Inside the Hotel du Vin Wine List
Wine has been at the heart of Hotel du Vin since our first hotel opened in Winchester in 1994. More than three decades later, that same passion continues to shape the experience, from a glass enjoyed in the bar to a carefully paired dinner at Bistro du Vin.
A great hotel wine list is about more than prestigious labels or an extensive collection of bottles. It's about finding wines with character, celebrating the people who make them and giving guests the freedom to explore different styles at their own pace.
Whether you already have a favourite region or simply enjoy discovering something new, our approach brings together thoughtful selection, knowledgeable guidance and food designed to complement what's in your glass.
A Wine List Built Around Discovery
The Hotel du Vin wine list brings together celebrated French regions, interesting New World producers and a variety of styles to suit different tastes and occasions. Rather than focusing on reputation or price alone, we look for wines that offer quality, character and something worth discovering.
Classic regions such as Bordeaux and Burgundy have an important place in our collection. Their long-established winemaking traditions offer everything from elegant Pinot Noir to structured, age-worthy reds. Alongside these familiar favourites, our cellars feature wines from countries including Argentina, Australia and South Africa, introducing different expressions of well-known grape varieties.
This variety means there's no single way to explore the wine list.
You might choose a crisp Chablis before dinner, return to a favourite Bordeaux or discover a New World Malbec that offers something different. Wines available by the glass also make it easier to sample an unfamiliar style without committing to a bottle.
Our approach to wine at Hotel du Vin reflects this balance between tradition and discovery. The aim is to make exceptional wines accessible and enjoyable, whether you're selecting something for a special occasion or settling in for a relaxed evening.
The People and Producers Behind the Wine
The character of a wine begins long before it reaches the glass. The region, vineyard, grape variety and decisions made by the winemaker all influence its flavour, texture and personality.
At Hotel du Vin, relationships with producers are an important part of how we select our wines. We value craftsmanship, attention to quality and the people who bring their knowledge and experience to every vintage.
Our Meet the Makers series offers a closer look at some of these producers, including:
Joseph Drouhin, Burgundy: A renowned French producer whose wines reflect the diversity and traditions of Burgundy.
Planeta, Sicily: An Italian winemaking family showcasing the variety of grapes and growing conditions found across Sicily.
Henners, England: An East Sussex producer contributing to the growing reputation of English sparkling wine.
Understanding these stories adds another dimension to the experience. A glass becomes an opportunity to discover how a particular vineyard, climate or winemaking approach has shaped what you're tasting.
These are also the conversations that make spending time in a wine bar enjoyable. At the Hotel du Vin bars, guests can explore the collection with guidance from knowledgeable teams or simply enjoy a favourite wine in welcoming surroundings.
Making Wine Approachable: The Role of the Sommelier
A sommelier's role is to help guests discover wines they'll enjoy, whether they're familiar with the different regions or exploring a wine list for the first time.
At Hotel du Vin, our sommeliers and Wine Ambassadors offer guidance based on personal preferences, selected dishes and an interest in trying something new. You don't need to understand every grape variety or vintage to find a wine that suits the occasion.
A conversation might begin with something as simple as whether you prefer a crisp, refreshing white or a softer, fruit-forward red. From there, the team can suggest familiar styles or introduce wines from regions you haven't explored before.
For guests interested in learning more, Hotel du Vin also offers guided wine tasting experiences that provide an opportunity to compare different bottles and understand what makes them distinctive.
Discovering Wine Through Guided Tastings
Our wine tasting experiences are designed around discovery, with different themes to suit a range of interests.
Among the available experiences are:
Hotel du Vin Classics: Explore five French wines and learn how different regions influence their character and style.
Sparkling Wines: Compare sparkling wines from different regions, discovering how production methods shape their flavours and textures.
Prestige Wines: Begin with Champagne before exploring contrasting styles, from lighter whites to fuller-bodied reds.
Each tasting is guided by a Wine Ambassador, offering insight into the wines without making the experience overly technical. Sessions are available at participating hotels, with advance booking required and a minimum of two guests.
Why Wine and Food Are Considered Together
Wine and food have always belonged together at Hotel du Vin. Our wine-first philosophy means that the bottles we select help shape the dining experience, rather than being an afterthought once the menu has been chosen.
At Bistro du Vin, French-inspired cooking and seasonal ingredients provide plenty of opportunities to explore how wine can complement a dish. The right pairing might bring out a subtle flavour, balance a rich sauce or provide a refreshing contrast between mouthfuls.
A few principles help explain how this works:
Acidity and freshness: Crisp white wines can complement seafood or cut through the richness of buttery sauces.
Body and intensity: Fuller-bodied reds often work well with richly flavoured meat dishes, while lighter wines can suit more delicate cooking.
Tannins and texture: The structure of a red wine can balance the protein and richness of a dish such as steak.
These aren't rigid rules. Personal taste remains important, and an unexpected pairing can sometimes be the most enjoyable part of the meal.
Our existing guide to pairing wine with food explores these principles in greater detail, with suggestions for different dishes and wine styles.
Taste du Vin: A Wine Pairing Dinner in Practice
Taste du Vin brings our approach to fine wine dining together in one experience, combining a five-course tasting menu with wines selected to complement each dish.
Rather than choosing a bottle for the entire meal, guests enjoy a matched glass with each course. The pairings are designed to highlight different characteristics in the food and wine, allowing the flavours to develop throughout the evening.
A crisp wine might bring freshness to a delicate starter, while a more structured selection can complement the richer flavours of a later course. The progression offers an opportunity to discover how different wines influence the experience of a meal.
What to Expect from the Taste du Vin Menu
The standard Taste du Vin tasting menu includes five courses, each accompanied by a carefully selected wine. A vegan alternative is also available, with pairings chosen to complement its dishes.
Selected Collection Hotels offer their own variations. At One Devonshire Gardens in Glasgow, for example, guests can enjoy a separate six-course tasting menu reflecting the hotel's individual dining approach.
Taste du Vin is available for a minimum of two guests, with menus, prices and availability varying by location. Current menus provide the best indication of the dishes and wines being served, as selections can change seasonally.
Whether you're celebrating an occasion or simply looking to experience something different, a wine pairing dinner offers the opportunity to enjoy Bistro du Vin's cooking through a new perspective.
Making an Evening of It: Wine, Dining and an Overnight Stay
The Taste du Vin overnight package brings together a wine-paired dinner, boutique accommodation and breakfast, making it an appealing choice for couples planning a food and wine escape.
Guests can enjoy the five-course tasting menu at Bistro du Vin, with a matched glass of wine for each course, before returning to their room for the evening. The following morning, breakfast provides a relaxed start to the day, with a selection from the Chef's Table and freshly prepared hot dishes.
Combining dinner and accommodation is particularly convenient when you want to enjoy the wine pairing experience without arranging onward travel. It also gives you the opportunity to spend more time exploring your chosen destination, whether that's a historic cathedral city or a coastal town.
The Taste du Vin overnight offer is available for two guests at participating hotels, with selected dates excluded and advance booking conditions applying.
For further inspiration, our guide to fine dining and hotel stay experiences explores other ways to combine a memorable meal with time away.
Hotel du Vin Wine and Dining FAQs
Can you order wine by the glass at Hotel du Vin?
Yes. Hotel du Vin offers wines by the glass alongside its wider bottle selection, allowing guests to explore different styles without committing to a full bottle. This can be particularly useful when pairing wines with individual courses or trying something new with guidance from the sommelier.
Do you need to know about wine to enjoy a wine pairing dinner?
No. A wine pairing dinner is designed to let guests experience how different wines complement particular dishes, regardless of their existing knowledge. Each pairing provides an opportunity to discover new flavours, and the sommelier can explain why the wines have been selected. Curiosity is more important than expertise.
Does Hotel du Vin have sommeliers to help guests choose wine?
Yes. Hotel du Vin's sommeliers and Wine Ambassadors help guests explore the wine list, offering recommendations based on their tastes, chosen dishes and interest in discovering new wines. Guests don't need specialist knowledge to benefit from their guidance, whether choosing a glass with dinner or taking part in a guided tasting.
What is the difference between a wine tasting and a wine pairing dinner?
A wine tasting focuses primarily on exploring and comparing wines, often with guidance on their origins, styles and characteristics. A wine pairing dinner combines selected wines with individual courses, allowing guests to experience how food and wine influence one another. Hotel du Vin offers both guided tasting experiences and its Taste du Vin paired dining menu.
Does Hotel du Vin offer vegetarian or vegan wine pairing menus?
Hotel du Vin offers a vegan alternative to its Taste du Vin tasting menu, with wines paired to complement the dishes. Menu arrangements can differ at selected properties, and guests with dietary requirements should review the current menu and discuss their needs with the hotel before booking.
Does Hotel du Vin offer wine and dining overnight packages?
Yes. Hotel du Vin's Taste du Vin package combines an overnight stay with a wine-paired tasting menu and breakfast the following morning for two guests at participating hotels. Package inclusions, availability and booking conditions may vary, so guests should check the current offer before booking.