Saturday Italian Wine Lunch at Madingley Hall

Enjoy a friendly and informal journey through the wonderful world of Italian wine, hosted in the historic surroundings of Madingley Hall and accompanied by a delicious 3-course lunch.

Part of the University of Cambridge, 16th-century Madingley Hall is set within eight acres of beautiful parkland. Queen Victoria once rented the house for her son, the future Edward VII, during his time studying at Cambridge.

We begin with an Italian traditional-method sparkling wine (Champagne rival) before exploring why Italy is one of the most fascinating wine-producing nations in the world.

From graceful Barolo and velvety Valpolicella to the character of Chianti, Gavi, Soave and more, we’ll taste our way through regions such as Piedmont, Veneto, Tuscany, Abruzzo, Puglia, Trentino and Sicily. No previous experience is needed – curiosity is all that’s required.

Throughout our lunch we’ll explore the principles of food and wine pairing, tasting several wines alongside the dishes to see how the flavours, structure and balance change in the glass. It’s practical, insightful and great fun.

After lunch, enjoy the spectacle of opening Champagne with a sabre, followed by a short tour of Madingley Hall and a glimpse into its history. The afternoon then continues with more tasting, stories and insights, finishing at around 4pm.

All diets can be catered for at lunch. See an example menu here.

Madingley Hall is a 15-minute taxi ride from Cambridge rail station, and parking is available on site. Guests may also book an overnight stay in advance, with double rooms from £99 bed and breakfast for two.

Wines you are likely to taste
(precise wines may vary slightly)

• Italian traditional-method sparkling wine (a true Champagne rival)
• Pinot Grigio with real flavour
• Lugana (why this wine is suddenly in the spotlight)
• Fiano (southern Italy’s aromatic star)
• Gavi with canapés (acidity and pairing)
• Soave with canapés (body and pairing)
• Chianti with the main course (tannins and pairing)
• Barolo with the main course (structure and pairing)
• Dessert with Vin Santo (pairing principles for sweet dishes)
• SuperTuscan red
• Primitivo di Manduria
• Valpolicella
• Amarone della Valpolicella

The experience offers a tutored tasting of 13 wines in total with clear, practical guidance on how to pair food and wine.

All our experiences can be purchased as a Gift, either as a dated or undated voucher.