Bright Cellars is a monthly wine subscription that matches you with wines you’ll love.
Bright Cellars was founded by two MIT grads with a passion for wine and technology, and they approach wine a little differently than most wine clubs.
When you sign up for a membership, you take a “taste palate quiz” to determine your own unique taste profile.
Your monthly wines are selected using a proprietary algorithm that “scores each wine by comparing 18 attributes to your preferences, matching you with your monthly experience.” You can choose the ratio of red to white you receive in each box by adjusting your preferences online.
When it comes to selecting wines to add to their collection, Bright Cellars doesn’t turn to wine professionals or sommeliers. Instead, they crowd source their wine selection by relying on the tastes of their team. And the team is picky- only 1 in 12 wines tasted by the Bright Cellars team makes the cut!
If you’re ever sent a bottle you don’t love, the Bright Cellars Wine Concierge will help you select a free replacement bottle that will ship with your next box.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: Bright Cellars
The Cost: $60 + $8 shipping
ACTIVE DEAL: Get $50 off your first month! No coupon needed - just use this link.
The Products: 4 wines picked to match your unique taste profile.
Ships to: US states where it is legal to receive wine by mail. If you’re uncertain whether you can receive wine shipments, contact the Bright Cellars Wine Concierge at [email protected].
Check out all of our Bright Cellars Reviews and find more wine subscriptions in the Wine Subscription Box Directory!
Keep track of your subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription box list or wishlist!
This Bright Cellars shipment contained a “Chill Out” print that provides the ideal temperatures for serving different kinds of wine.
Information about the individual bottles in your shipment can be accessed through the Bright Cellars website.
Burrasca Aglianico 2015
I’ve never tried (let alone heard of) Aglianico before, so I’m really excited to see it in this month’s Bright Cellars box! It’s a “full-bodied red wine with firm tannins, high acidity, delicious dark fruits and a hint of cocoa.”
This is definitely a food friendly wine, and I can’t wait to pair it with a hearty Italian meal like bolognese or sausage and peppers!
Blue Towers Chardonnay
I can be pretty picky about Chardonnay sometimes, so I’m always a little hesitant when I see it pop up in a wine box. (I tend to like crisp, acidic whites, so buttery Chardonnay isn’t really a favorite.) Luckily, I like this one.
It’s very fruity, full of flavors like pineapple, apple, and pear. It does have a soft creaminess, so I’m not sure this is a wine I’d enjoy drinking on its own, but I think it would pair nicely with something rich and creamy like chicken pot pie.
Chancelles Rosé 2015
What is it about rosé and warm weather? As soon it’s hot enough to hit the beach, all I want to drink is rosé! I’m always happy to see it in a summer wine box!
This rosé is a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, and Petite Sirah, and the color is beautiful! Taste-wise, it’s fairly fruity (lots of berry flavors) with a nice, crisp finish. I’m a fan!
Corona de Aragon White Blend 2014
The last wine I received this month is a blend of Chardonnay (50%) and Macabeo (50%). Macebeo is another grape that’s totally new to me, but my research tells me that it’s commonly grown in the Rioja region of Spain and the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France.
Each grape affects this blend in its own way: the Macabeo is “citrusy and floral” and the Chardonnay brings “rich, tropical flavors.” Again, Chardonnay isn’t necessarily my favorite wine, but I like this blend. Bright Cellars recommends pairing it with fish or “light pasta dishes with shellfish or chicken,” and I think I’ll take their advice and make some Pasta with Clams!
Verdict: I really like Bright Cellars, and I think it’s really interesting that they rely on technology and the tastes of their staff to pick wine (instead of sommeliers). It seems to be working; they always seem to do a pretty good job of sending me wines I enjoy. I do think it would be nice if there was a way to specify your preferences for certain varietals (ones you love or would prefer to avoid), but I recognize that’s not really the vision for this sub. Since Bright Cellars will replace any bottle you don’t like, I don’t really mind letting them pick bottles for me that I wouldn’t necessarily pick for myself. The subscription cost breaks down to $17 per bottle, which I think is fair. That’s maybe a bit more than I’d pay for an “everyday wine” in the store, but I feel okay about the price knowing that Bright Cellars guarantees that I’ll like what I receive.
What do you think about Bright Cellars? Will you give it a try?
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