Blackhearts & Sparrows | Fitzroy

The Verdict

Amazing how the time flies. Blackhearts & Sparrows started up back in 2006 with one store. The idea being: let’s show Melbourne that good wine doesn’t have to be a) expensive, or b) wanky. That model clearly works, because there’s seven of them around town now, dispensing quality vino, spirits and craft beer.

Siblings and co-founders Paul and Jessica Ghaie just nailed the formula with sparrows. Until they came along, Melbourne bottle-o’s were somewhere you grabbed a quick bottle for a dinner party. You either didn’t care what was in the bottle, or were too intimidated to ask. Either way the idea was to get in quick, and leave without doing too much damage to your bank account.

Blackhearts changed all that. Thanks largely to the incredibly helpful and knowledgeable staff (a culture that Paul and Jessica have carefully cultivated across all seven stores) customers are now more willing to browse, to experiment, to try something new. They’re not afraid to ask questions, and the Blackhearts team isn't afraid to get frank with the answers. If a bottle isn’t right for your budget or your taste, they’ll tell you...and then recommend six amazing drops that fit the bill.

And now, we’re happy to say, Blackhearts has just launched a new wine subscription service (following the success of brands like Vinomofo, who have really been owning this space). You can now sign-up for three different subscriptions, depending on your hip pocket (and wine knowledge). They are Classic (which starts at $120), Esoteric (kicking off at $180) and Premium ($220, if you want to splurge).

The packs include a lot of Blackheart’s own collab wines, especially in the Classic variety. Good mid-week drops that you’d be happy to serve your neighbours. Esoteric gets a little more interesting—mostly minimal intervention and natural wines from small-batch producers. Premium is as it sounds—rare and imported bottles from A-Grade local and international vintners. Check out all the options here.

Even better? Sign up to a subscription and you get matching recipe cards from celebrated chefs, including Andrew McConnell, Annie Smithers and David Moyle. It says a LOT about Blackhearts that they now have that kind of pull. Not many bottle-o’s can get Andrew McConnell on the phone...

Image credit: Matthew Stanton