Laithwaite’s hosts wine tasting in the dark

Laithwaite’s Wine is preparing to host its first ever ‘Tasting in the Dark’, testing consumers tasting prowess when deprived of one of their primary senses.

If Kraftwerk did wine tasting – Justin Howard-Sneyd MW

Justin Howard-Sneyd MW, along with a team of sommeliers, will guide visitors around a pitch black tasting theatre with the aid of infra-red night vision goggles, taking participants through a series of taste experiments to make them rethink the way they approach wine.

“Deprived of sight can you now tell the colour of a wine or even if it is a wine at all?” asks Howard-Sneyd. “Drinkers may discover their sense of taste is accentuated or altered in the dark or that for years they have been drinking with their eyes.”

“We do, however, not advise the public to try this at home, unless they have the appropriate night vision equipment as it could lead to some unfortunate slapstick and spillages.”

Tasting in the Dark will launch at Laithwaite’s Live, taking place on 4-5 November at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London, where ticket holders will be able to taste through a range of wine zones, take part in masterclasses and experience a virtual reality tour of a winery in Bordeaux.

If successful, Tasting in the Dark will become a key feature at future Laithwaite’s events.