If you’re a bit of a wine novice, it can be hard to know which wine to try, which bottle to buy for which occasion, and how to know if what you’re buying is good or not. The world of oenophiles can seem as murky as a rich Shiraz. However, it’s easier than ever to make sense. of wine: join a wine club.
Joining a wine club is a great way to get hand-selected wines sent to you every month, helping you learn which wines you like, which recipes and foods they go great with, and how the whole symphony of aromas and flavors got from the grape to your bottle. But different wine clubs have different strengths. Knowing what each one has to offer can help you choose the best subscription service for your needs.
With going out to the store to buy wine less appealing than ever in the age of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, and planning which wines you want to drink for the year, subscribing to a wine club makes a lot of sense.
| Compare the Top Online Wine Club Subscriptions | 1 .20211110112310.png) | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 30 reviews | 27 reviews | 30 reviews | 58 reviews | Write Review | 29 reviews | Write Review | 18 reviews | 12 reviews |
Best for | Discovering new favorites | Discovering unique small-batch wines | Expanding your palate | Discounted award-winners | Rosé lovers | Personalizing wine choices | Wines personally curated for you | Lovers of expertly selected wines | Affordability |
Pricing | From $6.65 per bottle | From $9.99 per bottle | $20 per bottle | From $5.93 per bottle | $5-$20 per bottle | From $9.99 per bottle (intro offer) | From $15 per bottle | From $8.33 per bottle | From $4.29 per bottle (intro offer) |
Memberships | 6 bottles per month | $40 a month | 4 bottles per month | 12 bottles quarterly | Societé members get 10% off, free shipping, and in-box surprises | Discovery, Premier, Advantage | 6 bottles every 1, 2, or 3 months. | White, red, or mixed | 12 bottles quarterly |
Ships to | 47 US states | 43 US states | Nationwide | 40 states | Summer Water Rosé unavailable in: AL, AK, AR, DE, HI, LA, KY, MS, NJ, RI, or UT
Keep It Chill Red unavailable in: AZ, AL, AK, AR, CT, DE, HI, IL, LA, KS, KY, LA, ME, ME, MI, MS, MO, NJ, OH, RI, or UT | 43 states | Nationwide | 40 states | Nationwide |
Special offers | First 6 bottles are $39.95 + free shipping | Save $100 on a 12-bottle case | None | Free shipping on first order | None at this time | 2 free bottles/pair of stemless glasses on Discovery,
3 free bottles on Premier | $50 off first box | Introductory offer of 6 bottles for $49.99 | Your first purchase costs $59.99 |
Our Top10 Best Wine Clubs
- Best forDiscovering new favorites
- Pricing From $6.65 per bottle
- Ships to47 US states
Firstleaf’s unique wine-tasting algorithm uses your feedback as fuel for an ever-evolving flavor profile that predicts the perfect matches for your palate.
Every month, you’ll receive delivery of 6 bottles chosen specifically for you and your palate. The selection includes top reds and whites from Italy, California, Spain, and more, including 100-point wines and gold medal winners.
Pros- Customized to your tastes
- Award-winning wines
- Featured on Paste and Thrillist
Cons- Shipping costs extra
- Shipping restrictions may apply
- Best forDiscovering unique small-batch wines
- Pricing From $9.99 per bottle
- Ships to43 US states
Naked Wines lets you broaden your taste buds with a range of wines made by less-known winemakers. Customers can purchase from their selection of red and white wines without the obligation of membership. However, becoming an “Angel” member lets you purchase wines at discounted prices and have shipments scheduled monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly.
Naked Wines claims to offer their wines at up to 60% savings by having you buy directly from small wineries. While the savings don’t always amount to quite that much, you will find many delicious wine options that are reasonably priced. Free shipping and well-organized delivery alerts make this service very convenient.
Pros- Well-priced, unique range of wines
- Business model lets you help smaller winemakers get their wines to market
- 100% satisfaction guaranteed
Cons- Advertised discounts may not be accurate
- Popular wines often sell out quickly
- Best forExpanding your palate
- Pricing $20 per bottle
- Ships toNationwide
Bright Cellars’ experts scour the world for small, artisanal wines and then hand-select bottles for its members based on their tastes. The subscription plans are straightforward and the process is simple: when you first sign up, you’ll be given a 7-question quiz about your palate preferences that will create your taste profile.
You’ll then be shown a sample list of wines selected for you, which you can edit to your palate’s desire. From there, you’ll receive 4 bottles each month of boutique and hidden-gem wines. Bright Cellars is low-commitment and allows you to suspend orders at any time.
Pros- Global selection of small-press wines
- Every bottle hand-picked for you
- Cancel at anytime
Cons- Limited membership options
- No a la carte purchases
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It depends on what your tastes are. Firstleaf is a solid choice for those looking to discover new wines, while The California Wine Club is better for those with specific tastes and preferences. Winc is another favorite for those looking to discover hidden gems and indie wines.
Wine clubs may charge by bottle or package and can vary greatly in price. Some wine clubs charge as little as $5 per bottle while other premium clubs may charge as much as $25 and up depending on the vintage.
Wine clubs are great for those looking to discover new wines, build or diversify a wine cellar, or save themselves constant trips to the liquor store.
How Do Wine Club Services Work?
Wine clubs are typically operated by companies that either source wine from wineries around the world or purchase wine and bottle it under their own labels.
Customers sign up for a plan—typically a monthly one, but there are also quarterly plans and other setups—and are usually asked about their wine preferences, or given a short set of questions in order to determine what their tastes are and which types of wine they may prefer. The wine club will then either select wines for members or let members choose from a selection of wines curated or produced by the club.
Most wine clubs will allow you to choose whether you’d like reds or whites or a mix, and if you’d like any sparkling wines. Some also allow you to purchase wine related accessories and gifts. Wine clubs tend to send between 2-4 750 ml bottles per shipment, but some allow you to order significantly more.
With your shipment, many wine clubs will also send informational sheets on the wine, as well as recipes to pair with the wines in the shipment.
How Much Does it Cost?
There is a wide range of prices you can expect to pay for a wine club subscription, depending on the club you join and the quality of the wine. Most companies will allow you to sign up for a basic plan or a premium wine plan, with the latter having a significantly higher price per bottle. Others, like Firstleaf, keep the prices affordable, with 6 bottles for $79.95, or a little over $13 per bottle. Companies like Naked Wines have a wider range of prices, with wines costing between $9 to $39.99 per bottle. California Wine Club takes it even further, with 2 bottles per month for between $40.45-$231.00, and single bottles for order at anywhere between $8 to $135.
Finally, with most wine clubs, you can also expect to pay a shipping fee with each order, typically around $10 or less.
How to Choose the Right Club For You
Your first step in choosing a wine club is to determine how much you want to pay for wine, how often you want to receive it and how much you want to receive. Once you determine this, you should think about why you are looking to receive regular shipments of wine. Perhaps you just want good, affordable wine to show up at your doorstep on a regular basis. If this is the case, then look for an affordable wine club option that tries to match your tastes in wine. If you want to use a wine club to learn more about wine, look for a club that provides a wide variety of wines from a number of different wine regions around the world.
The beauty of each and every one of the above wine clubs is the remarkable convenience they offer. Without ever thinking about it and without having to waste time browsing over walls of wines at crowded grocery and retail stores, wines that match your tastes show up at your door on a regular basis.
The other great advantage to joining wine clubs is the savings. Every wine club on this list is able to provide its members with tremendous value and savings by either having bought large amounts of a given wine from wineries or having produced the wine themselves and disposing of the middlemen that jack up the price.
More than anything, though, it’s the sense of fun and discovery that comes with every box of wine delivered straight to your door. And we could all do with happy discoveries these days.
