Seeking beauty in artisanal wines
Lift Off
Will be deliveredThe latest Blind Tasting Event was held in March 2024
This time around, we were graced by the presence of local winegrowers/makers Elisa Sesti and Francesca Padovani of Brunello fame. Our scouting worked better than we expected, 12 wines were unanimously selected out of 54 cuvées ... these two collections will reach our shores at the end of the year.
What you need to know
Is MVA a wine club?
MVA is the wine club that we have dreamed about. However, while building MVA, we struggled to use the word "club". That's because MVA is a classic case of a venture born out of frustration. After benchmarking as many wine clubs as we could, we convinced ourselves that we could do it better, curated with total integrity.
From a structural point of view, we created 'Maison Vernhes' to be able to import the selected bottled cuvées directly from producers anywhere in the world so our curation wouldn't be limited to what is already imported. It also enables us to keep the price fair for such quality wines. We accepted that membership at the club would be capped because typically the wines we like have limited productions. All this has added a few layers of complexity to the typical wine club (although it must be said that some of them import large tanks of wine which are then blended and bottled domestically and that ... cannot be easy!) Last but not least, we plan to involve members in the scouting. So we prefer to call MVA a wine alliance.
How do I become a member?
Memberships are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and require a commitment to receiving 2, 4, or 6 consecutive collections. Each collection is a case of six carefully selected wines. A new collection is released every 2 months. Members can opt to receive one or two cases of the 6 wines which constitute each collection. If you cannot access the current or next collection because they’re sold out, you can commit to collections further in the future, when we’re able to source more wine and, as a result, make more memberships available.
How are the collections curated?
Curation happens every 3 months at Maison Vernhes in Val d’Orcia, Tuscany, where the founders of MVA — known as the “Elders” — spend a week blind tasting over 50 pre-selected cuvées. For each blind tasting, we invite winemakers of formerly selected wines as well as chefs we admire to participate. The curation process is at least 2 collections ahead of the latest collection being delivered. A wine is selected only if it receives unanimous approval from the participants. So far, we've been fortunate that more than 6 wines have received unanimous approval by the end of each blind tasting week. This is a testatment to the pre-selection work and it enables us to conduct these blind tastings every 3 months rather than every 2 months. It gives us the necessary time to focus on the ongoing pre-selection, featuring winemakers from terroirs known to have the potential for great beauty.
Why artisanal wines?
First, we’ll explain why not “industry” wines. Some wine producers are more influenced by taste trends and market analysis than by improving the quality and individuality of their product. Instead of respecting the unique local conditions of their own vineyard, they’ll use additives in an attempt to match the perceived profile of a region. This is the wine industry at work, and we reject it.
Artisanal wines are less likely to take shortcuts or indulge in these unhealthy excesses. They better reflect the singular passions of their producers and the very soil from which they came. Not every artisanal wine is extraordinary, of course. That’s why we taste relentlessly, pursuing wines that are elegant, well constructed, and that genuinely express their terroir. Our dedication ensures you’ll have the best chance of discovering wines that inspire the emotions you’re seeking.
What is a collection, and how often are they released?
A collection is a curated set of 6 wine collaborations, delivered to members every 2 months. Once delivered to us, the wines within a collection are not reordered. In fact, they are typically no longer available at the winery. However, a few bottles from each collaboration are set aside from collection shipments for members to be able to reorder individual bottles of their favorite wines until the next collection arrives. New vintages of cuvées selected in previous collections are not submitted for subsequent blind tasting curation. This is about discovery, rather than tracking vintages. We will also produce occasional, optional one-off collections based on a compelling theme.
Why is membership capped?
It is simply due to the nature of the wines that we pick for each collection. They come from small artisanal properties so their production is limited. It's hard to scale quality.
Why this price point for a collection?
Why the minimum of 2 collections?
Will the price of individual collections change over time?
Can a non-member buy a membership as a gift for a friend?
Are these wines “natural”?
Are these wines “bio” or “organic”?
I don’t know wine very well. How will I know how to appreciate these?
I know a lot about wine. What’s in it for me?
How do I invite friends to MVA?
Will there be a MVA app?
Why the artwork on the labels?
How can the astronauts drink wine with their helmets on?
What’s your take on prestigious wines?
I love big cabs and oaky chardonnays. Will you send me some?
Probably not. You don’t need MVA for big cabs and oaky chardonnays. Those two categories of wine are very well served in the US. In fact, most industrial wines have targeted those taste profiles and are prepared to use whatever additives necessary to replicate them. We reject that method of winemaking.
However, we do not reject power and oak. Power and concentration can be wonderful characteristics for wine, especially when combined with contradictory notions such as elegance and delicacy. And oak can be a welcome influence, but only when well integrated. If you can distinctly taste it, it hasn’t been.
When does my Membership become active?
The moment when you commit to receiving at least 2 collections, even if the first collection that you will receive is months away because collections shipping in the meantime are already allocated. Rather than creating a traditional waiting list, we implemented this version which gives you access to individual bottles before receiving your first collection.
Can I order individual bottles?
Yes, we set aside some invividual bottles from each collection to ensure that members are able to reorder a few of their favorites, before the next collection arrives.