The Wine List

Do you admire people who swirl and sniff their wine in a glass and pronounce: "With a whiff of the orchard in both spring and autumn, this has the pulse of fresh acidity and seasoning of peppery spice"? (quote is from 20 best wines for the summer by David Williams)

Do you enjoy drinking wine but tend to stick to those varieties you've tried in the past and know what to expect? Whenever I go out (or went out, since I haven't been in a restaurant, like everyone else, for months and months), I look at the wine list, and then choose a glass of something "safe".

Let's just say, I'm the opposite of being adventurous when it comes to wine.
I applaud people who know their wine and can easily pick the right bottle in the supermarket rather than stand by the wine aisle in confusion, not sure what's best to pair with the dinner you're cooking for guests.

If you want to educate yourself about wine, The Wine List is a wine subscription box focused on learning.

When I was approached with an offer to review The Wine List box, I cautiously mentioned that I'm not a wine expert, though I do enjoy reading features on wine in food magazines and online.

How does The Wine List subscription work?

Once a month you receive a box which contains two bottles of wine, interactive tasting cards and a leaflet which allows you to learn one wine principle.

The box I received had a very informative piece on Wine Roots/Vessel, talking about how the shape, size and material of the vessels impact the final wine.

You discover two wines, which are rarely available in the UK - usually a white and a red.

Let's have a look at what wines we received in our box - Massaya White/Massaya (2018, Lebanon) and Cara Sucia/Durigutti Family (2019, Argentina).
These are definitely new wines for me, I haven't come across these winemakers before, and enjoyed reading their stories, origins, food pairing, including the local food pairing.

The tasting notes and information about the winemakers are concise and direct. As you sample wine, you might want to tick off the aroma profile notes as appropriate, so not only you sample new wines, you develop your skills at the same time. Each month you try new wines and expand your knowledge.
The tasting guide will give you twelve lessons through the year.

The Wine List write on their website: "We've looked at wine learning in a load of different ways. and we believe the best way to learn is through discovery - new grapes, regions and winemakers - with a few core principles underneath."
They promise: "With some practice, after six-to-twelve months, you should be able to look at a restaurant wine list, or shelves in your local merchant, and have an inkling of what a bottle should taste like".

The Wine List subscription box costs £36 per month.

Let's look closely at each wine we've tried.

Massaya White/Massya - 2018 is a medium to full-bodied white, showing off mineral aromas, as well as prominent lashings of white flowers, and lemons.
With background hints of honey, this is a very drinkable wine. It is crisp, refreshing, and will go well with a variety of cuisines and dishes.

Massaya is run by two brothers, Sami and Rammzi Ghosn, in partnership with the Brunier brothers from Vieux Télégraphe and Dominique Hébrard, formerly from Château Cheval Blanc.

Suggested food pairing - seafood-heavy pasta would work well here. I imagine it would be a treat to pair it with spaghetti alle vongole (or pasta with clams).
Local food pairing would be Samkeh Harra, Lebanese grilled fish, marinated in chilli, citrus and coriander.

I consulted a book called Souk by Nadia Zeruali and Merijn Tol, which I reviewed a couple of years ago. It's a cook book of Middle Eastern cuisine, and has a good number of Lebanese recipes.
I was searching for the authentic vegetarian Lebanese recipes. Hummus and Moutabal (aubergine spread with yogurt, pomegranate and oregano) are easy to make, and are perfect for a light dinner.

As it happened, these cold mezze and Massaya White are great together.

Cara Sucia/Durigutti Family - 2019 is an Argentinian wine from the region of Rivadavia, Mendoza.
Described as light and fresh, with crunchy redcurrants, red cherries and hints of strawberry, it has a definite tannic bite on the palate, but nothing aggressive. It would suit slightly chilled.

Brothers Hector and Pablo made wine all over the world in Italy, Chile and Argentina before returning home to Mendoza in 2002.
Cara Sucia is the epitome of that journey: the wine that signifies their return home.

Food pairing suggestions: try vegetarian-led food, or smoky, cured meats, even thrown over the BBQ.
Local food pairing would be a Choripan, an Argentinian sandwich: barbecued chorizo, topped with chimichurri, caramelised onions and pickled aubergines.

I served it lightly chilled, with chilli pistachios and Ancho peppers. It is a fragrant, red-fruited wine, perfect to drink on a summer evening.
This wine of glorious ruby colour makes you think of long summer days and fruit ripening under the sun.

Both wines are perfect for entertaining, or while enjoying a quiet evening in the garden, sitting in the sunset.
I appreciated learning about the wine we sampled, and reading the stories behind the brands.

The Wine List subscription box will make an excellent gift for any foodie.

If this wine subscription box with the focus on learning sounds like something you would enjoy, check out their website or Insta page - @the_winelist which has a discount code offer for your first box.

Disclosure: As mentioned above, we received a box of wine for the purposes of reviewing.