A few months back I was up way past my bedtime, doom-scrolling through social media, when an ad for a wine subscription service popped up on my feed. Seduced by the promise of new and interesting wines at rock- bottom prices delivered right to my door, I took the bait and clicked. Not long after, a box appeared at my door, and I must admit it was kind of exciting. Inside were six bottles of wine, each accompanied by big, glossy tasting cards. That evening I eagerly opened a bottle and poured myself a glass of what turned out to be a rather banal merlot. In the end only two of the six bottles were to my liking, the rest eventually making their way into various risottos and stews. I canceled the subscription and sheepishly vowed never again to stray from supporting local wine shops. Undoubtedly there are some good quality online subscription programs out there, but why bother when curated, thoughtful wine selections are waiting right around the corner?