Not all premium vino breaks banks. These best wine-tasting spots in Leeds prove it!
A glass of wine shouldn’t always mean you’re scraping by for the rest of the month. That’s why when it comes to wine tastings, we drive straight to Leeds.
Whether it’s The Lazy Lounge or Latitude, Leeds’ wine bars (wine bar leeds) and cellars pour quality sips without leaving wallets in tatters. A few of them even throw in cold cuts or gourmet cheeses to match!
The joints below are phenomenal places to start.
Lazy Lounge
– From lazylounge
Address: Unit B2, West Point, Wellington St
Contact Details: 0113 244 6055
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Thu – 3 pm to 11 pm
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 12 am
With its quirky-meets-classic decor, Lazy Lounge already has plenty of pull, but its wine tastings further elevate things. Our last trip backs this up. For £30 a head, we savoured six phenomenal wines from around the world.
Caldora Trebbiano D’Abruzzo had everyone buzzing with its fruit-forward flavour and aroma. Hot on its heels was the Viña Real Rioja Blanco, which was all about that creamy mouthfeel and citrusy-floral profile—a sip made for goat’s cheese.
Tip: Visiting during events will enhance your experience here.
Veeno Leeds
– From brucefanmaria
Address: 5 Wellington Place
Operating Hours: Tue to Sat – 12 pm to 9 pm
Sicily meets Yorkshire at Veeno, and it’s a match worth tasting. The Wine & Nibbles session treated us to a trio of wines for £22.50—one white, two reds—paired perfectly with creamy Italian cheese and crisp bruschetta.
Catarratto came through with its bold profile, creamy texture, and sharp citrusy pop. Meanwhile, the Nero d’Avola’s dried fruit and dark berry kick had us grinning from sip one to the last cheers.
Tip: Booking is a must unless you want to be disappointed.
Holmfirth Vineyard
– From holmfirthwine
Address: Woodhouse Ln, Holmbridge
Contact Details: 01484 691861
Operating Hours: Daily – 9 am to 9 pm
Holmfirth Vineyard pairs banging wines with views straight out of a Wes Anderson movie. Guests can wander through undulating landscapes while sampling three of their finest Yorkshire wines, like the bramble and red fruit-flavoured Holmfirth Regent Red.
But for the ultimate Holmfirth experience, splash £80 to £95 and add a two-course lunch or dinner to your wine tasting. Their tasting lounge overlooks the Holme Valley, so your camera will definitely work overtime.
Tip: The weather here is unpredictable, so make sure to bring appropriate outdoor clothing and shoes.
Once Upon a Vine
– From onceuponavinehorsforth
Address: 21 Town St, Horsforth
Contact Details: 0113 258 2037
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Wed – 11 am to 7 pm
- Thu to Fri – 11 am to 9 pm
- Sat – 10 am to 9 pm
- Sun – 12 pm to 5 pm
If you’re new to wine and don’t know your swirl from your sip, Once Upon a Vine is heaven-sent. Their £30 intro classes walk you through the basics, from nosing your glass to tackling a tasting like a seasoned sommelier.
You’ll also sample a few beauties—think Riesling with floral tastes and a citrusy zest. Cabernet Sauvignon is on the table as well, ideal for those who love a suave, berry-driven vino with a hint of spice.
Tip: You get stamp cards here by purchasing bottles. Collect four stamps, and you’ll enjoy a complimentary glass!
Thirty Fifty – Browns Leeds
– From thirtyfifty
Address: Unit H28, The Light, 70-72 The Headrow
Contact Details: 0113 243 9353
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 10 am to 11 pm
- Fri – 10 am to 12 am
- Sat – 9 am to 12 am
- Sun – 9 am to 10 pm
Housed in the atmospheric Browns Brasserie, Thirty Fifty’s wine tastings pour fine vino in an upmarket setting. Fees reflect this, as the £49 per head tag is a bit of a splurge.
No doubt about the quality though; you’ll be sipping on sparkling champers with vibrant flavours. Every bubbly mouthful is a mix of nutty, floral, and citrusy notes, complete with cheese tastings.
Tip: You must call early if planning to book Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, as these are Thirty Fifty’s busiest days.
Wayward Wines
– From waywardwines
Address: 1C Regent St, Chapel Allerton
Contact Details: 0113 266 8758
Operating Hours:
- Thu – 5 pm to 10 pm
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 10 pm
Wayward is a Leeds titan when it comes to organic and biodynamic wines. That’s not their only edge too, as the shop’s £35 colour-coded tastings get a lot of buzz as well.
Each event highlights a different variety, from zingy whites with a cheeky lemon-apple side to bold, tannic oranges right between being savoury and fruity. And yes, cheese boards are on the cards, with brie and cheddar as the staples!
Tip: Events are held regularly here. Updates are posted on their Instagram first.
Salvo’s
– From salvosleeds
Address: 115 Otley Rd, Headingley
Contact Details: 0113 275 5017
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 12 pm to 2 pm, 5 pm to 9 pm
- Fri – 12 pm to 2 pm, 5 pm to 9:30 pm
- Sat – 12 pm to 10 pm
- Sun – 12 pm to 9 pm
Wine tastings at Salvos are what The Godfather would call an offer you can’t refuse. Why? Vino here can be paired with prosciutto, salami, and other cold cuts from the salumeria, plus their reds and whites are from Italy’s finest vineyards (vineyards leeds).
At our private tasting, the Intrigo Grillo was the most well-received. This Sicilian white brought bold herbal notes like thyme and rosemary, rounded off with a lush apricot aroma—top-shelf stuff.
Tip: Beyond wine tastings, you can also book this posh space for private dining events.
Latitude
– From latitudewine
Address: Unit 31, 46 The Calls
Contact Details: 0113 245 3393
Operating Hours:
- Mon – 10 am to 5 pm
- Tue – 10 am to 6 pm
- Wed to Sat – 10 am to 11 pm
- Sun – 12 pm to 8 pm
Latitude has a knack for pairing premium cheeses with wines that’ll have you feeling like an aristocrat. Yes, the lineup changes, though you can bank on £45 getting you six pairings that are well worth savouring.
From what we’ve seen, European classics and fresh picks from Down Under, with Australian Shiraz and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc make frequent appearances. You can take home some too; the minty and red fruit-dominated Concordia is our go-to.
Tip: If you want 10% off wine and beer every time you shop here, join their mailing list.
Harvey Nichols
– From harveynichols
Address: Harvey Nichols
Contact Details: 0113 204 8888
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 10 am to 6 pm
- Thu to Sat – 10 am to 7 pm
- Sun – 11 am to 8 pm
We’ll always vouch for Harvey Nichols if the topic is about fancy wine nights that won’t gut wallets. Here, £35 usually gets us 90 minutes and five handpicked wines that taste posher than they cost.
The light and refreshing Bourgogne Chardonnay remains our most-loved variety. One sip gave us a side of white peach followed by a soft kick of acidity, making this option a terrific pre-dinner sip.
Tip: Event attendees can enjoy 10% off the restaurant’s menu by dining there before the wine tasting.
The Decanter
– From thedecanterwinebar
Address: 17 Park Row
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Tue – 4 pm to 10 pm
- Thu – 4 pm to 12 am
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 1 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 10 pm
Laid-back and stylish, The Decanter brings an atmospheric touch to wine tastings. The selection certainly holds its own too, with sparkling, reds, whites, and rosés all earning top marks from regulars.
What to sip is wholly your call, but we’d say don’t miss out on their Italian Pinot Grigio. Crisp, citrusy, and light-bodied, it goes amazingly with the artisanal cheese on offer here.
Tip: If you want to fill up post-wine tasting, give their bottomless brunch a whirl.
Majestic Wine
– From majesticwineleeds
Address: Northside Retail Park, 5A, Stonegate Rd
Contact Details: 0113 224 9735
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 9 am to 8 pm
- Sat – 9 am to 7 pm
- Sun – 10 am to 5 pm
Majestic Wine’s setup may not take this list’s most stylish or most romantic award, but the wines are superb nonetheless. Moreover, their collection of best-sellers takes the guesswork out of choosing your next fave.
The Guv’nor from Spain is one of the crowd-pleasers in that selection. Bold with dark berries and lightly oaky, this sip is perfect for a hearty steak or a platter of gourmet cheeses.
Tip: Visit the website for discounted bottles.
Wine Unearthed – Leeds Wine Tasting
– From wine_unearthed
Address: Radisson Blu Hotel, Leeds, St Annes
Contact Details: 0345 299 8652
Operating Hours: Daily – 9 am to 9 pm
If you’re up for a wine binge, Wine Unearthed’s 14-wine, 2-course lunch experience will grant your desires. Sure, it’s £89 per guest, but when you’re tasting that much elite vino, it’s more than worth it.
From 11 am to 4 pm, you’ll be sipping whites, reds, and rosés. To top it off, you’ll pick up some proper wine knowledge, like each variety’s unique traits and how to analyse the taste like a pro, without sounding like a wine snob, of course.
Tip: Not in the mood to travel? Give their virtual wine tastings a go.
Friends of Ham
– From friendsofham
Address: 4-8 New Station St
Contact Details: 0113 242 0275
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 11 am to 11 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11 am to 12 am
A bit off the beaten track, Friends of Ham is a well-kept secret that has mastered the art of complementing wine with cheese and meats.
For 1.5 hours, you’ll kick back while enjoying your choice of Spanish reds, Italian whites, or French rosés, all for £45. Brie is their usual partner, but French ham will also hit the spot with its fruity and savoury nuances.
Tip: Taking the train is the easiest way to get here, with only a 3-minute walk from the station.