Sponsored by Rarevines
Three bottles arrived, all from Rarevines. The packaging was careful, the selection unexpected. Sommeliers here don’t just tick boxes — they write short stories for each bottle, with food-pairing suggestions and every detail you’d want. The website held up its end too; ordering was smooth and delivery arrived without fuss.
Very User-Friendly Website
The website has a clean and modern design that makes it easy to navigate. I found it very user-friendly and was able to quickly find what I was looking for. They offer a great selection of wines from various regions around the world. The sommelier also provides information about why they love a specific wine and food pairing suggestions, including a recipe. Additionally, the information about each wine is very complete, including its region, whether it is organic, biodynamic, vegan, recommended drinking temperature, closure type, and grape variety.
The Faces Behind Rarevines
Spencer and Lauren started Rarevines out of a shared obsession with wine and a frustration with how inaccessible it can feel. Their aim is to make learning about and buying wine fun and inclusive. They partner with Netherlands-based sommeliers who curate selections and write short stories about each bottle. Building an in-person community around wine is part of the plan too.
What sets Rarevines apart from other online wine retailers is their partnership with sommeliers. Customers are encouraged to get to know their sommeliers by following them on social media, saying hi when they visit their restaurants, or attending one of the tastings.
The Wines
All three wines were exceptional.
The first wine I tried was a white wine from Spain, a Verdejo from Rueda, with the famous Ossian label. The wine had a rich, full-bodied flavor that was outstanding, with very nice structure.
The second wine was a white wine from Rioja in Spain, made with the Viura and Malvasia grape. It had a crisp, refreshing taste that was perfect for a summer afternoon.
Last but not least, I tried a red wine from Italy, which had a delicate, floral aroma and a light, refreshing taste.
One thing that really stood out to me about Rarevines is their commitment to quality. All of the wines I tried were of the highest quality and you could really taste the difference.
Tasting notes of the three wines
Ossian Verdejo Rueda 2020
The first wine is a white wine called Ossian 2020 from Rueda, Spain. It is made with the Verdejo grape and has a distinctive label. The bottle is noticeably heavy, adding to its appeal. What sets this wine apart is that it is certified organic and biodynamic, according to the website. It has a medium yellow color in the glass and produces abundant tears, indicating high viscosity. This could be due to a high alcohol content or a significant amount of sugars. The alcohol percentage is 13.5%, suggesting it is a well-concentrated wine.
In terms of aroma, it offers a beautiful and intense experience. The scents are highly pronounced, with notes of freshly cut grass and abundant fruit, particularly white and stone fruit. Prominent flavors include peach, apricot, and nectarine. There is also a subtle hint of saltiness. Moving on to the taste, it delivers a pleasant peach flavor. The aroma also has a subtle resemblance to peach candies, but in a delightful way. The taste is complemented by a touch of wet stone, flinty notes, and minerality, creating a fresh and crisp sensation. Overall, it is an incredibly beautiful wine, especially for Verdejo enthusiasts. It still carries a youthful emotional appeal, with the potential for further development.
The wine exhibits layers of fruit and fruity notes, including nectarine and peach. Upon revisiting the aroma, the scent of peach becomes even more pronounced, with a lovely sweetness. It provides medium pleasure, with a long-lasting intensity and finish. In summary, it is an exceptionally enjoyable wine.
Variety: 100% Verdejo
Appellation: Rueda
Price range: € 40,-
Buy the wine yourself: https://rarevines.eu/products/ossian-verdejo-rueda-2020
Altùn Ana De Altùn 2022
The second wine is a white wine from Rioja, Spain, produced by Altùn Ana De Altùn in 2022. It is made from the Viura and Malvasia grape varieties. This white wine has a beautiful appearance, with a light yellow color and a slight green hue. The aroma is of medium intensity, with notes of tropical fruit, passion fruit, nectarine, apricot, and hints of dried green herbs. There are also light vanilla notes and a touch of peach.
On the palate, this wine is crisp and fresh, with a pleasing thickness. It offers abundant flavors of tropical fruit, nectarine, peach, and rosemary for the green herbs. There are also hints of dried green herbs, light vanilla notes, and a subtle coconut undertone. The taste is delicious and refreshing, with a medium-plus acidity. The finish is medium in length. Overall, this wine is very elegant and pleasant, with a beautifully dry character.
Variety: Viura Malvasia
Appellation: Rioja
Price range: € 15,-
Buy the wine yourself: https://rarevines.eu/products/altun-ana-de-altun-2022
Cà De Maghi Canova Rosso 2021
The last wine is Canova Rosso from Valpolicella, a red wine. It has a funny label with a gnome that scares you, giving a boo-like feeling. The back of the label is more appealing, with a calmer and more business-like design. This wine is a light red with 12% alcohol.
In the glass, it has a medium ruby red color. The aroma is full of fruit, as well as leather, tobacco, chocolate, and cocoa. There is an abundance of dark red fruit. On the palate, it is round with medium acidity and a slight sweetness, with plenty of ripe red fruit. This also leads to a slightly lighter sweet aftertaste. The flavors of strawberries and rich cherries stand out.
While it may not be highly complex, it is a very pleasant and elegant wine that pairs well with a meal. It can also be enjoyed as a sipping wine when slightly chilled. The medium tannins are round. The wine exhibits a diverse and non-monotonous character, likely due to the blend of different grape varieties. In terms of taste, you can detect multiple fruit and grape varieties. Overall, it is very enjoyable and elegant.
Variety: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, Croatina
Appellation: Valpolicella
Price range: € 14,-
Buy the wine yourself: https://rarevines.eu/products/ca-dei-maghi-canova-rosso-2021
My Final Thoughts on Rarevines
Rarevines earns a visit. The website is accessible, the selection genuinely curated, and the quality speaks for itself across every bottle. Take a chance on something unfamiliar — that’s the whole point. Thank you Spencer and Lauren for the bottles and the chance to put the platform through its paces.
Visit their shop at https://rarevines.eu/
Disclosure: Rarevines provided bottles for this article. All tasting notes are my own independent assessment.
More on Wine Shop
Grape 'N' Green: Organic Wine Collection
There's something special about opening a bottle of wine and knowing it's been crafted in harmony with nature.
Read on →Bourgogne Uncovered: Burgundy's Finest for Less
Beautiful wines from Burgundy are known to many people. What is also known is that the price tag is almost always high, higher than wines from other areas.
Read on →DeliKreta: Greek Wines from Crete
Have you ever sipped on a wine and felt like you were transported to a different place?
Read on →