discover Drinks classes in melbourne

Frequently Asked Questions

• What types of drink classes are available?

  +

  Our drink classes span wine, gin, whisky, beer, and specialty beverages. Wine offerings include introductory courses (4-week programs at $259), single-session classes (Beginners Wine at $85), and advanced tastings like the Chardonnay Challenge ($159), Pinot Noir Challenge ($159), and Shiraz Challenge. Gin classes include the Premium Gin MasterClass and Masterclass & Gin Tasting ($85). Whisky options include Introduction to Whisky and Australian Whisky Master Class. Beer classes cover brewery tours, tastings, and 3-day Masterbrew courses. Specialty classes include kombucha and kimchi fermentation workshops.

• How many wines are typically tasted in a challenge class?

  +

  Challenge classes feature extensive tastings. The Champagne Challenge includes 12 super premium champagnes plus a 13th glass with supper ($199). The Chardonnay Challenge and Pinot Noir Challenge each feature multiple premium selections with supper included ($159 each). The Shiraz Challenge provides 12 premium Shiraz and Syrah blind tastings plus a 13th glass with light supper. Premium gin classes include tastings of 4 hand-crafted gins with garnishes and paired tonic waters.

• What should I expect from the Beginners Wine Class?

  +

  The Beginners Wine Class is a single session covering wine fundamentals including sight, smell, taste, varietal characteristics, service, cellaring, and food and wine matching. Classes are limited to 10 participants and feature a strong food component with six of Australia's finest table wines. Upon completion, participants gain confidence reading wine lists, entertaining friends, and purchasing fine wine. 2026 dates include October 7th (other dates are fully booked).

• Are there multi-week wine courses available?

  +

  Yes. The Introduction to Wine Four Week Course runs Tuesdays 6:30-8:30pm at $259 and covers Champagne & Sparkling Wines, White wines, Red wines, and Dessert Wines with ageing and cellaring instruction. The Advanced Red Wine Four Week Course is available by email inquiry at events@armadalecellars.com.au for $299, featuring over $2000 of premium red wines from producers including Tapanappa, Cullen, and Paradigm Hill. The Introduction to Wine Five Week Course is now a Four Week Course; details available via email.

• What does the Premium Gin MasterClass include?

  +

  The Premium Gin MasterClass covers Little Lon's distilling methods including vapour infusion and maceration, base spirit crafting from grain, history of gin and genever, and botanicals used in distillation. The class begins with a G&T welcome drink, includes tasting of 4 hand-crafted gins with garnishes and paired tonic waters, covers the history of Little Lon and the distillery building, and concludes with a cocktail of your choice. Classes are offered Thursdays at 6:30pm and Saturdays at 3:00pm. The Masterclass & Gin Tasting variant ($85) on Saturdays at 1pm adds a distillery tour and is limited to non-refundable bookings with rescheduling available with 48 hours notice.

• What virtual tasting options are available?

  +

  Virtual tastings include the Pikes New Release 'Tasting for Two' via Zoom with Jamie Pike and Pud Smith, live-streamed from underground cellars. The Rustenberg Wine Estate Online Tasting ($99 for two) features six 187mL wines. The Two Paddocks 'Virtual Tasting for Two' with Sam Neill includes four wines with exclusive pre-release options (limited packs remaining). Participants attending via Zoom receive specially-curated wine packs exclusive to event attendees.