In the first of a series of columns, vino experts Verity and Kara introduce us to The Nectary and tell us how to start our journey from “mmm, this is nice” novices to full-blown wine w*nkers

What is The Nectary? (INSTA: @the.nectary INFO: thenectary.co.uk)

Wine can be intimidating and confusing, right? That’s why we created The Nectary. We noticed there wasn’t a community for young(er) people wanting to learn about wine outside of the traditional avenues and thought “Why not create it ourselves?”. We believe there are currently too many barriers for new drinkers to enter the wine world, so we started a fun and inclusive digital space for winos to connect and learn about wine without the snobbiness.

Who are we?

Wine really brings people together. How else would a local Faversham lass become best friends with a globetrotting Canadian-born HongKonger? We started out as work colleagues at Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and got close through our shared love of great booze, great food and calling out the bullshit in the industry. Since then, Verity has climbed the ranks at WSET and is currently the business development advisor for their schools based in southern Europe; she’s also a certified wine educator and finishing her Level 4 Diploma in wines. Since leaving WSET, Kar has ventured more into spirits and completed stints at brands like Gin Mare, Master of Malt and Distill Ventures.

We have more than 10 years of shared experience in the drinks trade and know how it feels to be initially intimidated or believe that you don’t ‘know enough’ to talk about wine. That’s why we want to empower you to feel confident about talking and drinking it. For the record, wine can be enjoyed by anyone, you don’t need a fancy qualification to talk about it and you’re certainly entitled to your own preferences!

5 must-haves for the aspiring wine w*nker

It’s not easy staying up to date with the latest trends in the wine scene. Every other day there’s an exclusive wine club or hip wine bar with low lighting and monstera plants popping up. It’s even harder to come off sounding like you know your sh*t! Here are some basics that every self-proclaimed (and maybe a little self-righteous) wine w*nker possesses to help them blag their way through the wine world:

A subscription to a wine zine

Looking for a bit of light reading? Trying to impress a date? Simply leave a copy of the latest issue of Noble Rot on your GLADOM tray table and everyone will think you’re super smart and cultured. Bonus, it’s full of incredible illustrations and opinions from notable wine folks.

https://noblerot.co.uk/magazine

A wine-themed art print [art print image]

We love a good art print, even better if it’s wine-themed. How else will everyone know that you love wine? Forget cheesy wine slogans – we’re looking at you “It’s Wine ‘O Clock!” – and go for something more creative. We’re currently crushing on prints by Imogen Crossland, an artist and illustrator based in Manchester. Check out her new Wine Tasting print.

https://imocrossland.bigcartel.com/

Tickets to a natural wine fair

It’s not enough to drink wine at a natural wine bar – a true wine wanker goes to natural wine events and fairs! One fair we love is RAW WINE. An independent wine fair founded by Isabelle Legeron MW, RAW WINE celebrates the indie growers and producers, as well as low-intervention organic, biodynamic and natural wine. We can’t wait for the next one in London.

https://www.rawwine.com/

A monthly wine club membership

With all the natural wines (and e-shops) out there, it can be difficult knowing which bottles to buy. That’s why sometimes it’s best to leave it to the experts. Why not try Juiced Wines subscription service ClubJuiced? Every month this Eastbourne-based business curates a case of natural wine and delivers it right to your door. Not one for surprises? You can also order ready-made Nat Packs or tailor your wine selection by contacting the digital bottle shop directly.

https://juicedwines.co.uk/collections/nat-packs

A wine tote bag

We found that the majority of wine accessories were non-functional and honestly a bit tacky, so we decided to take things into our own hands and created our first collection of wine tote bags in summer 2021. Our wine tote bags are reusable and made of 100% organic canvas because recycling is cool and we aren’t fans of waste. With six pockets, they are spacious and structurally sound, so no need to worry about any spillages or snapping handles. All the designs are created by us and we only produced limited quantities – so get yours before they run out!

https://thenectary.co.uk

How to start your wine journey

1. Get to know your local wine merchant

Supermarket wine is pretty good these days – it’s perfectly good for your nightly tipple. However, people often fall into the same buying habits because the big stores stock the same international styles and it’s easy to just pick something that’s on offer. If you want to explore weird and wonderful grape varieties, then a local wine merchant is the best place to start. They know their products and should have a good level of wine knowledge to offer personalised recommendations. If you’re in Kent, head to The Bottleneck in Broadstairs. The team are eager to help and they run regular tastings for wine-lovers of all levels. They’re known for stocking a mix of traditional and more funky, low-intervention styles, so you’ll definitely leave with a bottle (or two!) of something delish.

7-9 Charlotte St, Broadstairs CT10 1LRhttps://www.thebottleneck.co.uk/

2. Follow your palate

Love Pinot Noir? Why not try Gamay or its juicy Spanish relative, Mencia? Enjoy a cheeky Sauvignon Blanc? Then you might like its floral friends Albariño or Grüner Veltliner. Most grapes are either related to or are a hybrid of other grapes, so following what tickles your taste buds is the best way to find more styles you enjoy. Remember, all wines are different, so if you tried a Chardonnay once that you didn’t like, it doesn’t mean all Chardonnay is terrible! The best way to learn about wine is to taste, compare and taste more. As you try more wine you will start to notice the difference between grape varieties, regions and styles, which will help you build up a mental rolodex of your likes and dislikes.

3. Visit a winery

The English wine scene is thriving and we’re fortunate to be home to some award-winning ones in Kent. The grape harvest in the Northern Hemisphere is in autumn, so it’s prime time to book a tour and get a peek at the action. Having someone explain the wine to you as you drink elevates the tasting experience and you can begin to appreciate the amount of love and hard work that goes into producing a bottle of wine. A favourite of ours is Terlingham Vineyard, a boutique vineyard near Folkestone that uses natural farming practices. This means they don’t use any artificial pesticides, fertilisers or herbicides and encourage natural wild grasses and flowers to grow among the vines, welcoming the bees and butterflies.

Terlingham Manor Farm, Terlingham Lane, Hawkinge, Folkestone CT18 7AE
https://terlinghamvineyard.co.uk/