https://oranj.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Oranj as a natural wine bar in London were scuppered by Covid in 2020, so they launched the Oranj monthly wine subscription service instead, along with an online wine shop.

Ordering is easy enough, although full details of the subscriptions are a bit harder to find on the website. Monthly boxes contain either two or five bottles, priced at £60 or £120 including free delivery.

Expect the unexpected from Oranj’s groovy range of natural wines. The box is curated by a different sommelier or foodie each month – in the May case, the wine selection is picked by Pete Kelly of Hackney’s Chinese-inspired restaurant Lucky & Joy and includes a Sauvignon Blanc/Müller Thurgau/Muscat blend from Germany’s Staffelter Hof and a great Zweigelt/Blaufränkisch rosé by esteemed maker Judith Beck. All are chosen to sit happily with the spices found in Szechuan cooking.

Wines come simply packaged with an artist-designed poster, and a booklet with tasting notes, food matching suggestions and recipes. Subscribers also get access to virtual tasting and cook-a-long events, a 10% discount on their online shop prices, and a monthly changing playlist from a well-known DJ.

The Oranj wine club offers a happy mash-up of wine, food, art and music; serious winos might wish for more details on the wines and winemakers but these are easy enough to find elsewhere online.

Available from Oranj, from £60

Read our full round-up of the best wine subscriptions and clubs.

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13 issues for £32.99