This month, I reviewed wine boxes from Winc (Club W), Blue Apron Wine, and Wine Awesomeness. To see how the subscriptions compare, I’ve outlined what I received from each subscription below. Read on to see the wines I received and to find out which box came out on top for me this month!
Winc (formerly Club W) is a wine subscription box that re-imagines the traditional wine club. They offer a regularly changing selection of unique, small production wines that are sourced directly from vineyards and winemakers. Winc suggests bottles for you based on a “palate profile quiz” you take when you join. You can decide to receive the bottles they suggest for you, or you can pick your own wines from their ever-changing collection. Winc wines start at $13 each, and shipping is free on orders of 4 or more bottles. You can skip a shipment at any time.
I love that Winc allows full customization, and I always have a great time picking out my wines each month. If you’re looking for a wine subscription that allows you to have full control over what you receive, I highly recommend checking out Winc.
COUPON: $20 off your first order, no coupon required, just use this link!
Ships to: All US states EXCEPT AK, AL, AR, DE, HI, KY, MS, OK, RI, DS, and UT
Check out the full Club W review here!
Keep track of your subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription box list or wishlist!
2015 Meraki Cabernet Sauvignon - Value $13
2015 Kin & Country Red – Value $13
2015 Chop Shop Cabernet Sauvignon – Value $13
2013 Dime Red Blend – Value $19
I hand picked my wines this month, and I decided to go with all red wines. I couldn’t have been happier with my picks! The Meraki Cabernet Sauvignon was full-bodied, fruity, and spicy, and I felt the easy, casual flavor was a natural fit for Italian food. I ended up pairing it with pizza, and it was a hit! The Kin & Country was another win— it was smooth, herbaceous, and a little spicy. Winc releases a Chop Shop wine every year, and I always order it when it becomes available. The full-bodied Cabernet is a great food wine that pairs with everything from burgers to steak, and I ended up drinking this one alongside spaghetti & meatballs. It didn’t disappoint.
Even though I really enjoyed all of the bottles in this shipment, one of them stood apart from the rest:
The 2013 Dime Red Blend was my favorite wine in this box by far!
Most of Winc’s wines are $13, but this one cost $19. I’m so glad I decided to splurge because this is hands down the best red wine I’ve ever had from Winc! It’s extremely well balanced and the flavor is a little fruity, a little spicy, and little earthy. $19 is a little more than I like to spend for an everyday wine, but this one is something special. I loved it!
Wine Awesomeness specializes in rare and unusual wines, and their curatorial team is led by a Food & Wine Sommelier of the Year! They seek out “the coolest, craveworthiest wines” and send “vino you don’t see every day, but will want to drink everyday.” There’s no quiz with Wine Awesomeness, and the bottles you receive are not tailored to your taste; however, you can pick whether you want to receive all reds, all whites (with a chance of rosé or bubbly), or a mix (with a chance of rosé or bubbly). Wine Awesomeness costs $45 per month for 3 bottles.
Wine Awesomeness is great at introducing me to wines I never knew existed, and I’m consistently impressed with the quality and curation of their boxes. If you’re an open-minded wine drinker who approaches vino with a sense of adventure, I definitely recommend giving Wine Awesomeness a try.
COUPON: Get your first box free - just pay $22.50 shipping, no coupon required, just use this link!
Ships to: U.S. (Including states where most other alcohol subscriptions don’t ship, like PA and OK!)
Check out the full Wine Awesomeness review here!
Keep track of your subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription box list or wish list!
Zazou Picpoul de Pinet – Value $12.99
Gran Passione Falanghina – Value $15.99
2014 Tora Bay Sauvignon Blanc – Value $17.99
Wine Awesomeness never shies away from sending interesting and unusual wines, and this month is a great example of that. The first wine I tried, the Zazou Picpoul de Pinet, is a French wine that’s is bright, acidic, and VERY tangy. (“Picpoul” literally translates to “sting the lips.”) Picpoul is a varietal that I’ve never tried before (I don’t think I’ve ever even seen it for sale before), so I had a lot of fun sampling it for the first time. I really liked the bold zippiness of this wine, but I’m not sure it will be for everyone. Falanghina is another wine that’s totally new to me. It’s an Italian wine that isn’t terribly popular today; however, it was one of the most beloved wines back in ancient Rome. How cool is that!? This wine is really interesting and complex— the aroma is very floral, but the taste is actually creamy and clean with a chalky minerality. I’m a fan. Last, but certainly not least, I received a bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
I love Sauvignon Blanc, and this one is just plain delicious.
The flavor is fruity (think tropical fruit salad), crisp, and clean. It’s full of flavor and has a nice zip of acidity. It’s one of the best wines I’ve received yet from Wine Awesomeness. I really love it.
Blue Apron Wine is a monthly wine subscription from Blue Apron. Every month, Blue Apron Wine sends six 500 ml bottles (perfectly sized for two to share!) that have been selected to complement upcoming Blue Apron meals. Each shipment costs $65.99 and contains six bottles of wine.
Blue Apron Wine shipments aren’t customizable, so I’d recommend this subscription for those who like both red and white wines and who aren’t too picky about what types of wine they enjoy. Since Blue Apron Wine comes with Blue Apron meal pairings, this subscription might be a great option for those who already subscribe to Blue Apron. The smaller bottles also set this subscription apart from the others. Personally, I think the 500 ml bottles are perfectly sized for two people to share over dinner.
There isn’t currently a coupon available for Blue Apron Wine; however, if you’d like to try Blue Apron’s meal box use the following code to get three free meals in your first box:
COUPON: get 3 Meals Free on Your First Order, no coupon required, just use this link
Ships to: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming
Check out the full Blue Apron Wine review here!
Keep track of your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription box list or wish list!
2015 Bodegas VQ
2014 Cave de Fleurie
2015 Fabre Minervois
2015 Westmount Pinot Gris
2015 Wooldridge Creek
2015 Seigneurie de Châtillon
Of of the six bottles I received this month from Blue Apron Wines, there were definitely some highs and lows. I really enjoyed the dry and fruity Fabre Minervois and the slightly sweet Westmount Pinot Gris, but the Woolridge Creek was a miss (it tasted like lemons, honey, and iodine) and I found the Cave de Fleurie to be a little flat and muddy. Of all the wines, though, one stood out as my clear favorite:
The 2015 Seigneurie de Châtillon, a white Burgundy wine, was crisp, citrusy, and bright.
I thought this wine was absolutely delicious, and the flavor seemed SO familiar to me. After a few sips, it struck me: this wine tastes just like pink grapefruit!
Verdict: It’s so much fun to compare the different wine subscriptions and look back at the bottles I received this month. There were a lot of great bottles this month, and it’s really hard to pick a favorite. I think my top two bottles have to be Winc’s Dime Blend and Wine Awesomeness’ Sauvignon Blanc. It’s almost a tie, but I think the edge goes to the Tora Bay Sauvignon Blanc. In the race for best overall box, though, I think Winc takes the cake!
Favorite box: Winc
Top bottle: 2014 Tora Bay Sauvignon Blanc (from Wine Awesomeness)
Do you subscribe to Winc, Wine Awesomeness, or Blue Apron Wine? Did you discover any great wines this month?
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