Walk into the average wine store, and you're met with hundreds of bottles.
Some you recognize, most you don't.
To make it all a bit less overwhelming, you could do some research. Learn your Barolo from your Barbaresco and memorize the best vintages from Napa to Burgundy.
If that sounds appealing, by all means, dive in.
But if your chief interest in wine is drinking it, then you could just sit back and let the experts do all the work for you, as you live your life unencumbered until, one day, you receive a fateful knock on the door.
That knock is courtesy of the new Cote + Convive Wine Club, which sees the award-winning Korean steakhouse team up with the lauded wine shop to curate a monthly selection of wines just for you. And everyone else who signs up. Memberships are open now, with wine shipments beginning September 1.
Michelin-starred Cote's wine program is led by two of the smartest sommeliers in the business: Victoria James and Mia Van de Water. They are your wine sherpas, selecting the three "badass" wines that go into each box.
Their picks will help you stay up to date on current trends, cool new producers and overlooked regions, while you taste undervalued bottles and hidden gems. You can expect a mix of red, white, sparkling and rosé, with a focus on farmers and producers who are committed to organic, biodynamic and sustainable practices.
Each shipment will include in-depth brochures spotlighting the wines and the stories behind the bottles, so you can learn a little something while you drink.
In addition to the wines, membership grants you 10% off bottles at Convive's East Village shop as well as at Cote restaurants in New York and Miami. You'll get priority access to wine club events and tastings, and you can join monthly Zoom happy hours with Victoria and Mia to get the inside scoop on wine.
Finally, a Zoom call you don't wish was an email.