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: Eligible US zip codes, which you can check through this link.
Winc December 2019 Review
When you sign up to join Winc, you take a six-question palate profile quiz 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.
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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 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 (when I feel like sharing, and this delivery, I definitely did. More on that later).
Winc also included a lovely promo card outlining the best times to have a little bubbly during the holidays. I'm forever wooed by Winc's copywriters and graphic design team, so if any of you are out there, I appreciate the work you do.
For this month's review, I decided to do things a bit differently. Rather than quietly sip each wine from the solitude on my couch during a free evening, I opted to grab the whole box and bring it to a bi-monthly friends feast so my pals and I could all enjoy them together. You gotta love the box design for that reason!
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2018 Alma Libre Carménère — $14.99 (or $12.99 through the subscription)
Valle Central, Chile
Body: Medium
Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 14.1%
Winemaking: Eco-friendly
I opted to receive 1 red and 3 whites several months ago and it's an arrangement that's been working well for me. My only red of the month is this one that hails from Chile and boasts a flavor profile of bell pepper, black pepper, dark plum, and dried herbs. Admittedly, my palate isn't the most refined, but I did appreciate the medium body and hearty alcohol content of this particular wine. My red-loving friends made quick work of the bottle, which leads me to believe it was a winner in their eyes!
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2018 Passarola White Blend — $14.99 (or $12.99 through the subscription)
Portugal
Body: Light
Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 12.5%
Each month I peek at what's coming, and I'll typically replace bottles I've received before with new options. However, I received the 2017 version of this wine exactly a year ago, so I left it because A., I really enjoyed it, and B., who can deny that serendipity? This white blend was exactly as great as I remember—light, smooth, reliable, apple-leaning, and dry in a way that I found pleasant. Once I made sure my friends had a taste, I reached the bottom of the bottle in almost no time.
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2018 Rogue Admirals Chardonnay — $14.99 (or $12.99 through the subscription)
Limestone Coast, Australia
Body: Medium
Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 13%
Limestone Coast is known as "Shipwreck Coast" due to its treacherous shoreline, so in addition to all of the fruit-forward notes, I wondered if I'd be able to taste the fear of sailors as well. While there weren't any lingering flavors of terror on the high seas, I did find this chardonnay to be super drinkable and incredibly light. In fact, it had an almost watery quality that was honestly refreshing, especially after a big homemade ravioli meal.
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2017 Au-Delà Semillon — $25.99 (or $21.99 through the subscription)
Santa Barbara, California
Body: Medium
Sweetness: Sweet
Alcohol: 12%
Winemaking: Eco-friendly, vegan
Winc was about to send me another bottle of sparkling wine, but I got ahead of it and replaced that bubbly with my most expensive wine of the delivery. Between the handsome bottle silhouette, the clean label design, and the intriguing note profile of butterscotch, candied lemon, honey, and white flowers, I couldn't let this one slip by. I really couldn't put it down, and neither could my pals—it was sophisticated while still being inviting, making it a bottle I won't hesitate to reach for again in the future.
Verdict: Winc was superb this month. I'm delighted by all the bottles I received and it was apparent my friends enjoyed themselves as well. How could I tell? All the bottles and the box were in the recycling by the end of the night! There wasn't a drop to take home, and that's a telltale sign that this delivery was a big success. The overall Winc experience is fantastic, and I say this every month because I feel it's worth mentioning. Sure, the wines are oftentimes exactly my taste, but beyond that, the UI is great, the convenience is undeniable, and the customer service is excellent every time I have to reach out. Winc retains my recommendation, so if you're curious about giving it a try, I say go for it.
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 $60.96 for four full bottles of wine, but had a retail value of $70.96, so that's a savings of $10.00 by having the subscription.
Check out all of our Winc reviews and more of our best wine subscription boxes!
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