Why I'm never paying full price for wine again.

When I was at university I spent a year in Paris. Ah the luxuries of a modern language degree. Of course, I paid for this later in life when you're getting paid peanuts for articles it takes you months to research and write.

I learned a few things. Where to get the cheapest espresso, which boulangerie had the best bread. But most importantly, I learned that wine in Europe is incredibly cheap.

That's because there's fewer middlemen in the process between grape-grower and supermarket shelf. Often, the winemaker will sell their product directly to the supermarket, getting you access to boutique, award winning wine, for a fraction of the price you'd pay for it over here.

It was a rude awakening when I returned back to the UK - not least because I couldn't find a job. No, the real stinger was the new inability to pick up a bottle of half decent Claret for under a tenner. That's because there's many more middlemen in the process, pocketing profit and driving the price up for wine enthusiasts like you and me.

There are, of course, bigger problems in the world to solve. But for £7.50 a month, would you pay to get trade prices on wine, cutting out all the middlemen and saving you up to 80% on every bottle you buy?

I would.

I suppose that's why the new London-based wine club Winedrops is going viral. So viral, in fact, that they've had to stop taking on new members.

They promise to cut out all the middlemen, going direct to the winemaker and saving you thousands a year on your favourite drops. When I flashed my FastCompany ID, they made an exception and let me into the club. I've been a member for a few weeks, and here's why I'm never going back.

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#1 - The savings are the real deal.

I was sceptical when I joined up. I've got a ton of friends in the wine industry who tell me that the savings Winedrops are promising are impossible.

I was STILL sceptical when I saw the prices on their app. They've got the UK's lowest prices on the biggest brands... and not by a few pennies. We're talking country miles below the next cheapest.

The only time I truly believed was when the wine was delivered. Unless the bottles are filled with Ribena, I can now confirm that the Winedrops savings are the real deal. I saved over a hundred pounds on my first case, and I've only been a member for 2 weeks!

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#2 - The customer service is second-to-none.

There was, however, a problem with my delivery. One of the wines was corked. You know that sinking feeling when you smell a wine that stinks of wet cardboard - the realisation that not only is your evening ruined, but you're also £30 out of pocket. I couldn't help myself - I sent Winedrops an angry email on Saturday night. I know, I'm not proud about it.

Amazingly, I got an email on Sunday morning. I was instantly credited the full amount, no questions asked. It's some of the fastest, most effective customer service I've ever received.

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#3 - They've got something for everyone.

I've tried all the wine clubs - and my pet hate? They try to fob off brands you've never heard of. Um, no thanks - I don't even like rosé and you're trying to sell me a no-name Spanish rosé for £15 a bottle.

Winedrops takes the time to actually ask you what you want to see. Then, they send you personalised deals on everything, from big brands, to boutique critic favourites, to crazy, off-the-beaten-track suggestions.

#4 - It's the virtual cellar I've always wanted.

I'm sure you've been here before - trying to remember how expensive a bottle is before you offer it out to your friends. My wine cupboard is a chaos, from cheap and cheerful to stuff I wouldn't open in my wildest dreams.

The Winedrops app has a virtual cellar where you can see all your purchases - along with drinking windows, prices, taste notes, and critics ratings. It's the ultimate companion when you're cracking open a special wine.

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#5 - It's the funnest way to buy wine.

The wine market is pretty stuffy. It's full of old blokes writing essays about flavours in wine you can't hope to pick up.

Winedrops are a breath of fresh air, with simple taste notes, and awesome stories about each deal they do. They also do a load of games, like 'Guess the bottle', 'Mystery Wine', and 'Winemaker Holiday Raffles'.

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I can say with absolute confidence that there isn't a better wine club on earth than Winedrops. That is - until they get their sh!t together and start accepting new members again. Until then, I guess you're going to have to keep buying wine at full price like the rest of us.

Not me, though. Never again.