How A Wine List Is Created
From tasting table to your wine glass
A great wine list isn’t accidental – discover how a wine list is created…
Have you ever wondered how a wine list is created, what goes into deciding which wines make the list, and which don’t?
A great wine list isn’t accidental.
Behind it sits months of tastings and conversations, where you hope the wines you enjoy most are also admired by your team. Each wine is revisited over time, giving space for opinions to shift and decisions to settle. And after plenty of refinement, the wines have earned their place on our list, and we know they’ll resonate just as well with you. From start to finish, this is how we have curated our new list for our wine bar in Cornwall.
January
LWC Wine Portfolio Tasting & Tradeshow
You can hear the chatter long before you see the room, and as you step into The Alverton’s aptly named Great Hall, you can’t help but feel excited for the day ahead. Aromas rising from swirling glasses offer a first glimpse of what’s to come. A room filled with wine producers, industry experts, and most importantly… wine. Sixteen tables, 219 wines (yes, we counted), and a guided tasting led by LWC’s wine buyer, Frances Bentley, and Regional Wine Manager, Andrew Knowles, set the tone for a truly educational day.
In LWC’s own words, experiencing a product first-hand is the best way to understand its quality, story, and potential. And we couldn’t agree more. While sampling all 219 wines in one day was, regrettably, not possible (though we tried our best), we moved from table to table, seeking out wines not yet on our list, potential upgrades to current selections, and a few new and exciting discoveries along the way.
Later, we compared notes from the day and selected 25 wines we wanted to explore further.
The day’s favourite: Domaine Raffaitin-Planchon Sancerre (Loire, France) | SWA Gold
February
Refining the Shortlist
With 25 wines shortlisted, it was now over to Carl, Wine Development Manager at LWC, to guide us through a more focused tasting.
The generosity of LWC didn’t go unnoticed, bringing with him each wine that had caught our attention, and then some.
To understand how a wine list is created, this stage is essential. Akin to perfume shopping and ‘nose blindness’, sampling so many wines brings on real palate fatigue, so this second, more in-depth tasting offers a fresh perspective – key to curating an exceptional wine list.
Here, not only did we taste the shortlisted wines, but we compared them directly against counterparts on our current list. The new Villa Pani Gavi DOCG alongside the existing Gavi di Gavi ‘Il Portino’, the Santa Julia Vinos Naturales Malbec against the current Healy & Gray Malbec Bonarda, and many more.
Not to say one is better than the other, but what feels right for us, and for our list.
Following this, we reviewed our notes and agreed on the final wines with both Andrew and Carl.
The day’s favourite: Alongside the Sancerre, the room was divided – Silver Reign Brut (England), & Wildflower Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia).
March
Recommending with Confidence
A carefully curated list is key to delivering the full experience to our guests, but without a true understanding of what’s in the glass, we can’t do that. So, on an unsurprisingly rainy day in March, we turned to one of the best indoor activities – wine training. Split into two sessions, beginner and advanced, our team gathered around a table of 27 wines, ready to learn all they could from Andrew and Carl – from identifying aromas on the nose to understanding balance, structure, and finish on the palate. We left with notebooks full and heads spinning – with knowledge, of course…
We hear you ask, “But wasn’t it 25 wines shortlisted?” Yes, it was. But with recommendations from the experts, an additional two were brought along for sampling and swiftly added to the list. And, unsurprisingly, it didn’t end there. Our final wine list features 30 wines, all available by the glass and bottle – eleven whites, nine reds, four rosés, four sparkling, and two Champagnes. All 100% worth exploring.
With so many spectacular wines at the very start of this journey, narrowing it down to just 30 was a real challenge, sampling that much wine really is a hardship…
The day’s favourite: Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand) – there’s a reason it’s known as the benchmark Sauvignon. An honourable mention goes to Umbala Pinked Sauvignon Blanc (South Africa) for its unusual nature – a classic white grape with a delicate pink hue, achieved with a touch of Pinotage.
April
Bringing the List to Life
This is where everything comes together. This is how a wine list is created. Every tasting and conversation finds its place, shaping a list that feels considered and built with your experience in mind. What begins around a tasting table becomes something much simpler on the page – a list designed to guide, not overwhelm, and to make choosing a wine feel effortless. A wine list to be explored.
We couldn’t have done it without the support of LWC, and Andrew and Carl in particular, whose guidance made all the difference. Their role goes far beyond what you’ve read about here, continually supporting our team with training and insight, with a shared passion for wine that shapes how we work every day. With their support, a number of our team are now continuing that journey through WSET Level 2 in Wines, building on that knowledge even further.
So, if you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy wine in Cornwall, whether it’s the comfort of an old favourite or the chance to discover something new, we’re waiting for you.
Explore our wine bar in Cornwall
Taste wines from around the world at our wine bar in Cornwall, where every glass tells a story. The wines we’ve shared here are those available by the glass, but our full collection goes much further, with an extensive range available by the bottle.
It’s our passion for wine that continues to lead us to explore regions, varietals, and vintages across the globe, shaping a list that’s always evolving.
With an extensive range available, you can also explore our full selection online. Discover detailed tasting notes and learn about the producers behind each bottle.
It’s more than just a list – it’s an experience waiting to be explored by you.
Jess is the Marketing Manager at Penventon Park Hotel. Born and bred in Cornwall, she’s ironically not a fan of the beach—she’d much rather be in a garden or the woods with her dogs, Murphy and Daisy. A lover of horror films, fantasy books, and a solid playlist featuring Dire Straits or the Eagles, she’s often found with a Moscato, German Riesling, Bloody Mary or Spicy Marg in hand.
