If you fancy yourself as a savvy amateur wine-taster, then Oddbins’ The Palate contest might be the perfect place to show off your skills.
The High Street and online chain is launching its 2015 search for the ultimate amateur palate. The competition is now in its fourth year and last year 21,000 people took part.
The first rounds are taking place at the Taste of London food and drink festival until June 21, and then in all Oddbins shops over this coming weekend, June 20 & 21 and then the following week, June 27 & 28.
So you’d better start training with a sniff, a swirl and a slurp.
Wine critic and educator Sarah Ahmed, a mentor and judge for The Palate, says: “It is an incontrovertible fact that many, many people feel too intimidated to taste wine confidently and The Palate plays a vital role in demystifying and democratising the world of wine.
“It’s about showing people that anyone can do it – and it was truly moving to see people on that journey from self-doubt to confidence last year.”
As well as the title of The Palate 2015, entrants can win: a ‘wine holiday’ to South Africa; a long weekend in Italy; a day course at the Raymond Blanc Cookery School; wine prizes totalling £3,000; much free wine; and the chance to pick a wine for Oddbins to list nationwide.
After Round One, contestants are then whittled down over four rounds, culminating in wine Boot Camps and then an intense final, filmed at a glitzy London location.
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