Edinburgh: English Wine and Scottish Cheese Tasting

Edinburgh is an unlikely place to learn about English wine, which is exactly what makes this tasting interesting. In a cozy bar beneath the Arches on East Market Street, you’ll work through six English wines, matching sparkling, white, and red bottles with Scottish cheeses before finishing with a brandy liqueur made from English Chardonnay.

I like the clear tasting format and the small group, limited to 10 people. You taste each wine with and without cheese, record your thoughts on a scorecard, and hear about its vineyard, production, and official tasting notes. The main consideration is that this is a focused 90-minute tasting, not a full meal or a broad Scottish food tour. Extra drinks and food are not included.

Key points at a glance

• Six wines in three styles: Taste two sparkling wines, two whites, and two reds, each with a paired British cheese.
• A useful tasting method: Compare every wine on its own and with cheese, then record your score rather than simply sipping without a plan.
• A close look at English wine: Learn where the wines come from, how they are made, and what the British wine industry is doing today.
• A cozy Arches setting: The experience takes place at a small bar on Edinburgh’s East Market Street, with table seating.
• A memorable final pour: End with a premium brandy liqueur produced by distilling English Chardonnay.
• Small and adult-focused: The group is limited to 10 participants, and only people aged 18 or older may join.

Why this Edinburgh tasting is different

Many city tastings are built around a single producer or a quick flight of local drinks. This one has a more useful question at its center: how do English wines work with Scottish cheese?

That pairing gives the 90 minutes a clear shape. You are not simply handed six glasses and left to guess what you like. The host guides you through the wines in stages, explains what to look for, and asks you to compare the flavor of each wine before and after tasting the cheese.

I like this approach because cheese can change a wine noticeably. A wine that seems sharp or light on its own may feel rounder with food. A red that seems powerful may show a different balance beside cheese. The scorecard adds a small element of friendly competition, but it also helps you remember what you tasted.

The experience also gives you a better sense of English wine as an industry. The focus is not only on flavor. You hear about origins, vineyards, tasting notes, and production methods, so the bottles have a story beyond their labels.

Starting beneath the Arches on East Market Street

You meet at a small bar in the Arches East Market Street area of Edinburgh. The meeting point is the venue itself, so you arrange your own way there and arrive at your chosen time. Once inside, the host directs you to your table.

The setting sounds especially suited to this kind of activity. It is small, distinctive, and built for sitting together rather than moving from one crowded stop to another. That matters in Edinburgh, where a quiet indoor activity can be a welcome change after a day of walking.

The group size is capped at 10 people. That is large enough for a bit of conversation but small enough for the host to explain the wines and help with the tasting process. Emily is named as one of the hosts, and the experience is conducted in English.

There is no transportation included, but that is not a serious drawback if you are already spending time in central Edinburgh. You should simply allow enough time to find the Arches entrance and settle in before the tasting begins.

Two sparkling wines and a hands-on tasting lesson

The first flight includes two sparkling wines and their accompanying cheeses. This is where you learn the basic method used for the rest of the session.

You taste each wine without cheese first. Pay attention to its aroma, acidity, sweetness, bubbles, and finish, then make notes on the scorecard. After that, taste it with the cheese and compare the effect.

The host explains the wines’ official tasting notes, their origins, the vineyards, and how the wines are made. You do not need to arrive with technical wine knowledge. The format gives you something specific to notice, and the guide can provide the vocabulary.

The blind tasting element is useful here. You are judging the wine in the glass rather than relying on a familiar producer or an attractive label. That can reveal what you actually enjoy, which is often more helpful than being told which bottle is supposed to be best.

The sparkling portion also sets the tone for the evening. It is structured and social, but not rushed. If you are attending as a couple, the scorecard gives you an easy way to compare impressions. If you are alone, the small group makes it easier to join the conversation.

White wines with Scottish cheese

The next stage brings two white wines with their paired cheeses. The same tasting process continues, so you can compare the whites with each other and then see how the cheese changes each one.

This part should appeal to anyone who usually thinks of England only in terms of beer, cider, or spirits. The experience puts English wine at the center and gives you a practical way to understand its style. You are not expected to memorize every detail. Instead, you learn how the host describes the wine and how your own palate responds.

The Scottish cheese is more than a snack on the side. It provides a local connection to the Edinburgh setting while showing how regional food and British wine can work together. Since the pairings are selected for the tasting, you can focus on the contrast between wine alone and wine with cheese rather than trying to build combinations yourself.

Food lovers should note the limits. This is a tasting portion of cheese, not a substitute for dinner. Additional food and drinks are not included, so plan another meal if you need something substantial afterward.

Two red wines and the value of comparison

The final wine flight features two reds and their paired cheeses. By now, you will have used the scorecard several times and have a better sense of how the host wants you to assess each glass.

The two red wines let you compare the category directly instead of tasting one red in isolation. Look at body, fruit, dryness, and finish, then see what happens when you add the cheese. You may find that the wine you prefer without food is not the one you prefer with it.

That is the most practical lesson here. Wine and cheese pairing is often presented as a matter of fixed rules, but this tasting lets you test the idea yourself. Your notes become a record of your own preferences, not just a list of bottles recommended by someone else.

The order also makes sense. Starting with sparkling wine, moving through whites, and ending with reds creates a gradual progression. You get a broad sample of English wine without needing to commit to a full bottle of any one style.

Finishing with English Chardonnay brandy liqueur

After the six wines, the experience ends with a tasting of a premium British brandy liqueur. It is made by distilling English Chardonnay, giving the final drink a direct link to the wine tasting that came before it.

This closing pour gives the session a change of pace. You have spent most of the time comparing wine with cheese, then finish with a stronger spirit-based drink. If you enjoy brandy or liqueurs, it may be the most unusual part of the tasting.

The brandy is not simply another wine sample. It shows how English Chardonnay can be used in a different form, and it gives you one more product to consider before leaving. Drinkers who prefer low-alcohol tastings should keep this in mind, since the final liqueur will be more concentrated than the wines.

You can buy any of the wines or the brandy at retail price afterward. That option is handy if you find a favorite, though you should not feel pressured to purchase. The tasting is still worthwhile if you treat the retail opportunity as an extra rather than part of the main value.

What the $60 price includes

At $60 per person, the cost is reasonable for a guided 90-minute tasting if you value instruction as much as the drinks themselves. You are paying for six wines, paired British cheeses, a host-led tasting, information about the English wine industry, and the final brandy liqueur.

The price is less attractive if you are looking for a large amount of food or several hours of drinking. This is a compact educational experience, not an open bar and not a full dinner. The small group helps justify the cost because the host can explain the wines and guide the scoring process rather than simply pour samples.

I would compare it with the price of buying six English wines and several cheeses on your own. That home approach might cost less, but you would not get the structured pairings, tasting notes, production background, or a host to lead the comparison. You also would not get the brandy liqueur as part of the same session.

For couples, the activity offers an easy shared evening with something to discuss between pours. The scorecards make it more engaging than sitting quietly with a flight of wine, and the cozy setting suits a relaxed date or a low-key night out.

Who should book this experience

This tasting is a good choice for wine drinkers who want to learn something specific about English wine. It also works well for anyone curious about British food and drink beyond the usual pub menu.

I would recommend it to:

• Couples looking for a short, adult evening activity
• Wine drinkers who enjoy comparing styles side by side
• Visitors interested in Scottish cheese and British producers
• Beginners who want a clear introduction without a formal wine course
• Experienced wine drinkers who want to test English bottles blind
• Anyone who prefers a small group over a large bar event

The session is conducted in English, so you should be comfortable following spoken English explanations. Children under 18 cannot join, and the experience is intended for adults.

It is also wheelchair accessible. Since no transport is provided, you need to make your own way to the venue, but once there, the activity is table-based and does not require walking between locations.

Practical details before you reserve

Set aside 90 minutes, with a little extra time if you plan to browse the wines and brandy available afterward. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability when choosing a date.

You can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Edinburgh schedule is still taking shape. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund.

Arrive at the venue at your selected time. The host will show you to your seat and begin the tasting there. Because the group is limited to 10, arriving on time matters more than it would at a large drop-in bar event.

Remember that the tasting includes paired cheese but not a meal. I would plan lunch or dinner separately, especially if this is your main evening activity.

Should you book it?

Book this experience if you want a guided look at English wine, enjoy small-group tastings, and like the idea of testing wine with Scottish cheese rather than simply drinking a flight. The scorecard, three wine styles, and English Chardonnay brandy give the session enough variety to feel like more than a basic sample platter.

Skip it if you want a full meal, a Scottish whisky tasting, or an unstructured night of drinking. At $60, the value depends on your interest in the explanation and comparison. For wine enthusiasts, curious beginners, and couples seeking a relaxed Edinburgh activity, it offers a focused and unusual way to spend an hour and a half.

FAQ

How long does the English wine and Scottish cheese tasting last?

The experience lasts 1.5 hours.

How many wines are included?

You taste six English wines: two sparkling wines, two white wines, and two red wines.

Is cheese included?

Yes. The six wines are paired with British cheeses, including Scottish cheeses.

Is the tasting conducted in English?

Yes. The instructor and experience are in English.

Can I buy the wines afterward?

Yes. You have the option to purchase any of the wines or the brandy at retail price at the end.

Is the experience suitable for children?

No. Participants must be at least 18 years old.

Is the venue wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.