CELEBRITY chef Ainsley Harriott and top wine critic Simon Woods will be toasting Bolton's Food and Drink Festival with a tipple-tasting masterclass.

The annual festival gets under way this weekend and wine aficionados have the chance to sample some of Aldi’s best wine at the tasting session.

A portfolio of six Aldi wines will be available to sample – the Exquisite Collection Crémant du Jura, Pardon My French Côte de Gascogne, Wachau Gruner Veltliner, Freemans Bay New Zealand Pinot Gris, Baron Amarillo Rioja Reserva, and 80 Acres Carbon Neutral Cabernet Shiraz.

Aldi regional managing director, Ruth Doyle, said: "We are proud to be headline sponsor for a third year running.

"Aldi is one of the largest employers in Bolton, and our continued support for the festival shows our commitment to the town. We hope guests enjoy our fabulous selection of award-winning wines throughout the weekend."

Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Cliff Morris, added: "We are delighted that Aldi is once again headline sponsor of the largest festival in the north.

"The wine tasting promises to be an entertaining event with Ainsley at the helm and renowned wine writer Simon Woods.

"It is a chance to pick up some top tips and advice about matching food and wine from the experts.

"Aldi’s selection of wines has gone down extremely well at the festival’s gala dinner over the past two years, so it is great that Aldi is extending its offering to all festival goers this year."

Aldi will also be taking centre stage on Victoria Square with a Top Tipples wine bar, which will offer a range of Prosecco, wine and cocktails for festival-goers to sit back, relax and enjoy throughout the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Bottles of wine from the supermarket’s luxury Exquisite range will be available for visitors alongside a choice of nibbles, ranging from Aldi’s fresh British strawberries and Belgian chocolate, to savoury selections including sea salt and lime corn tortillas and olives.

Master of Wine, Sarah Abbott will also host a series of free wine tasting sessions from Aldi’s marquee outside Bolton Town Hall.

Tickets for the wine tasting cost £25 and will take place on Sunday at 6pm in the main festival marquee on Victoria Square. Refreshments will be available.