If you’ve been a subscriber for a while, you may have seen that I’ve recently added a paid subscription option, so I thought I should tell you what that means. If you’re keen specifically to learn about wine, this is for you…

Full Access to the HelenaSips Video Wine Course

Your paid subscription gets you over 5 hours worth of bite-sized films that work together as a beginner’s wine course, showing you where to start when you want to learn about wine then taking you through the personalities of the key grapes and blends in an entertaining, memorable way and onto sparkling, sweet wines and a ton of FAQs. All videos are under 5 minutes long, so it’s super easy to do in your own time. Here’s what’s covered in detail and the videos can be found in the Video Resources hub on my Substack. Want a taster? Here’s the vibe:

Extra ‘Sips Safari’ Recommendations

I’ll send paid subscribers extra emails for easy-to-find wines that I feel will help you learn about a grape or a style.

New Videos

As new videos go live, you’ll have access all areas.

Discounts & Giveaways

Paid subscribers can get special HelenaSips Wine Academy discounts on wine gadgets such as the Coravin by-the-glass system and Partner in Wine journals and goods as well as stays in gorgeous places such as the Terrace Wine & Rooms in Ventnor, Isle of Wight. There will also be occasional giveaways too featuring anything from hangover cures to sexy wine beauty products.

NEWS!

Something has been brewing in my world and very soon, It’ll be live for your listening pleasure. At the end of the month, I’ll be launching The HelenaSips Podcast!

Join me weekly for a series of intimate conversations with successful creatives, exploring how they structure their lives for joy through the lens of their personal rituals. Each episode starts with a drink (not always booze) and becomes our entry point into deeper territory: the role of scent and memory, culinary pleasures and hosting, music that moves them, the hobbies and practices that replenish their creative wells and how they stay grounded when the world feels chaotic. I’ll tell you when and how you can subscribe to hear from gorgeous humans like actor Sam Neill, author Joanne Harris, designer Cath Kidston, perfumer Sarah McCartney and comedians Alan Carr & Lee Peart…

Wine of the Week

Babylonstoren Mourvèdre Rosé 2025, £15 on offer (was £18) at Waitrose

You may have spotted this South African beauty in the Special Sips email last week, but I wanted to highlight this stunning rosé as my wine of the week as I showcased it last night at the launch of C.Atherley’s No. 4 product and it went down an absolute storm. Dry and mineral but full-bodied with it, this pink looks elegant and pretty but it has substance too, bringing with it a moreish, savoury complexity and lovely round mouthfeel balancing up those red fruit and rose petal notes. It’as also the official rosé of the Chelsea Flower Show again this year, so look out for it if you’re going!

In Case You Missed It #IKYMI

Helena guest stars on Alan Carr & Lee Peart’s wine podcast Bottom’s Up!

Why booze hits harder in midlife

Special Weekend Wines

HelenaSips - Adventures in Wine & Spirits

Learn about wine with me!