Knightor Meets: Kate at Cornish Wine Tasting

Next up in our interview series, we sit down with Kate at Cornish Wine Tasting to discuss her love for the industry and what makes Cornish wine so special. 

What was your first experience within the industry? 

This sounds crazy when I think back, but I launched the business (or at least had the idea) with no real formal experience in the wine industry other than a desire to learn everything. I  had a good base of self-taught knowledge but in order to formalise this I enrolled on the WSET courses to solidify that information and give some credibility to my offering. I then did some ad-hoc work in local vineyards at the weekend before launching officially in April 2018. So I  jumped right in at the deep end I guess! 

What was it that made you want to pursue a career in wine? 
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I really loved (and still love) learning about the different grapes, the regions, the wine making techniques and of course a keen interest in the tasting aspect too. It just really fascinated me, and I think after a few years away from any formal education my mind was like a little sponge ready to absorb as much information as possible. It became a passion and I really enjoyed talking about it with friends and passing on little titbits of information to enhance their experience.

How did Cornish Wine Tours/Tasting begin? 

After years of travelling and pursuing an interest in wine I realised that we had everything in Cornwall to create a unique wine tour experience much like they do in New Zealand or South Africa, and so I hooked on the idea of creating Cornish Wine Tours in 2017. It was a fabulous couple of years and just as we were about to go into the 2020 season we were struck with the first lockdown. For a while we couldn’t operate at all, but much like everyone else we were able to adapt and started to offer our wine tours ‘in-house’ for an experience from home. Fast forward nearly three years and it's become our main focus with guests opting for a tasting from the comfort of their holiday accommodation or property. 

What is your favourite aspect of your job? 

The people I get to meet, from those individuals in the wine trade who offer their time and experience to share their story, as well as the lovely guests who book a Cornish Wine Tasting Experience. It sounds obvious I guess, but hosting a wine event in someone else’s house is quite intimate and means I get to know the guests pretty well in a short space of time and we often stay in touch!  

What makes Cornwall the ideal location? 

Having grown up in Cornwall I am perhaps a little biased, but Cornwall really does have it all; from golden beaches and rugged coastline walks to some of the finest restaurants along with its own vineyards producing excellent wine - what more could you need?! After a fun packed day out exploring the area it's nice to relax, put your feet up and enjoy someone taking care of the evening’s wine entertainment for you!

What does the future hold for Cornish Wine Tasting? 

I think it would be great for more people to experience the joys of learning while tasting wine, so we are offering our experiences to the rest of the UK in the form of a DIY style Cornish Wine Tasting box. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, and understand that you can source these wines yourself, but we offer the convenience from one place, and bring a little extra magic. This is not another subscription box, or a ‘mixed six’ offering, but rather a  personalised experience allowing you to host your own wine tasting (like a pro!) and enjoy with a group of friends at any location throughout the UK. 

What is your favourite Knightor product? 

This is a tricky question to answer! I think all the wines have their individual merits with something to suit all occasions… but right now, given the time of year, I’d have to say that the Trevannion 2022 is going down a treat. It's light bodied, dry, fresh and bursting with flavours of grapefruit making it so refreshing on a sunny day sat in the garden.

Imagery by Kate Whis Photography