Reading & Windsor: Hood raises a glass to the launch of Thames Valley Wine School

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TBM Team

Phill Hood, a former sales and marketing executive, is launching the Thames Valley’s first independent wine education company, offering an exciting and original range of tastings and courses.

Thames Valley Wine School is the latest franchise within the popular and rapidly-expanding www.localwineschool.com family – a network of more than 23 independent wine schools across the UK, soon to be expanding into Canada. Chris Powell, the founder and owner, set up the first school in Newcastle in 2000.

The school will be based at two main centres, Reading and Windsor, with future events also being planned for Marlow. Sessions begin in November.

Hood said: “I’ve developed a true passion for food and wine over the course of my career, and when I discovered the opportunity to run my own business and share my enthusiasm with others, I knew that it was too good a chance to miss.

“I’m very excited to bring Thames Valley Wine School to the area, offering a fun, friendly, informal environment to help local wine lovers better understand their wines.”

Hood’s passion for wine stems from his early retail career with Sainsbury’s, where he worked with beers, wines and spirits. He immersed himself in learning about the industry, and, after achieving a high score in Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) qualifications in Advanced Wine and Professional Spirits, took part in a supplier trip to Champagne and Chablis, further fuelling his enthusiasm.

His diverse background includes periods as a sommelier at a luxury hotel in Hampshire, as well as looking after hotel and Michelin-starred restaurant accounts for a Surrey-based wine merchant. It was while working with international drinks brand Red Bull that he finally decided to follow his passion and open a wine school.

TBM Team