A Toast to Forty-Five Years of Wine and Wonder: Laithwaites’ Wine Festival

There is something timeless about a good glass of wine. The swirl, the scent, the first sip that tells you more than words ever could. This autumn, London will once again become the heart of that conversation as the UK’s largest and longest-running wine festival returns for its forty-fifth year.

Laithwaites’ Wine Festival has become more than just a celebration of grapes and glassware. It is a gathering of stories, craftsmanship and culture, where wine lovers meet the people who turn a harvest into art. From Friday the thirty-first of October to Sunday the second of November, the grand RHS Lawrence Hall in Westminster will welcome over eighty producers from seventeen countries, all ready to pour, share and inspire.

With more than three hundred wines available to taste, guests are invited to explore the world one glass at a time. There will be something for everyone, from the seasoned collector searching for that rare vintage to the casual enthusiast eager to discover a new favourite. The festival’s fine wine tasting room will offer the chance to sample some of the world’s most coveted bottles, with Bordeaux and Burgundy once again stealing the spotlight.

Beyond the tastings, the festival will offer guided masterclasses and talks led by some of the industry’s most respected voices. Will Lyons, Vice President of The Times and The Sunday Times Wine Club, will host two much-anticipated sessions titled New Discoveries and A Journey Through Bordeaux. Elsewhere, a Cheese and Wine Masterclass and a Sherry Lovers’ Gourmet experience promise to turn knowledge into pure enjoyment.

Food, of course, plays its own delicious role in the experience. From elegant street food to leisurely picnic-style lunches, the selection promises to match the character and charm of the wines being poured.

For those looking to make their exploration a little more personal, Laithwaites’ in-house Wine Guides will be on hand throughout the weekend, offering private tours and bespoke recommendations.

Four sessions will run across the weekend, beginning on Friday evening and ending with a final Sunday afternoon celebration. Tickets are priced at forty-five pounds per session and are now available at www.laithwaites.co.uk/festival.

As Laithwaites marks forty-five years of its celebrated festival, it continues to do what it has always done best — bring people together through the shared language of great wine. In a world that moves fast, this is one moment to slow down, raise a glass and savour the craftsmanship that fills it.