Wine School @ The Fringe

This is a lovely experience as part of the Fringe. Claire who runs this is very knowledgeable about wine and brings in experts when she needs to (like for Rum and Chocolate tasting). The boat makes a lovely setting for wine tasting — the quay at Fountainbridge is good, lots of bars and restaurants surrounding it. It’s fun to climb on board the boat and find a seat in the main bit of the barge. You share tables and everyone was very friendly on the tastings we went to.
Claire comes up with interesting combinations, we have attended a sparking wine, rum and chocolate, aging riojas and a spanish wine event. There is always lots to get you interested.
Claire also runs events and courses in Edinburgh all year — we have attended one of her wine dinners at Hendersons — that was good.

During the festival every year, a wine school is run from a small canal barge boat on the union canal based at Fountainbridge. Behind the bar Cargo, the small canal harbour plays host to the most fantastic experience in the festival. The school has run for the last 2 years and I have attended both years. Listed in the festival timetable, you can book online or just turn up on the day (assuming it’s not sold out). Every day a different tasting and learning experience is to be had on board a canal boat, dependent on your choice there is white wine tasting, red wine tasting, sparkling wines, rum and chocolate and whisky tasting. Of course you don’t have to spit it out. It’s only when you leave the boat that you realise it wasn’t just the movement of the water that was making you sway!