Home | Buy Tickets | Grand Tasting | Cellar Collection Room | Masterclasses | Subscribe to the events newsletter

Decanter Fine Wine Encounter 2023 – Discovery Tastings

A series of informal tastings lasting approximately 45 minutes. Join experts from renowned producers Santa Rita, Remírez de Ganuza and PIWOSA as they take you on a journey of discovery.

Please note: You must have a Grand Tasting ticket in order to purchase a ticket for a Masterclass or Discovery Tasting.

Discovery Tastings


12.30pm - 1.15pm: Viña Santa Rita Casa Real: The past, The Present, The Future

Speaker: Sebastián Labbé, Winemaker

Viña Santa Rita is one of Chile’s most emblematic producers of Cabernet Sauvignon. Award-winning head winemaker Sebastián Labbé will lead guests through an exceptional tasting to discover more about the concept, development and characteristics of Casa Real.
A mini vertical featuring the 1994, 2012 and 2020 vintages will help guests to explore Casa Real’s ageing potential, whilst three 2023-vintage component wines will reveal more about the DNA of this benchmark for premium wine in Chile.

  • Santa Rita, Casa Real, Maipo Valley, Chile 1994
  • Santa Rita, Casa Real, Maipo Valley, Chile 2012
  • Santa Rita, Casa Real, Maipo Valley, Chile 2020
  • Santa Rita, Component 1 Carneros Viejo, Chile 2023
  • Santa Rita, Component 2 Población, Chile 2023
  • Santa Rita, Component 3 Carneros Sur/Trigo, Chile 2023



2.15pm - 3pm: Revolution in Rioja: Remírez de Ganuza’s Pioneering Wines

Speaker: Jose Ramón Urtasun, Owner

Jose Ramón Urtasun, the winery’s current owner, will lead a tasting of gems from the cellars, including Rioja Gran Reserva 2005 and Trasnocho 2010, plus magnums of Rioja Reserva 2012 and complex white wine Gran Reserva Blanco ‘Olagar’ 2015. Join us to learn more about the winery and its pioneering approaches.

  • Remírez de Ganuza, Reserva, Rioja, Spain 2012
  • Remírez de Ganuza, Gran Reserva, Rioja Spain 2005
  • Remírez de Ganuza, Trasnocho 2010
  • Remírez de Ganuza, UV , Rioja, Spain 2020
  • Remírez de Ganuza, Blanco Reserva Olagar, Rioja, Spain 2015



4pm - 4.45pm: PIWOSA: South Africa’s Wine Opera Masterclass

Speaker: Ken Forrester, Owner and Winemaker of Ken Forrester Vineyards and Tom Hanson Smith, UK Brand Development Manager for Journey's End

South Africa is one of the world’s most exciting wine-producing nations, offering unique expressions of both classic and less familiar grape varieties. In this tasting hosted by the Premium Independent Wineries of South Africa (PIWOSA), renowned winemaker Ken Forrester, owner of Ken Forrester Vineyards, will join Tom Hanson Smith, UK brand development manager at top producer Journey’s End, to take you on a whirlwind tour of brilliant wines from several regions.

  • Klein Constantia, Clara Sauvignon Blanc, Constantia, South Africa 2022
  • Avondale, Cyclus White, Paarl, South Africa 2019
  • Ken Forrester, Dirty Little Secret Four Chenin Blanc, Piekenierskloof, South Africa NV
  • Jordan Wine Estate, Assyrtiko, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2022
  • Paul Cluver, Seven Flags Chardonnay, Elgin, South Africa 2022
  • Journey's End, The Griffin Syrah, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2018
  • The Drift Estate, Ghost in the Machine Shiraz, Western Cape, South Africa 2021
  • Glenelly, Lady May, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2017