Why the Wine Festival is the most Laithwaites thing ever
It’s hard to think of anything more distinctly Laithwaites than the Wine Festival.
After all, ever since Tony Laithwaite began bringing back special bottles from Bordeaux for friends and family, the mission has been simple: bring wine drinkers closer to the people who make the wine. And what better way to do that than getting everyone in the same room?
The first Wine Festival took place in 1980 at Olympia in Kensington, London, more than 45 years ago. In 2025, it was named Best Drinks Event at the Drinks Business Awards. And the 2026 Wine Festival – hosted in Manchester – is shaping up to be the best yet.
What should I expect at the Laithwaites Wine Festival?
We’re constantly coming up with new ideas to make our annual Wine Festival even better – so no two are the same. But here are a few things you can look forward to.
2. Wines from all around the world – and the people who make them
Once inside you’ll see dozens of colourful stalls – almost like an indoor market. Only here, all the stalls are run by the people who make your favourite wines – and you can taste them all for free. They’ll be delighted to chat with you and share the stories behind their creations.
3. Artisan food stalls
You won’t just be tasting great wine. You’ll also have the chance to sample delicious artisan food, from grab-and-go street food to picnic-style lunches and more. Past festivals have featured freshly carved Iberica ham, farmhouse cheeses, luxury handmade chocolates and more.
4. Talks and masterclasses
Many of you will be happy wandering about the stalls, sampling wines and chatting with friends – but if you’re looking to gain a deeper understanding of wine, there will be classes on sparkling wine, cheese and wine matching wine and more. See our Wine Festival page for details.
Our Wine Festival's History
Our Wine Festival has a rich history, from its first official debut in 1980 to its award-winnign status today, so we've got a handy timeline for you to see just how far we've some over the last 46 years.
Discover your favourite wine style
We’ve divided our wine range into nine different styles and given each a colour code. Examples include ripe, smooth reds, light, juicy reds, crisp, fresh whites and more. You’ll find a section of the festival showing wines representing the different styles. They’ll be from different countries and regions and made from different grapes – but grouped instead by their character.
Now here’s where it gets exciting. By sampling wines from each table, you can discover which styles you like best. As you explore the festival, you’ll see bottles with colour-coded collars, so you can quickly spot the ones most likely to appeal to you.
Plus, you can enhance your experience by choosing a colour-coded badge to wear, letting others know your wine preferences and making it even easier to connect over a shared love of wine.
Want to read up and find our what your wine style is? Check out our Wine Styles guide for all the information and be ahead of the rest for the festival!
Celebrating a wine festival legend
Each year, we invite some of our most popular winemakers to host a question-and-answer session with customers – free to attend, no booking required. And this year, we have a very special guest.
Forty years ago, Jane Hunter travelled from the other side of the world to bring us one of the first New Zealand Sauvignons ever tasted in the UK. It was voted Wine of Show by a landslide, and within a couple of years New Zealand Sauvignon became the No.1 best-loved wine style in the UK. As top New Zealand wine critic Bob Campbell wrote: “they got the magic started”.
So it’s only fitting that Jane will be here in person once again, sharing her amazing wines and chatting with everyone about her journey. She’s got some great stories to tell!
We’ve a few more new treats in store for you, too – in fact, we’re working hard to make 2026 the best Wine Festival ever.
