EDINBURGH WINE SCHOOL
About Edinburgh Wine School
My name is Maggy Smith and I run the Edinburgh Wine School an approved programme provider for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. The Wine School is also a member of the prestigious Association of Wine Educators dedicated to improving wine education. I am completely devoted and passionate about wine education being enjoyable and fun. Each year I run a wine tasting school during the fringe called Wine in the City (in the City Chambers) which received a 5 star review from the press last year. People who are interested in taking the subject a little further come along to my Saturday Wine School which runs once a month. I am on the committee of the Scottish Wine Society which meets up once a month in the City Centre. I run corporate events and WSET courses and am very involved in raising money for charity with wine tasting events. I speak Spanish and I am an Official Sherry Educator and a certified Spanish Wine Educator. When I am not teaching wine appreciation I enjoy hill walking, cooking, and eating out with friends and family. I have 3 grown up children who live in Edinburgh and China. I am a member of St. Margaret's Guild which is a unique guild of "Margarets" who look after St. Margaret's Chapel (the oldest building in Edinburgh) in Edinburgh Castle. Our patron is The Princess Royal.
I am very approachable so please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. My personal email is: maggysmi@blueyonder.co.uk Booking for the fringe will commence June 1 2011 and £1 for every ticket sold will go to the the East Africa Famine Appeal.
Frances' approach to the wine trade has never been traditional. Starting at the tender age of 18 she has spent time as a sommelier, wholesaler and wine merchant whilst teaching a broad spectrum of people how to taste wine. From students to lawyers, hen parties to formal dinners; Frances strives to make tasting wine interesting, educational and (importantly!) fun!
She is particularly interested in unusual food and wine pairings, wine science, daft tasting notes, even more daft wine puns and drinking sherry with everything.
Joanne
'What can you taste in this wine?'
'Grapes??'
By the end of my first introduction to wine I could detect warm buttered toast on the nose, roasted hazelnuts on the pallet and vanilla on the finish. I couldn't believe these flavours had been there all the time, hidden in the glass. The world of wine suddenly opened up to me and I have been enchanted and excited by it ever since.
Since that first wine tasting 8 years ago I have tasted over 800 wines professionally. I have worked in wine retail, discussing individual customers needs as well as helping restauranteurs with food and wine matching for their wine lists.
I would be delighted to help you discover the hidden secrets in your glass of wine.
We look forward to welcoming you to the City Chambers this year. If you would like to view a wine tasting on YouTube then please view the video below.
