Maison Vernhes is a farmhouse on a hilltop in Val d'Orcia, Tuscany (UNESCO World Heritage landscape, if that means anything to you). It's where wine samples arrive year-round from our global network of enthusiasts, and where, every three months, we disappear for a week of blind tastings to decide which wines deserve to be in a collection.

What's in a collection? Six different wines, curated as a set. They are all distinct in aroma and character, but coherent as a whole: that's why their labels are all inspired by the same artwork. Think of it as a playlist, not a random shuffle.

How often do collections come out? Every two months.

Will a wine ever appear twice? Never. Once featured, a wine is retired from future collections. This is about discovery, not reruns.

Can I reorder a bottle I loved? Yes. A limited number of bottles from each collection are set aside for reorders. First come, first served.

What kind of wines do you curate?
We only curate artisanal, rare wines. In very broad terms, that means wines that honestly represent their terroirs and that are produced in small quantities. Most of them are organic or biodynamic. Additionally, they need to taste absolutely delicious of course. 

How do you pick the wines? Every three months, a small group of tasters — winemakers we admire, guest winemakers from previously selected wines, and the MVA.wine team — spend a week blind tasting over 50 pre-selected wines at Maison Vernhes. A wine makes it only if it receives unanimous approval.

What are you actually looking for? Wines that are on par with (or better than) wines that cost significantly more. We're trying to find them before the rest of the world does. And they do catch up, eventually.

Do you curate prestigious wines? No. If a wine is prestigious, you've probably already heard of it — and you don't need us for that. Expect the unexpected in our selection. 

I love big cabs and oaky chardonnays. Will I be happy here? Probably not, and that's fine. It’s not that we don’t like oak: when it’s well done, it can be amazing. Anyhow, those categories are very well served in the US, and you’ll likely find something that suits your taste. If not, please feel free to reach out, and we’ll try our best to help!

How do I become a member? Join the waitlist. When a place opens we will invite you. Once you've opted in, your membership runs for a year (6 collections).

What does it cost? 

$250 per collection, shipping included, charged as each one ships. No membership fee — you pay only for the wines.

Is membership time-based? Yes. A membership runs for a year, with a collection every 2 months. You can also set your membership on auto-renew in your account if you wish to.

When does my membership start? The moment you commit, your first collection will be on the way.

Why is membership capped? Because the wines we pick are made in small batches. Quality doesn't scale. Neither do we.

Can I buy MVA wines as a gift? Absolutely. Click “Gift” in the header menu. Done.

Can I cancel my membership? Sure. Write us an email at service@mva.wine, and we'll take care of everything.

No. In fact, nobody knows as much about wine as they think they do: there's simply too much to learn, and any good sommelier will tell you that the more they learn, the less they know. Just try things out, build your palate, and trust your taste. You'll already be in the 1%.

You're a beginner. All that matters is whether you like a wine, not whether you're supposed to. Curiosity is the only prerequisite. The MVA.wine community will take care of the rest.

You're an expert. Then you already know your classics. Discovery is the point. Even the world's foremost wine experts are still chasing that feeling of trying something extraordinary for the first time. So are we.

Can I reorder a wine I loved? Members can reorder any wine featured in a collection they've received, provided we still have it in stock. Our wines never repeat, and when we're out, we're out — so it's worth acting sooner rather than later.

What do I do if a bottle is broken or faulty? Reach out to our customer service at service@mva.wine and we'll take care of it.

How do I reach customer service? You can reach us by replying to any email we've sent you, or by writing to service@mva.wine. If a bottle ever misses the mark, please let us know so we can send you another one.

MVA.wine was founded by Laurent Vernhes, grandson of a winemaker from the Southwest of France. In 2000, Laurent co-founded Tablet Hotels — an expert-curated selection of the world's most extraordinary independent hotels, acquired by Michelin in 2018. MVA.wine is the same idea, applied to wine: find the hidden gems before everyone else does, and share them with people who care.