Laithwaites Wine Festival Is The Pour-fect Day Out For Wine Lovers

Give a wine lover a bottle of plonk as a gift and they'll drink for a day. Give said wine lover the chance to attend Laithwaites biggest event of the year, and they'll drink for a lifetime. If you're racking your brain for an excellent last minute Christmas gift for the vino enthusiast in your life, we've got just the ticket – literally.

Laithwaites Wine Festival, the annual extravaganza of all grape things, is stomping its way into 2024 like a vintage ready to be uncorked and it’s gearing up to be the oenophile's event of the year.

Set to take place on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th May 2024, this year's festival moves to its new home at Olympia, Kensington, promising to be the grandest soirée since the inaugural gathering at the very same spot in 1980. But don’t go thinking this is your run-of-the-mill, been-there-done-that wine tasting. Laithwaites Wine Festival offers a sensory journey through the world of wine, with over 350 wines to taste meaning you'll be waltzing through vineyards without ever leaving London. And trust us, that's a lot cheaper than a plane ticket to Rioja or the drive to Champagne.

As you waltz through the festival, you'll get a complimentary tasting guide and glass to go around with but it’s not just a sip-and-spit affair. Consider the festival like a smorgasboard of all the things associated with good wine too. That includes the opportunity to chat with more than 100 producers, ask a question or two and learn something new. These growers have travelled from far and wide to share their life’s work with passing punters so rack their brains while you can. You’ll quickly learn from them that this festival isn't just about Old World charm; it's a voyage through New World estates from Australia, California, Argentina, New Zealand, and beyond – a great way to step outside of your comfort zone without having to commit to a bottle. Next, dive into artisan food stands, dabble in English fizz (that's sparkling wine for the uninitiated), and explore luxury spirits that will make you question why you ever drank anything else.

And here's the clincher – Laithwaites' current 30% off for new customers with code 30OFF also applies to festival tickets making them only £35 each instead of £50. Yes, you read that right. Feeling fancy? Why not upgrade to the ultimate luxury experience for an extra £30 with access to the Fine Wine Room, where the bottles are so posh they probably have their own security detail. Here you or they can sip on vintage Champagne from legendary Grand Marques, laugh in the face of seriousness with Bollinger and Moët & Chandon, or indulge in dessert wines that you’ve likely never tried.

So, skip the predictable bottle in a bag this festive season and give this instead. It really is the gift that keeps on giving. They’ll thank you – and you’ll reap the rewards next time you go over for dinner.

Grab 30% off some of the best wines of the year

These would pair seriously well with tickets to the 2024 Festival - and they can be yours for 30% off with the code 30OFF.