NEW DATE TO ENJOY WINE ON THE RIVER DEE! #Blog

Victoria Hayes
1st August 2023

We are thrilled to announce a new date for another wine tasting river cruise with The Wine School of Cheshire on The River Dee with Chester Boat this month!

Join us on Thursday 17th August for a summer cheese and wine tasting river cruise featuring artisan cheeses from Britain’s finest cheesemonger Paxton & Whitfield!

Get ready to embark on a flavourful journey and impress your taste buds with the ultimate wine and cheese pairings! Don’t be fooled by common misconceptions about cheeseboards, as our expert pairings will show you that there are in fact more white wines that perfectly complement artisan cheeses than there are reds!

As we enjoy a summer evening on the river we’ll bring you an array of delightful cheeses and wines to enjoy which will including a majority of white wines but we’ll include rosé and red wines too!

Trading for over 200 years, Paxton and Whitfield were warrant holders to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the former Prince of Wales, now His Majesty The King (a warrant review is pending following the passing of The Queen) and they’re the chosen cheesemonger for all of their events too so you’re in for a treat! 

We’ll feature five exquisite artisanal cheeses that will elevate your wine and cheese pairing game to the next level!

In partnership with the Chester Boat Company join us on board The Lady Diana for a two hour river cruise: from moorings on The Groves in Chester, we’ll head southwards, out of the city, passing some spectacular riverside homes and gardens, and make our way out of the city limits. Upstream of the city, the River Dee meanders through the Eaton Estate, the ancestral home of the Duke of Westminster. We make our turn at the picturesque Aldford Iron Bridge.

This is a very tranquil stretch of the Dee with opportunities to spot wildlife, including swans, herons, cormorants, moorhens and – if your eyes are sharp – a kingfisher or two, so keep your camera ready, if you can take your eyes off our wine selection! Is there a better way to spend a late summer Thursday evening in Chester? We look forward to welcoming you on board The Lady Diana for a truly enjoyable river cruise with wine and cheese pairings together with some balanced wine education.

Look forward to enjoying the views from the top desk of The Lady Diana – of course we have things covered in the event of rain however we do recommend having something warmer available to wear as the sun begins to set. You’ll try five fantastic wines each paired with a different artisan cheese from Paxton and Whitfield and you’ll pick up some fun wine facts along the way too!

You’ll enjoy a great selection of wines, all of which will be sourced from our favourite local retailers such as Tanners, Reserve Wines and Waitrose and occasionally specialist online retailers such as The Wine Society and all represent excellent value for money. Of course we don’t sell any wine at our tasting events so your bespoke wine tasting notes book is there for you to use during the event and take home with you: a handy reference should you wish to visit any of the wine stores we’ve used at a later date.

Boarding will commence at 6.45pm and departure will be promptly at 7.00pm latest, returning at 9.00pm (approx.)

The finishing timing is approximate and subject to weather and tidal conditions. The Lady Diana must dock before sunset, so we will depart promptly at 7.00pm – guests who miss the departure will not be able to board anywhere on the route so please ensure you arrive on time.

All of our events are hosted by founder and Cheshire resident, Richard J. Smith. With over three decades of experience and training from some of the most prestigious hotels in the world, including the Lanesborough Hotel, the Savoy Group and Four Seasons-Regent hotels, Richard’s knowledge about all things wine is unmatched in Cheshire.

Richard’s impressive list of past and present clients includes several members of the British Royal Family, international heads of state, and a host of top celebrities, which speaks volumes about his expertise and professionalism.

He has also made significant contributions to the hospitality industry by assisting various organisations with training and development including The Cheshire College South and West at their Ellesmere Port Campus. Richard’s recent appearance at Three Wine Men in Manchester alongside TV wine legends Oz Clarke, Olly Smith, and Tim Atkin MW, and his presentations on English and Welsh wines in partnership with Wines of Great Britain at RHS Tatton Park since 2016, are a testament to his passion and commitment to the wine industry.

In March 2019 Richard was proud to be intronised into the Confrérie des Compagnons de Grandgousier at a ceremony in The Loire Valley in recognition for his support of the region, particularly Touriane and Touraine-Mesland. Richard hosts tastings and talks for Loire Valley wine around the UK. Richard and the Wine School of Cheshire were thrilled to be selected as one of the top 100 small businesses in Britain for 2020 by Small Business Saturday and have been featured in Cheshire Life and Cheshire Living Magazines, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail, Manchester Evening News, Metro, Elite Business Magazine and Delicious Magazine.

Richard was thrilled to be appointed to the professional judging panel for The Peoples Choice Wine Awards in March 2022.

For more information click here: – Chester Boat cheese and wine tasting river cruise, Thursday 17/08/23 departing 7.00pm · Wine School of Cheshire