Winc is a wine subscription box that re-imagines the traditional wine club by offering a regularly-changing selection of unique, small production wines that are sourced directly from vineyards and winemakers.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About this Wine Subscription
The Subscription Box: Winc
The Cost: Bottles start at $12.99 each with a membership. (Shipping is free on orders of 4 or more bottles.)
The Products: Small-lot wines, ciders, and sparkling options sourced directly from vineyards and winemakers.
Ships to: Check your zip code through this link for shipping eligibility.
Winc September 2019 Review
When you sign up to join Winc, you take a six-question palate profile quiz (so quick!) to help determine your taste in wine. Based on your answers, Winc makes bottle recommendations for you every month. You can go along with their recommendations, choose your own bottles from their regularly changing selection, or skip the month completely. You can also take the palate profile test as often as you’d like.
The bottles are shipped in an upright cardboard box that has molded pieces to hold them in place. This helps prevent the bottles from bashing into one another during transport. The box is rather sturdy and has a super convenient handle that makes it easy to carry. I get a lot of use out of the box's clever design, and always make sure to keep at least one on-hand so I can make quick work of toting multiple bottles to a friend's house or elsewhere (when I feel like sharing, anyway).
Winc included this card that highlights harvest season at Winc. I find a lot of joy in the copy and graphic design of this company, and this card is exemplary of why.
There was also this tri-fold announcement about Winc shares, in case you'd like to invest in the company. This card was also included in last month's delivery, where Anna pointed out the missed opportunity to have the image of the pouring bottle align with the woman's open mouth.
So, how about those wines?
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2017 Yé-Yé Tempranillo — $14.99 (or $12.99 through the subscription)
Vino de Espana, Spain
Body: Medium
Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 13%
Winemaking: Vegan
Behold, my only red of the month! Back in June, I updated my preferences so Winc would only send 1 red and 3 whites rather than a 50/50 split, as I came to accept that lighter, chilled wines went faster in my house than their dark, room-temperature counterparts. This particular bottle promises tasting notes of cocoa, red cherry, sage, and strawberry. Just like the page says, it leads with a bright, fruity quality that mellows into something a little herbal and a slight bit oaky. I found it pretty easy to sip and will be happy sharing this with friends over a salty charcuterie plate.
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2018 Far + Wide Grüner Veltliner — $16.99 (or $14.99 through the subscription)
Austria
Body: Light
Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 12.5%
Our tour around Europe continues (and ultimately concludes) with this "lively" white from Austria. Touting itself as a great alternative to sauvignon blanc for those feeling adventurous, this bottle claims to be fruit-forward like the last, with notes of candied lemon, honeysuckle, and wet stone leading the charge. I've never had anything quite like it; the tang of the candied lemon was definitely there, as was the mellow wet stone at the finish, but in the middle, there was a light spice and interesting personality I wasn't quite expecting. It was quite the unique inclusion in my delivery this month, and it provided the kind of experience I anticipate from a subscription such as this. It was cool to try something I wouldn't know to seek out otherwise!
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NV Eplevin Gravenstein Cider — $17.99 (or $15.99 through the subscription)
Sonoma, California
Body: Light
Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 8%
Winemaking: Eco-friendly, vegan
A cider, how cool! When reviewing the options Winc selected for this delivery, I spied another bottle of sparkling wine, but if you read my review from last month, you'll know why that's a no-go this time around. While shopping around the website in search of a replacement, I noticed a landing page for cider and immediately took the bait. 'Tis the season, after all! This is the first cider I've ever ordered from this subscription and couldn't wait to give it a taste. Full transparency: it was love at first sip. I really appreciated how light and refreshing this cider was without any unnecessary sweetness or mouth-coating tartness. Although Winc says this is an excellent summer cider, I find it to be perfect for the current time of year. Highly recommend!
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2018 Summer Water Rosé — $19.99 (or $17.99 through the subscription)
Central Coast, California
Body: Light
Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 12.5%
Winemaking: Vegan
Ah yes, Winc's crown jewel of the summer. Sure, hotter days are likely behind us and rosé may seem like an odd choice for the upcoming season, but I was happy to have a taste of this much-hyped offering. A pleasant mix of citrus, grapefruit, peach ring, and watermelon, this bottle is one I'm more than pleased to enjoy during these final stretches of sunshine and 75+ degree days.
Verdict: It was another great month for Winc! All of the wines selected for me were hits, and the cider I chose for myself wound up being my favorite of the box. It's been cool to see Winc continue to expand their selection (and to experience as much of it as I can for myself). I continue to be a fan of the user-friendly interface, along with the outstanding customer service, and with all things considered, Winc is a subscription I sincerely recommend for wine novices and longtime enthusiasts alike.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Since Winc allows you to choose your wine, you can get any combination you’d like any month. As of publication, all the bottles I received are available, so you could duplicate this box if you feel so inclined! Sign up today and curate your own selection, or let them choose a few bottles for you.
Value Breakdown: This box cost $54.40 for three full bottles of wine and one bottle of cider, but had a retail value of $69.96, so that's a savings of $15.56 by having the subscription.
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