You should be able to learn about wine without becoming a wine bore.
The Wine List
I have to say I completely agree. Although I doubt I’m ever likely to become a wine bore as generally a lot more time is spent drinking it than talking about it!
What is The Wine List?
The Wine List is a subscription service focused on learning (and wine, obviously). The aim is to enjoy discovering new wines, while also developing your wine skills.
What Will I Learn?
According to The Wine List:
Every month, you will learn one Wine Principle, a bedrock of how wine is made, broken into bitesize chunks. This will apply to all wines.
Month by month, you’ll be able to drink better at every price point. So that you can make each bottle count.
The best way to learn about wine is through discovery – new grapes, regions, and winemakers – with a few core principles underneath.
What’s In The Box?
Wine Roots
This is the monthly wine course. Our month was on the subject of wine vessels and how the different types of vessel can have a profound effect on the final style of the wine. It made for quite interesting reading and I also discovered that Georgia was the birthplace of wine. Could be a good one to store away for a pub quiz.
Tasting Cards
The tasting cards for each wine are very nicely put together and (based on my limited knowledge level) very detailed. Split into the following sections:
‘Characteristics‘ – is the colour light or intense, full or light bodied, dry or sweet etc.
‘Aroma Profile‘ – Plum, Figs, Floral, Green, Citrus, Red Cherry, Oak, Almond, Coffee… There are lots of options here.
‘Notes‘ – Fairly self explanatory here in that you fill in any notes on the characteristics and profile of the wine. As opposed to “tasty wine – buy more”.
On first attempt I have to say I struggled to identify much other than “mmm this is really good”. Although thankfully on the other side of the card there are full details of each wine including a ‘Our First Impression’ section. A few sips later and after reading the experts first impression we found ourselves in full wine buff mode with lots of nasal inhaling and nodded agreements of ‘yes I’m definitely picking up black fruit aromas!’.
There’s also lots of other useful and interesting info on the wine details side of the card. Including detailed suggested food pairings (as well as a local food pairing). Country, Region, Grapes and Climate. The Winemakers Story. Further details on the Grape and Region. Along with Trivia and Advanced Learning: did you know for example that old vines mean that the yield from these will decrease, but what is grown will be far more concentrated and intense?
The ‘Like This? Try This’ recommendation for similar wines is also a nice touch. Definitely handy to keep note of next time you go wine shopping.
Two Bottles of Wine
The most important part of any wine subscription! I can confidently say that we hadn’t previously tried either of the two bottles in our box so that was a good start.
Wines
La Zerba, Cantine Volpi – 2018
An Italian red from the Colli Tortonesi DOC, Piedmont region using Barbera grapes.
Petite Fugue, Chateau le Payral – 2017
French white wine from the Bergerac region using a mix of Sauvignon Gris & Sauvingnon Blanc grapes.
We really enjoyed both wines. Although we won’t put you through our rudimentary tasting notes, we would definitely buy again.
Our Verdict
We think The Wine List is a great way to discover new wines and learn along the way. The tasting cards with the details of each wine definitely add to the enjoyment and get you thinking about the aroma and taste of the wines. At the very least talking through the different aspects will make the wine last longer!
In all seriousness I definitely think this is a nice way to learn more about the wine your’re drinking. Completely at your own pace. With enough information provided to make it useful, without making it feel like a chore.
Pricing
At £39 per month for two bottles of wine, along with the tasting cards and additional information we think The Wine List is very well priced. Although really that will come down to the individual and how much people would generally be willing to spend on a bottle of wine.
The wines come direct from the winemakers and they come from small producers with sustainably made wine. The wines included in our box are priced at £18.99 and £15.99 respectively. So the additional £4 for them to be put together as a package with the additional aspects feels like a good price for the amount of detail you receive.
Flexibility
The flexibility offered by The Wine List is another big positive. I think it’s smart of them to recognise that while some people may be more than happy to commit to £39 each month, others may just want to try it out now and again. Thankfully there is no long term commitment required so you can turn on and off the monthly subscription as you please.
Offer: Get 30% Off!
If you’re keen to discover some new wine and learn along the way you can sign up to The Wine List and get 30% off your first box using the code: ‘EDIN30‘.
If you decide to try The Wine List we’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop us a message or leave a comment below. Maybe we can even compare notes!
Disclaimer: We were provided with a sample box from The Wine List to try out the service and provide our honest feedback.
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