variety of real ales are always available and well-kept?
I too find it unacceptable that a wine tasting club does not offer ale.
Best of luck to you, Roz! If you ever run WSET Level 2, you can count me in. 👍
Thank you! I do run WSET Level 2 but in Streatham… next course starting Oct 7th.