Tastings led by the person who chose the bottles.
Skendleby Hall hosts private wine tastings in a Grade II listed country house, led by the owner, Adrian Thornton.
Over an hour or so you’ll move from a sparkling arrival through a flight of whites and a flight of reds — Adrian pouring, talking through each wine, and answering whatever you want to ask. It’s relaxed rather than reverent: a glass in hand, good company, and someone who knows the wines well enough to make them worth talking about.
HOW THE EVENING RUNS
Wines change with every tasting — this is a recent example of how a flight comes together.
White Flight
- Capitoline White, Sémillon / Chenin 2023
- Rafael Palacios, Louro do Bolo Godello 2023
- Domaine Damien Martin, Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru 2022 Served en magnum
Red Flight
- Déclassé Lafite 2023
- Château d'Hanteillan, Haut-Médoc 2019
- Scaranto Governo, Special Edition 2023
WHAT YOU MIGHT TASTE
Every tasting is different, but recent evenings give a sense of the calibre — especially at the premium tier.
Tastings open with a sparkling wine to wake the palate up — sometimes a Champagne like this dry Brut, sometimes something from elsewhere, always chosen to set the evening off.
A white made from Godello, a Galician grape most people have never tasted. Rafael Palacios has done more than anyone to put it on the map, and this is the wine that shows why.
Red Burgundy from Joseph Drouhin, one of the region’s most trusted names. Pinot Noir from Gevrey-Chambertin — the kind of bottle that explains why people fall for Burgundy.
A bold Barossa Shiraz from Penfolds, matured in French oak rather than the American oak of its famous stablemate, Grange. Big, polished and unmistakably Australian.
WHAT IT COSTS
Two tiers, set by the wine. Both run the same way — a sparkling arrival, a white flight and a red flight, with nibbles.
Standard Tasting
£50per person
A flight of fine wines chosen by Adrian. For groups of 8 to 28.
Premium Tasting
£100per person
The same evening with rarer, higher-value wines from Adrian’s cellar. For groups of 4 to 28.
Part of a winter weekend
A wine tasting is one of the experiences you can add to an exclusive-use weekend at Skendleby — the whole Hall, your group, and an evening with Adrian and his cellar.
Arrange a tasting
Tastings are arranged around your stay, directly with Amanda. Dates book ahead, so it’s worth asking early.
Already staying with us?
Add a tasting to your booking — call or email and we’ll build it into your weekend.
Planning a stay?
Wine tastings run as part of an exclusive-use stay for your group. Tell us about your visit and we’ll take it from there.