Berry Bros & Rudd BBR – with its 300-plus years of expertise as a wine importer – offers one-day classes as well as evening courses (four to six weeks), plus examination courses for wine geeks. All classes are held in the wine cellar of this venerable St James’s Street shop. Since 1997, the London Wine Academy has offered a range of courses taught by qualified tutors – including Masters of Wine, buyers and sommeliers. As well as one-day workshops focused on a particular grape or region, there are evening classes and events dedicated to food pairing, such as port and Stilton or Spanish food and wine. Michael Schuster is a real wine educator, with over 25 years of experience. He teaches courses (six sessions each) for both beginners and advanced wine buffs, based at the offices of fine wine merchants Bordeaux Index, with plenty of wines to be tasted at each session. The independent wine supplier Roberson has a wine school in its Kensington shop. Its laid-back courses cater for beginners as well as the more knowledgeable, and there are workshops on individual regions.

West London Wine School This independent wine school in Fulham offers a wide range of courses based on regions, countries and levels of knowledge. 2009 best wine listThere are also tutored tastings of beer, sherry and whisky.wine ice cream sold in stores The WES runs tutored tastings, relaxed workshops in various venues across London, and even organises occasional holidays. wine ice cream sold in storesCourses are geared towards beginners or those with intermediate knowledge, and specialist classes delve in depth into high-quality wines of specific regions, such as Bordeaux or Burgundy.high end wine coolers

Wine & Food Academy As its name suggests, there’s much to learn here about all things quaffable and edible. There are wine tours, classes (senior students can also train for the WSET, or Wine and Spirit Education Trust, qualifications) and five-week or half-day courses on wine and food appreciation.best wine for diet Wine & Spirit Education Trusttop 10 spanish white wines The WSET is a worldwide organisation providing high-quality training and qualifications for professionals working in the wine and spirit and hospitality trades, but their introductory and advanced courses are popular with amateur enthusiasts too. Its informal 'Wine Enthusiast' events often focus on a particular region or style.Jonathan Ray investigates the best places to drink at the fount of knowledge Jonathan Ray Reader Offer: Wine Courses Tasting Case

The only way to learn more about wine is to drink more of it. How many subjects can you say that about? Of course, books and specialist magazines such as Decanter and Wine Spectator are great ways of getting the latest information on producers, vintages and new releases, but there is no substitute for opening a bottle and getting stuck in. It's a bit gloomy to do this alone, so if you are keen to know more, I suggest corralling some friends to join you. You can encourage each of them to bring a bottle to be served blind to the others and then discussed. Even better, go on a well-established wine course. I have recently test-driven a couple of courses, both Michael Schuster's at Bordeaux Index and the Berry Bros & Rudd Wine School. They were both absorbing and convivial (especially the Berrys' one, which ended with a very relaxed and pleasantly lengthy lunch). Here, in no particular order, are 10 top places to learn more about wine. Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET; nationwide) Founded in 1969 to help educate wine and spirits professionals, the WSET specialises in courses for enthusiasts in more than 40 countries.

The one-day foundation course (£140 per head) is a brilliant place to start, after which you might graduate to the three-day intermediate course (£335) or the advanced and diploma courses. These are held throughout Britain, with distance learning also available. The Devon Wine School Alastair Peebles runs a multitude of courses in the depths of the country for absolute beginners, sommeliers and budding Masters of Wine (of which he is one). The two-day intermediate level 2 course costs £265 and is delightfully informal. Peebles also runs food and wine matching meals, using local produce, and beer tastings. Overnight stays and gift vouchers are available. The Devon Wine School is near Crediton in Devon (01363 866742; www.devonwineschool.co.uk). Christie's and Sotheby's (London) Both these great auction houses run superlative wine courses, led by some of the most celebrated figures in the trade. The Christie's wine course (£215) was founded in 1982 by Master of Wine Michael Broadbent and is ideal for beginners.

The wine master class is more advanced. Sotheby's runs both an introductory varietal course (concentrating on the grapes) and a regional course (focusing on the regions). //wine) are both in London W1. The Berry Bros & Rudd Wine School (London) Berrys' courses are held in 300-year-old cellars deep below St James's Street in central London and include an introductory course and other courses devoted to classic wine regions and Bordeaux and Burgundy. You can choose from one-day courses at £205 (Fridays or Saturdays) or six-session evening courses at £365. The quality of the wines (tasted blind) is second to none and the one-day courses include a sumptuous lunch in the Napoleon Cellar. The David Roberts School of Wine (Suffolk) Master of Wine David Roberts is a witty and informal presenter. His next six-week introduction to wine course starts on September 30 (7.30-9.30pm) and costs £280. Each session features a tasting, food and wine matching and advice on serving and cellaring. On the last night there is an end of term dinner and knees-up to which partners are invited.

Quaff Fine Wine and The Butlers Wine Cellar (East Sussex) At Quaff Fine Wine, former Sussex CCC opening bat Toby Peirce holds educational tastings on a variety of themes as well as a completely absorbing old world wine course (£137.50 for ?five evenings, starting on January 8). At Butlers, Henry Butler doesn't do courses as such, but every month holds a "basics tasting" - a hilarious but informative affair that invariably ends up in a lock-in at the Hanover Pub over the road. and The Butlers Wine Cellar 01273 698724, www.butlers-winecellar.co.uk) are in Brighton, East Sussex. Mary Dowey's Wine Weekend (Ireland) The inspirational former wine columnist of The Irish Times holds regular weekend courses for beginners at the gourmets' paradise that is Ballymaloe House near Cork. The next are February 20-22 and April 24-26, 2009. Each include a gala wine-tasting evening and champagne workshop. Prices start at €395 without accommodation and €650 with. Mary Dowey's Wine Weekends are in County Cork, Ireland (00 35321 4652 531; www.ballymaloe.ie).

Rose Murray Brown (Scotland) Rose Murray Brown is Scotland's best-known wine educator. The "Enjoying Wine" series (tasting techniques and introduction to whites, reds and sparkling wines) costs £120 for four evenings and the "Drinking with Style" series (French classics, best of Spain and Italy, champagne etc) costs £135. As well as these regular courses, there are master classes that focus on such topics as £50 bottles, wine and chocolate and riesling from around the world. Michael Schuster at Bordeaux Index (London) Michael Schuster has run his incomparable courses for 25 years. His book, Essential Winetasting, is a classic and essential reading whether you join his course or not. Now operating from new premises in London's Hatton Garden, Schuster runs both a beginners' course (six evenings at £255) and a slightly more advanced fine wine course (six evenings at £375). Taste-In (By appointment) The well-heeled could do far worse than spend a bespoke day with one of the Britain's finest wine experts, Robert Joseph, who will act as your personal wine trainer.