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Winc vs Blue Apron Wine vs Wine Awesomeness – February 2017

Lindsey Morse
ByLindsey MorseFeb 18, 2017 | 1 comment

new wine collage

Blue Apron Wine
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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-february-2017-box

Winc (formerly Club W) is a wine subscription box that re-imagines the traditional wine club. Winc offers a regularly changing selection of unique, small production wines that are sourced directly from vineyards and winemakers. When you sign up for a subscription, you take a short quiz that helps determine your taste in wine. Based on your quiz results, Winc picks out wines for you each month. You can go along with Winc’s suggestions, or you can pick out your own wines. Winc wines start at $13 each, shipping is free on orders of 4 or more bottles, and you can skip a shipment at any time.

Winc-february-2017-box-open

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!

Winc-february-2017-review

2016 Outer Sounds Sauvignon Blanc- $13

2015 Big Beat Red Blend- $13

2015 Matchlock Cabernet Sauvignon- $15

2013 Dime Red Blend- $19

I hand picked my wines this month, and I ended up really enjoying them all. Sauvignon Blanc is one of my favorite wines, and the Outer Sounds did not disappoint. It was fresh, citrusy, and really delicious. The Matchlock surprised me by being a bit fruitier and brighter than I usually expect a Cab to be, but it worked. The flavor reminded me of strawberries, raspberries, and baking spices. The Dime Red Blend is a wine I first ordered in January, and I loved it so much that I ordered it again this month! It’s a rich and full-bodied wine, and the flavor is like a mix of dark red berries, earth, and spice.

The Dime has to be one of my all-time favorite Winc wines, but since it was my top pick last month I want to give a shout out to another great wine I received in this shipment:

Winc-february-2017-blend

The Big Beat Red Blend was a solid, easy drinking red. It’s not quite as special as the Dime, but it’s a solid table wine that I really enjoyed.

Winc-february-2017-blend-poured

I also absolutely love the label art. So perfect for Valentine’s Day!

Wine-awesomeness-February-2017-box

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-February-2017-box-inside

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!

Wine-awesomeness-February-2017-review

2016 Balance Sauvignon Blanc

2015 Pratsch Grüner Veltliner – Value $12.95

Pierre et Papa Vin Extraordinaire – £7.50 (approximately $9.32 in USD)

After a couple of months of sending some truly adventurous wines (like orange Georgian wine and Falanghina), this month’s Wine Awesomeness box seemed fairly tame! The box contained a really tasty Sauvignon Blanc and a French “Vin Extraordinare” that I loved. My favorite wine in this box, though, has to be the Pratsch Grüner Veltliner.

Wine-awesomeness-February-2017-gruner

It was a slightly effervescent wine (I love bubbles, so I get excited when wine has even a hint of fizz!) and the taste reminded me a little of apples and pears.

Wine-awesomeness-February-2017-gruner-detail

Each sip finished really cleanly, with a nice pop of acidity that left me craving another one. Yum!

BlueApronWine-February-2017-Box

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.

BlueApronWine-February-2017-Box-inside

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.

Coupon: Click here to save $20 off your first order!

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!

BlueApronWine-February-2017-review

2015 Two Jakes of Diamonds Cabernet Franc

2014 Cave de Theizé Coteaux Bourguignons Red Wine

2015 Arco von Kammersbründl Zweigelt

2015 Kōtuku Sauvignon Blanc

2015 Clayhouse Wines Chardonnay

2015 Arco von Kammersbründl Grüner Veltliner

Of of the six bottles I received this month from Blue Apron Wines, there were definitely some highs and lows. I really liked the Two Jakes of Diamonds Cabernet Franc (and enjoyed learning that Cab Franc is known for having a “green pepper character” that helps it pair well with food), and I loved the Sauvignon Blanc. The Chardonnay, however, was a miss for me. Of all the wines, though, one stood out as my clear favorite:

BlueApronWine-February-2017-arco

The 2015 Arco von Kammersbründl Zweigelt was incredible!

BlueApronWine-February-2017-arco-poured

This wine was dry and fruity, and the flavor was so full of baking spices and peppercorns that it reminded me a little of mulled wine! So good!

The 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, but I absolutely can not stop thinking about the Arco von Kammersbründl Zweigelt! I don’t think I’ve ever had a wine quite like it before, and I wish I could order more! When it comes to the best overall box, though, I’m torn. I think I have to call it a tie between Winc and Wine Awesomeness!

WineRoundup-February-2017-BoxWinner1

WineRoundup-February-2017-BoxWinner2

Favorite boxes: Winc and Wine Awesomeness

WineRoundup-February-2017-WineWinner

Top bottle: 2015 Arco von Kammersbründl Zweigelt (from Blue Apron Wine)

Do you subscribe to Winc, Wine Awesomeness, or Blue Apron Wine? Did you discover any great wines this month?

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Lindsey Morse
Lindsey Morse
Lindsey is a professional baker, cold brew coffee addict, and rosé aficionado who loves writing about food and wine. When she’s not sharing her love of subscription boxes with the world, you’ll find her in the podcasting studio, perfecting her cake decorating techniques, or cursing her way through the New York Times daily crossword puzzle.

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1 comment

Megan

Winc is the best!

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