In French, carte blanche means complete freedom. It is also the name of our new wine club, and registration opens on 21 October.
Carte Blanche is simple: one personal card, our wine dispensers, and an evening with us every month. There will only ever be 350 cards. Here is everything you need to know before the doors open.
Why join Carte Blanche
Carte Blanche puts premium wine by the glass in your hands, on your schedule, and only 350 people will ever hold a card.
- It is limited. Once 350 cards are issued, the club is closed and new members go to a waitlist. Joining early is the only way to be sure of a place.
- Premium wines, by the glass. Load your own card and pour from wines you might never open a full bottle of. Taste widely, compare side by side, and find new favourites without the commitment.
- On your own schedule. There is no booking and no minimum visit. Drop in when it suits you, pour what you feel like, and your credit never expires.
- Made for entertaining. Hosting friends or colleagues? Hand your card to your guests. Each person can pour a different wine, from a light white to a bold red, with every glass coming off one card. No more agreeing on a single bottle for the table.
The idea: every glass is your choice
Carte Blanche lets you pour wine by the glass, at your own pace, from our Enomatic dispensers. You load your card once, then explore.
A crisp white to start. A bold red after. Then something you have never heard of, just because it is there. There is no commitment to a whole bottle, so curiosity costs you a glass, not an evening.
The Enomatic system keeps each open bottle fresh, which is what makes this possible. It means we can offer wines by the glass that would otherwise only be sold by the bottle.
How it works
Joining takes a few minutes online, and your card is ready within three days.
- Join online. KES 6,000 covers your card (KES 1,000) and your first KES 5,000 of wine credit.
- We make your card. It is printed with your name and member number, and your credit is loaded within 48 to 72 hours. We email you when it is ready.
- Collect and pour. Pick it up at The Wine Shop in Loresho. Insert it into a dispenser, choose your wine, and each glass is deducted as you pour. Your remaining balance shows on the screen every time.
- Top up online. Add credit any time from My Carte Blanche on our website. It is loaded onto your card on your next visit.
What members get
Membership is less about discounts and more about belonging.
- A monthly members’ evening. A night each month for members only, with us and with each other.
- Credit that never expires. Pour this week or next season; your balance waits for you.
- A Focaccia Kenya sandwich on your first visit. Our welcome, on the house.
- First access to tastings in unexpected places. Members hear first when we take wine somewhere new.
- One of 350 numbered cards. Your number is yours.
Why only 350
We capped the club at 350 so that members’ evenings stay small and everyone is known by name.
Nairobi is growing fast, and good wine is easier to find than ever. What is harder to find is a room where the people pouring know your taste, and the people beside you share it. A small club keeps that intact.
When all 350 cards are taken, the club is full. You can still join the waitlist for the next available place.
Price and the fine print
It costs KES 6,000 to join, and top-ups start at KES 5,000.
| Item | Price (KES) |
|---|---|
| Card, one-time | 1,000 |
| First credit | 5,000 |
| To join | 6,000 |
| Top-ups, from | 5,000 |
A few things worth knowing:
- Credit is for the wine dispensers only. It cannot be used for bottles or food, or exchanged for cash.
- Top-ups are online only, with a minimum of KES 5,000.
- The card fee is non-refundable, and so is credit once loaded.
- Look after your card. If you lose it, report it straight away and we will disable its QR code. Credit on a lost card cannot be recovered, and a replacement card costs KES 1,000.
- Members must be 18 or over. ID may be requested. Please enjoy responsibly.
Registration opens 21 October
The club page is live now, and registration opens on 21 October. With only 350 cards, we expect places to go quickly.
To hear the moment it opens, leave your email on the Carte Blanche page and we will tell you first. Questions in the meantime? Message us on WhatsApp at 0718 003 302, or visit us at The Wine Shop, 291 Loresho Ridge, next to Tribal Gallery.
One card. Complete freedom. We look forward to pouring with you.
Get first dibs on new arrivals and offers
Early access to case deals, new arrivals and tasting events, by email or WhatsApp.
Sign up by email · Prefer WhatsApp? Join on WhatsApp