Blind tasting; we all know the drill. But this session sets out to test your powers of deduction to the limit. In a double-blind line up - with all wines served in black glasses - the only thing you have to deduct is price. How you get there is your choice – instinct, tasting notes, or just hope!

With ten wines to analyse, ranging from £8 to £100 and across a range of styles, this will test both non-visual tasting skills and how confidently one can relate quality to price point. Tasting sheets will be provided for notes and scoring.

Following the session, each wine will be revealed and discussed, giving valued peer-group time to evaluate where you went right, or wrong.

Come with a curiosity and leave with a better understanding of your palate.

How it works on the day:

1. Deduct: You’ll taste 10 wines blind in black glasses, using your palate to assess structure, balance, and length, and assign a guessed price point (£8 to £100).

2. Unmask & Evaluate: Following the session, each bottle is revealed.

3. Peer Calibration: Together, we’ll analyze where perception matched reality—debating how perceived quality actually correlated with retail price, which bottles punched above their weight, and where market pricing diverged from what was in the glass.

Event Details

• Date: Monday 7th September 2026

• Time: 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM

• Venue: Upstairs Bar, Grape & Grain (GOTR), Bridge Street, Newbury - Travel Note: GOTR is centrally located, just an 8-minute walk from Newbury Station (approx. 50 mins direct from London Paddington).

• Optional Lunch: Côte Brasserie (next door) following the event at your own expense.

Members: FREE (£10 fully refundable deposit required upon booking)

Non-Members & F&B Guests: £15

Registration has closed for this event

On 2 November 2026, we gather at The Caledonian Club in Belgravia for a deep dive into the granitic heartland of Portuguese white wine: Alvarinho from Monção and Melgaço: Our side of the story.

Led by winemaker and first Portuguese Master of Wine and winemaker Tiago Macena, this masterclass offers an intimate...exploration of one of the Iberian Peninsula’s most distinctive microclimates.

The Terroir: Between the River and the Mountains

Tucked into the far northwest corner of Portugal along the Minho River, Monção & Melgaço is the historic birthplace of Alvarinho and one of the nine distinct sub-regions that comprise the broader Demarcated Region of Vinhos Verdes. Unlike the more maritime-influenced coastal areas of the region, Monção & Melgaço is sheltered by an amphitheatre of mountains.

This unique geography creates a distinct climate defined by:

• Thermal Amplitude: Warm summer days and cool nights that preserve vibrant acidity while developing deep aromatic complexity.

• Granitic Soils: Ancient granite land that imparts a signature stony minerality, weight, and structural tension to the wines.

• Aging Potential: Exceptional longevity, allowing these whites to evolve gracefully over years—and even decades—in the bottle.

Meet Your Host: Tiago Macena
Guiding us through the region’s landscape and winemaking philosophy is Tiago Macena.

Tiago has recently become Portugal’s first Master of Wine, he holds a degree in Viticulture and Oenology from the Instituto Superior de Agronomia in Lisbon, along with a postgraduate qualification in Wine Business. A winemaker with hands-on experience across the Dão, Alentejo, and the Azores, Tiago is also a respected wine educator, panel taster, and columnist for Revista de Vinhos, he brings technical expertise, academic rigor, and a winemaker's passion to the glass.

The Flight

Attendees will evaluate a carefully curated flight of 8 wines showcasing the range, versatility, and depth of Monção & Melgaço. The line-up spans young, crystalline expressions, wood-aged cuvées, sparkling Alvarinho (Espumante), and mature vintages—demonstrating why this sub-region stands in a class of its own.

Event Details & Registration

• Date: Monday, 2 November 2026

• Time: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM (Registration from 10:15 AM)

• Venue: The Caledonian Club, 9 Halkin St, Belgravia, London SW1X 7DR

• Audience: Open to UKSA Members and qualified UK Sommelier Industry Professionals

• Capacity: Strictly limited to 30 seats

Seats are extremely limited to ensure an interactive, high-level tasting environment. UKSA membership is not essential so please feel free to pass on this invitation to your trade friends and colleagues. 

(Please note: Due to high demand and strict capacity limits, registrations will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis.)