VirguWines Clube

What's in the box: Each month brings a themed selection of Portuguese wines from small producers, often organic or natural styles such as Pet Nat, sparkling wines or Palhete.

VirguWines is a Portuguese wine shop based in the Alto Minho region, and its Clube de Vinhos is a monthly subscription built on the same selection the shop sells. The range leans toward smaller and independent Portuguese producers, with plenty of organic bottles and lesser-known styles. Recent boxes show the club's direction: one month was built around two natural sparkling wines, and another paired a Pet Nat with a Palhete. If you like trying wines you would not find in a supermarket, that is a good sign. The main plan is called Selection. You can pay monthly, or pay for a year and get 12 months for the price of 10. Annual subscribers are also invited to an exclusive tasting with José Domingues at the VirguWines Tasting House in Arcos de Valdevez. That perk is mostly useful if you live in northern Portugal or plan to visit. The site does not clearly say how many bottles come in each box or what the monthly price is, so check the club page before you sign up. The site is mainly in Portuguese, which may be a small hurdle for some shoppers. Overall it looks like a thoughtful, curated club for people who want to explore Portuguese wine beyond the big names.