This year at the Porthleven Food Festival, sommelier Elly Owen invites visitors to experience wine in three distinct ways: playful, seasonal and thoughtfully curated.
Hosted in the brand-new Chef’s Table Masterclass venue, presented by Sharp’s Brewing Co, Elly’s sessions offer a relaxed and intimate setting to explore each sip. From fresh spring pairings of cheese and wine to a lively blind rosé showdown and a reflective Sunday tasting celebrating bottles worth slowing down for, Elly’s masterclasses promise more than just a good glass – they offer a new perspective on how (and why) we drink.
See the Masterclasses
You’re hosting three very different tasting sessions at this year’s festival – what excites you most about bringing wine tasting to Porthleven Food Festival?
I love meeting people who’ve come down to enjoy the festival – it’s such a welcoming, feel-good environment to share wine and stories. Everyone arrives with a great energy, and that makes all the difference.
Wine should be a conversation, not something intimidating, so I’m really grateful for the chance to create that space – and to bring a few laughs along the way
Your “Cheese, Wine and Springtime” session challenges the idea that cheese and wine are just for winter – what makes a pairing feel fresh and seasonal?
One of the most overlooked pairings with cheese is actually white wine, so this session is about bringing that idea to the forefront.
Spring naturally gives us lighter, fresher produce, which opens the door to a different style of wine. As we move out of winter, we step away from heavier reds and into brighter whites and rosés – and that shift can completely change how we think about cheese pairings.
The “Rosé Showdown” sounds like a lot of fun – why do you think rosé is still so often misunderstood?
It’s a bit of a mixed picture. Some rosés don’t always show the same level of complexity as other wines – but there are definitely exceptions if you know where to look.
I love exploring rosé because it’s a category that’s really growing in popularity. This tasting is all about digging a little deeper and discovering just how varied and interesting rosé can be.
Tasting wines blind can be intimidating – what tips would you give beginners to trust their palate and enjoy the experience?
It can feel intimidating, but it really shouldn’t be. The point of tasting blind isn’t to catch anyone out – it’s to remove the influence of labels and branding.
We’ll focus on writing a few notes about what we actually think of each wine, and even have a go at guessing the price range. It’s a brilliant way to understand your own preferences and trust your senses.
I’m a firm believer that the best wine is simply the one you enjoy – regardless of how much it costs.
What’s the biggest misconception people have when trying to guess a wine’s price or origin?
A lot of people feel they should already know the answers, but wine knowledge comes from experience over time. You don’t just wake up knowing why a Chablis tastes different from a Meursault – it’s something you piece together gradually.
There’s often unnecessary pressure to get it “right”, when really the joy is in the tasting itself. The knowledge comes naturally with practice.
Your “Sunday Sessions Wine” tasting focuses on wines that invite you to slow down — what defines a wine as being ‘worthy of a moment’?
It can be many things. Sometimes it’s a wine that simply asks for a bit more attention – whether that’s because it’s more complex, a little unusual, or perhaps more of an investment.
Often, it’s the story behind the wine that makes it special. As sommeliers, we’re really custodians of those stories, and sharing them helps bring the wine to life. Those are the bottles that deserve to be savoured and remembered.
Cornwall has such a strong food culture – how do you see wine fitting into that local, coastal dining experience?
For me, wine is an essential part of the dining experience, and it’s a missed opportunity when it isn’t given the same care and attention as the food.
The best wine lists come from teams who truly believe in what they’re serving. We’re incredibly lucky in Cornwall to have so many places that do exactly that.
With such amazing local produce, there’s huge potential for thoughtful pairings and really exciting wine exploration.
