Sommelier Wine Box

What's in the box: Six bottles from small artisanal wineries, built around a theme such as a region or grape and chosen to match your preferences.

Sommelier Wine Box is an Italian wine club built around discovery rather than familiar labels. Each season, members receive six bottles from small artisanal wineries, chosen by a sommelier based on the occasions and preferences you share in a short questionnaire. Each box follows a theme. Examples include a Burgundy box covering Chablis, the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits, a Nebbiolo box exploring Piedmont, and a holiday box with Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Alsatian Riesling and Puglian Nero di Troia. Each theme comes with notes on the regions covered, food pairings and suggested occasions, which helps curious drinkers learn as they go. Starting out costs little. You can try the sommelier's picks with two bottles for €9 plus shipping, then decide whether to continue, and the site says there are no constraints. The homepage does not give the full seasonal price, so check it before you commit. Deliveries come once a season, which suits people who want a steady supply of interesting bottles without monthly boxes, but it also means fewer chances to adjust if a box misses the mark. The site is available in English, though some Italian text remains, and its main market is Italy, so delivery elsewhere may be limited.