Bright Cellars is a monthly wine subscription that matches you to wine based on seven question quiz that helps to identify your wine palate.
Bright Cellars was founded by two MIT grads with a passion for wine and technology. Using your “taste palate quiz” you are given a 4-bottle recommendation to review. You can either agree with their selections and proceed to purchase, or you can switch out one or more of the bottles. Since this is my first month, I went with the recommended bottles as I was unfamiliar with the brands offered.
I love that there are options to be adventurous and that you can pick all red, all white, or a mix. I’m a white drinker – my husband a red – so I love that this one subscription can meet both of our individual needs and be flexible from month to month.
You’re asked to rate each bottle using a quick survey tool to help the algorithm become smarter and more in tune to your taste profile going forward.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Bright Cellars
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 bottles of wine selected based on your taste profile
Ships to: U.S. 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].
Good To Know: You can adjust your shipment frequency in your settings. An adult 21+ must be present at the time of delivery to sign for the shipment. There is an option to add a cheese pairing to your box for $48, this includes 4 cheeses ranging in size from 5-8 oz. each.
Bright Cellars May 2018 Review
After my last review, I was so excited to see what Bright Cellars had in store for me this month! I did adjust my frequency so that I could receive boxes towards the beginning of the month, and because of that I received a second shipment in April. That means the inserts were the same as in my last review, so apologies in advance for that duplication! I also reached out to my concierge via e-mail and specifically requested that they include a bottle of Pinot Grigio – my favorite type of wine. This month I received 2 reds and 2 whites – a great mix!
There were three inserts contained in the box.
The first insert was titled “sipping into spring” and provides a guide to “tricky wine words.” There is also a delish sounding Rosé Cocktail Recipe!
The second insert was an advertisement and coupon for Maria Shireen, the creator of the original hair tie bracelet and the last was a $30 coupon for Home Chef (If you’re interested check out the Home Chef reviews).
Ochavado Sauvignon Blanc 2016 (Vino De La Tierra de Castilla, Spain) – Retail Value $20
Tasting Notes: Peach, Nectarine, Pear, Grapefruit, Orange Blossom
Traditional Sauvignon Blanc flavors of grapefruit and lemon can be found in this Spanish wine alongside with ripe peach, juicy pear, and aromatic orange blossom. This wine pairs best with lighter fare like fish, salads, or aromatic saffron dishes.
I thought that this was a really nice Sauvignon Blanc, and really noticed the grapefruit notes. It smelled delicious and was very light on the tongue. The clarity of this wine was perfect, and I loved the clean lines of the label. This would be a very beautiful bottle to take to a summer dinner party.
Il Passeggio Pinot Grigio 2016 (Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily) – Estimated Value $15?
Tasting Notes: Lemon, Green Apple, Lime, Honey, Floral
Hailing from the southern Italian island of Sicily, this Pinot Grigio is bursting with notes of ripe citrus and tart green apple. Slightly rounder and less acidic than its northern cool-climate counterpart, this wine pairs beautifully with mild Italian cheeses like Fontina alongside slices of cured salami.
Pinot Grigio is my favorite wine, and I really liked this bottle. It was crisp, refreshing, and lively with notes of citrus and apple. I paired this wine with fish, and really enjoyed the way that it complemented my dinner. I’m a sucker for good packaging though, and I felt like the vineyard on the label made this bottle feel a little cheesy.
Payadores Merlot 2016 (Valle Central, Chile) – Estimated Value $21
Tasting Notes: Plum, Blackberry, Strawberry, Black Raspberry, Mocha
This medium-bodied Chilean wine leads with plum, blackberry and black raspberry flavors balanced by a hint of mocha spice. Pair with beef tenderloin in a red wine sauce, meat-stuffed mushrooms, grilled veggies or Gouda cheese.
This is the second month that we received a Merlot – which is not my husband’s favorite red variety. He said it was drinkable, and “just OK” – this month, I’m going to add a note to my concierge that we’d like to stay clear of merlots for a little while, and I’m going to rate this bottle poorly so that it changes our match algorithm. This wine smelled good to me, and I could definitely pick up on the berries but I didn’t love the mouth feel of it, and it was too dry for my palate.
Night Guardian Nocturnal Red Blend 2016 (California, USA) - Estimated Value $15?
Tasting Notes: Raspberry, Cherry, Strawberry, Vanilla, Spice
A blend of classic California varietals are blended together to create a bold, ripe, berry jam treat! Hints of spice, vanilla and earth become present in the finish. Pair with slow-roasted baby back ribs, barbecued meats or smoked cheeses!
We did as suggested and paired this with BBQ pork – it smelled really berrylike, had great legs, clarity, and put you in the mindset of a traditional cabernet more than a blend. It was medium bodied, but very dry for my tastes. My husband said that this was his favorite bottle so far though!
Verdict: The subscription cost for Bright Cellars breaks down to $17 per bottle after shipping. I could only find 2 of the brands available online, each for around $20 – so I feel like this subscription is probably retail priced and more about finding new and unique wines you love than scoring high value products.
The Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Because of the variation, it’s unlikely that you would get the same items that I’m showing here. These wines are available for sale (min of 4) on the Bright Cellars website.
Coupon - Save 50% off your first box! No code required, just use this link!
Value Breakdown: This box cost me $60 + $8 shipping, which means that each of the 4 wines in the box has an average cost of $17.
Check out all of our Bright Cellars Reviews and find more wine subscriptions in the Wine Subscription Box Directory!
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Have you tried Bright Cellars?
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