THE HELENASIPS WINE ACADEMY

Drink Smarter, Not More – All for Less Than a Bottle of Wine a Month

Join wine expert Helena Nicklin for an online video wine course that’s fun, fast, and full of perks. Learn how to read a wine list, confidently pick the perfect bottle, and drink better—without spending more.

With membership from the price of a bottle of wine each month, you’ll discover the secrets of the wine world in bite-sized lessons, designed for busy people like you. Whether it’s mastering a wine list, upgrading your home selection, or just sipping smarter, we’ll help you drink less but   better—all in under 5 minutes a day.

 

Why choose HelenaSips?

For the cost of a bottle of wine a month, The HelenaSips Wine Academy is your go-to destination for approachable wine education, designed to fit into any busy lifestyle. Learn about wine in bite-sized chunks, explore the key grapes, blends and wine regions, get high-street recommendations, food pairing tips and membership perks and discounts. Download our app and you can learn on the go too!

​This isn’t your typical wine course. It's not a wine text book in video form. Instead, this is a highly visual course created with real wine drinkers like you in mind, answering the questions most asked over my 25 year career, teaching in an order that makes better sense and, in a style, that for once is actually memorable as well as entertaining and helps you learn quickly. Most importantly, it’ll tell you how to approach the gloriously complex world of wine with a simple, four step roadmap.

Don't want to commit straight away? Want to try before you buy? Click here for a 14 day free taster.

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BECOME WINE LIST CONFIDENT

 

90+ 5 MINUTE VIDEOS FOR BUSY LIVES

 

5+ HOURS OF FUN-FILLED LEARNING

 

MEMBERS ONLY WINE SWAG DISCOUNTS

 

 REGULAR LIVE GROUP DROP-INs WITH HELENA

 

TONNES OF FUN WINE FACTS TO WOW YOUR FRIENDS

 

45+ SUGGESTED 'SIPS SAFARIS'

 

 HELENA'S  PICKS FROM THE HIGH STREET & 100s OF ARTICLES

  

1 APP FOR ON THE GO LEARNING

 

1 WINE AISLE SWAGGER

 

 

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DISCOVER THE VINALOGY

The world famous vinous analogy

Playful. Memorable. Fresh.

 

Helena as 'Pirouetting Penelope Pinot Noir'.

A Vinalogy is a wine-based analogy that paints memorable pictures of the world's most famous grapes and wine styles. Hear Helena explain more...

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5 REASONS TO LEARN ABOUT WINE

 

1. Wine is Sexy: Wine is chemistry and geography, but also history, culture, travel, and art. Every bottle tells a story—sometimes lighthearted, sometimes epic.

2. Drink Smarter: You’re already drinking, so why not drink better? One good bottle beats two bad ones.

3. Social Edge: Master the wine list, impress the in-laws, and ace that tricky client meeting.

4. Elevate Moments: The right pairing is magic, sparking conversation and connection.

5. Wine Aisle Swagger: Confidence in the wine store never looked so good!

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REGULAR WINE CLINIC DROP-INs

The Live Sips Sessions

 

Live Wine Q&A with Helena: Got wine questions? Helena’s live group sessions are your chance to get answers. From wine pairing tips to advice on opening that special bottle, these sessions are tailored to your wine journey.

Expert Wine Advice in Real Time: Go beyond pre-recorded videos with live, interactive access to a world-class wine educator.

Unique Member Perk: No other online wine course offers this level of personal guidance and connection.

Build Your Wine Confidence: Learn how to choose, pair, and enjoy wine with confidence—whether at home or out shopping.

SPOILER: She doesn't know why you never see baby pigeons either. 

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Helena's Picks

The Ultimate Seasonal Wine Guide

Helena’s Picks takes the guesswork out of wine shopping with a curated list of 12 must-try bottles every season. For winter, expect cozy reds for hearty stews, celebratory fizz for festive toasts, and creamy whites to enjoy by the fire.

Helena personally tastes hundreds of wines from supermarkets, high street shops, and online retailers to find the very best for every occasion. And here’s the twist: we don’t sell the wine—we simply guide you to the bottles worth buying. Join the Academy and let Helena’s expert picks transform how you shop, sip, and celebrate.

For our launch this winter, we will showcase the best 12 wines for your budget, according to occasion from a wide range of retailers. 

Hang tight though; future seasonal selections will feature the best wines for your budget and occasion by the key UK retailers (with other countries to follow). Whether you only buy from your preferred supermarket or you like to natter with the gang at Majestic, you’ll always have the right wine for your life—and your season. For now, let’s raise a glass to winter’s finest.

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Helena's Handpicked Partners

Coravin

We really dig this piece of wine kit! The brilliant Coravin system is a no-brainer solution for when you want to explore a wide selection of wines without feeling the pressure to finish the bottles. Whether it's screw cap, natural cork or even a sparkling wine, Coravin’s unique design preserves open bottles for 4 weeks up to many years, depending on the model used. Perfect for those Sips Safaris!

Mouse & Grape

Things we love that go perfectly together: Sugar & Spice, Ant & Dec, Cheese & Wine. No messing. And while we don't know how you can hang out with Ant & Dec, we do know where you can get the finest, most luxurious cheese & wine hampers. That'll be the fabulous Mouse & Grape! We love them so much we've teamed up to give you a discount.

Partner in Wine

What do you get when you cross wine tasting with journaling? Winefulness! This gorgeous wine journal created by Lucy at Partner In Wine is a great home for your Sips Safari tasting notes and is packed full of helpful prompts and wine tips.

 

 

Academie du Vin Library

For those wanting a deeper dive into the most delicious places on earth, we’ve partnered with Académie du Vin Library to bring you a 25% discount on a selected range of gorgeous wine books, from Port, Sherry and wine of the Loire Valley to  guides to tasting terroir in wine!

Drinky Tees

Are you ‘Chablis Chic’ or more of a Prosecco Princess?  ‘Wear your drinks preferences with pride! Drinky Tees is a Teemil brand, producing sustainably made, natural, recyclable clothing and accessories, from tote bags and beanies to mugs and notebooks. 

 

The Terrace Rooms and Wine

If you love indulgent weekends with stunning views, impeccable service, and exceptional wine, head to The Terrace in Ventnor, Isle of Wight. This boutique hotel and wine shop offers nightly tastings and a mouthwatering four-course breakfast. We LOVE it.