The Wine List Review
It’s no secret, I love wine. My business name probably gives it away with the ‘carafes’ element, but I’m often found with a glass of the good stuff in my hand.
I love learning about wine and I’m sure like me you have a few favourite grapes or blends that you turn to when choosing a wine, whether that’s from a restaurant’s wine list or picking out a bottle at the supermarket or online shop.
I’m always keen to try new wines, and learn about the grape and the region but my favourite bit is actually the story of the vineyard. They usually have a fascinating family history attached to them where winemaking has been passed down through the generations.
When The Wine List got in touch and asked if they could send me a gifted June Subscription Box to review obviously I said YES!
You can save 30% on your own The Wine List box using discount code: cookingandcarafes30
How it works
The concept of The Wine List is that over a period of time (ideally at least 6 months) you’ll have learnt so much more about how to taste wine, and identify what you like and dislike so that you’ll feel more confident when choosing wines. Josh, the founder is keen to help shift ‘wine snobbery’, taking away a nervousness around the subject and helping people feel confident in their wine choices.
What I like is that The Wine List carefully select and send you wines that you perhaps wouldn’t find more easily elsewhere, this is to help broaden your knowledge while at the same time delivering you a fine wine to enjoy.
Think of it like a mini wine tasting; two bottles delivered each month, tasting notes card and a booklet on all the things you need to consider when tasting wine. Take notes on the tasting cards of things like colour, smell, flavour profiles and finish, all of which you are guided through what to look for and how to do this in your Wien List guide to tasting. Most importantly decide if you like a style of wine or not and keep a note of it!
One of my favourite things is that the tasting notes suggest the type of food to enjoy each wine with, including a traditional local (to the wine region) dish. So if you’re a foodie like me you could cook up something special to try alongside the wine too. The notes also recommend other styles of wine you might like if you like that particular one, so you could always make your next wine choice based on that.
The wines
For June’s Wine List subscription I received a bottle of Lebanese White and a Chilean Red. I’d like to point out how well packaged they came too to avoid any breakages.
The Lebanese White, Massaya was a blend of five grapes and grown on the foothills of Mount Lebanon, I had high hopes for this wine the notes suggested that if you liked it you might like a white rioja (which I do!). It didn’t disappoint, perhaps nothing too stand out for me but I’d happily drink it or a wine like it again if I was looking for something crisp and refreshing on a warm day.
The red was a beautiful bottle from Argentinian producers, I loved the label before I’d even tasted the wine to be honest, Cara Sucia. This for me was certainly very different as usually I’d think of an Argentinian Malbec, but this was very light in colour, had a nice long finish, a little dry but easy drinking. It was nice to discover something I wouldn’t usually have and wouldn’t have picked out. Especially as it was a grape I was unfamiliar with, Cereza, an Argentinian grape. This is also part of Josh’s vision, The Wine List choose lesser-known grapes, from lesser-known regions and wine makers.
My verdict
There’s nothing that pleases me more than a bottle of wine being delivered to my door! I love the concept and I think if you made it your own little event where each month you had a wine tasting night, it works. In terms of value, the subscription is usually £39 a month which I think some will consider high for two bottles of wine, but I would liken it to going out for dinner twice a month and ordering a £20 bottle of house wine, you’re getting better quality wines and having time to appreciate them and learn about them with The Wine List.
While we’re still in these strange Covid-19 times I think this would definitely be something to look forward to each month. You could also arrange a virtual catch up with friends, where you all order a subscription and have a wine tasting over zoom or FaceTime while catching up; each of you picking out the notes you smell, and the flavours you depict.
Sign up and save
The Wine List is fully flexible. That means there's no minimum contracts, and you can cancel or skip deliveries at any time. Find out more and sign up here.
Save 30% on your Wine List subscription using discount code: cookingandcarafes30
I was gifted these wines by The Wine List to give an independent and honest review.
You can watch me doing a Live Tasting, where I taste the wine and explain more about the subscription, over on my IGTV.
An easy recipe using casarecce pasta, combining the sweetness and freshness of cherry tomatoes, the heat of chilli and balanced with tangy feta and basil