Firstleaf Wine Subscription Review + Coupon – November 2016

Firstleaf is a monthly wine subscription from the parent company that owns magazines like Food & Wine, Cooking Light, Sunset, and Travel + Leisure. 

Firstleaf leaf sends wines that are “matched to your taste, direct from the vineyard, [and] delivered on your schedule.”

You can preview each box before it ships and swap out up to 3 bottles.

My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

The Subscription Box: Firstleaf

The Cost: $79 per box + shipping (For reference, the total cost with shipping to DC is $88.95.)

ACTIVE DEAL: Intro offer $39.95 + free shipping no code needed. No coupon needed - just use this link.

The Products: Six bottles of wine personalized to your taste.

Ships to: U.S.

Check out all of our Firstleaf reviews and find other wine boxes in the Wine Subscription Box Directory!

Keep track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription box list or wishlist!

Firstleaf offers a pretty impressive level of customization. You can choose whether to receive all white, all reds, or a mix. You can also choose whether to receive US wines, International wines, or a mix. (That’s an option I’ve never seen before!)

You can also choose how frequently you’d like to receive boxes.

I received some printed information about Firstleaf in my first shipment, but this box arrived with only a packing slip.

2014 Calcu Sauvignon Blanc - Value $13.99

I’m a big fan of Sauvignon Blanc, so I was happy to see this in my Firstleaf shipment. It’s crisp and acidic, and it reminds me of freshly cut green apples and juicy lemons.

2014 Butchers Block Turkey Flat 

The next bottle I received is an Australian red blend from the Barossa Valley. It’s made from Shiraz, Gernache, and Mataro grapes, and I quite like it. It’s full of dark berry flavor that’s a little earthy and spicy. I served this wine with steak, and it was a solid pairing. (Note that I’ve linked to the recently released 2015 vintage of this wine. The 2015 retails for $20 Australian dollars— that’s about $14.90 in USD.)

2015 Mosaico Old Vine Grenache

This next wine is a Spanish wine from Campo de Borja. (According to the bottle, the wine was made in Spain but bottled in California.) I’m often a fan of Grenache, but this one is just so-so. The flavor isn’t bad, but I think it’s flat and a little muddy. It’s not particularly fruity nor earthy nor spicy— just kind of blah.

2015 Paso Del Tiempo Old Vine Garnacha

This wine, on the other hand, is pretty solid. The flavor reminds me of dark red cherries and mulled wine spices. I think this is a great holiday wine and perfect for this time of year.

2015 Old Quarter Cabernet Sauvignon

This Chilean Cab is described as bright and fruit-forward, but it’s another miss for me, unfortunately. I didn’t get a lot of brightness or fruit but kind of a dirty earth taste (and not in a good way).

2015 Negra Negroamaro

Last up is this Italian red from Puglia. It smells absolutely incredible, kind of like strawberry jam and star anise! The flavor is nice, too. It’s an earthy wine with lots of tannins, and the flavor reminds me of leather, dark fruit, and spices. I think this will pair wonderfully with Italian food, and I can’t wait to finish off this bottle with a big bowl of pasta.

Verdict: I’ve had a rocky last few months with Firstleaf. This month was okay (better than some), but there were still a few bottles in my shipment that weren’t quite right for me. I’ve tried adjusting my online preferences to try all whites, all international wines, etc., but I haven’t gotten a single box that’s wowed me. For that reason, this will be my last box. Everyone’s palate is different, though, and if you’re interested in giving Firstleaf a try, I’d recommend signing up for the 3-bottle intro offer. (Get your first 3 bottles for only $19.95 including shipping. No code required, just use this link.) I previously reviewed one of Firstleaf’s intro boxes, and, even though I wasn’t in love with all of the wines I received, I was impressed with the value.

Have you tried Firstleaf?