The Wine List review | AD

*The Wine List review contains gifted products

Let me caveat this post with what I thought was a simple, unavoidable truth: I wasn’t a wine drinker.

The story of the past

Choosing wine over spirits always struck me as distinctly more adult than I feel. I’ve always been a tiny bit envious of those who know the ‘right’ bottle to choose for a present and the casual ease of sharing a bottle over dinner. A winter red in front of the fire, a crisp white in the garden as the summer sun filters through the trees.

In contrast, my previous experience of wine was limited to weddings, work events and Christmas parties where I’d gulp through a grimace solely to reach my perfect level of happy drunk.

In the back of mind, I always wondered – and hoped – this would change. I always looked longingly at scenic vineyard tours when travelling but swerved them every time, knowing that tasting sessions would be wasted on me.

How lockdown changed everything

2020 set the wheels of change in motion.

I found myself sipping (and maybe even enjoying) a crisp glass of white alongside a cream cake overlooking Lake Bled. When lockdown hit, my flatmate and I ended up with a selection of wines from our local shop among our impulse purchases of houseplants and dessert.

During the warm April afternoons, the novelty of people-watching with a drink on our balcony started to work its magic. I was coming round or growing up. The jury’s still out on which one.

The Wine List review

At the perfect moment in this journey, The Wine List got in touch.

The monthly subscription service focuses on learning about wine in an entirely non-pretentious way – a preconception I secretly held about real wine buffs. Along with two wines worth £16 each, the box contains tasting cards and a different ‘wine principals’ lesson every month.

Our box arrived on a Friday, perfectly timed to enjoy a weekend spa evening complete with Mean Girls, chocolate and a glass of Massaya White hailing from Mount Lebanon. Could we be any more of a millennial cliché?

As a complete novice, the tasting cards come in really handy here and it was brilliant to learn more about my preferences that I would never have considered before. You can make notes on one side, then flip it over for a whole load of information about the region, suggested food pairings and the winemaker story. Turns out a dry white is absolutely my preferred option.

I’m always trying to find ways to support more independent producers and businesses so the latter was a great touch for me!

The Wine List exclusive discount code

Intrigued? If you want to give it a try, visit The Wine List’s website and use the discount code WANDER30 to get 30% off your first order from The Wine List!

The verdict

So the burning question remains: am I a true convert? The jury’s still out.

As a committed gin lover, I’m not sure anything will sway me 100% from my preferred tipple but certain situations do lend themselves perfectly to other options. I’ve absolutely swayed towards ordering a glass of white or rosé more often.

As for the fuller bodied reds, I might need a little more convincing – a job my bestie is taking on with gusto. The other bottle, Carla Sucia from Mendoza in Argentina, is still waiting unopened for us to enjoy on a chillier evening.

Come back to me in a couple of years on that one!

Laura x

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