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. It's one of our favorite alcohol delivery options out there!
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 June 2020 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.
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2019 Mercana Malbec — $15.99 (or $13.99 through the subscription)
Mendoza, Argentina
Body: Medium
Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 15.2%
Winemaking: Vegan, Low-Sulfur, Low-Sugar
First of all, hi everyone! It's been awhile since I've reviewed for MSA—I was sheltering in place in Australia for a few months and man, it is good to be back. It's even better having a box of wine appear at my house after what's been nothing short of a wild experience. Speaking of wild, I did a double-take at the alcohol percentage of this malbec while getting this review together—15.2% could be the highest I've seen from Winc, but no complaints here! Before I could have a fair taste, my boyfriend darn near finished the bottle and described it as "good," though I think his actions speak a little more loudly. Luckily, he left me enough for my own glass. It was a little bit smoky and peppery at the front, yet robust with the cherry and plum notes standing out towards the end. While I prefer something a little lighter, I do see how this would pair wonderfully with a summer barbecue, and the bottle was certainly appreciated in my home.
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2018 Rabble Rosé — $17.99 (or $15.99 through the subscription)
Monterey, California
Body: Medium
Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 12.5%
Winemaking: Low-Sulfur
This rosé was an entire experience. From the unique label design of a mermaid luring sailors to shore, to the included rubber bracelet beckoning me to "Join the Rabble" and download their app, this bottle had great attention to detail on the outside. As for the inside, I made quick work of its contents while on a weekend Zoom call with friends. It was so refreshing in my un-air-conditioned apartment; the fruity palette of watermelon, strawberry, tangerine, and citrus was incredibly appropriate for a summer evening (though I'd happily enjoy it year-round), and the price is definitely right for my budget. What's not to love?
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2018 Akoya Chardonnay — $14.99 (or $12.99 through the subscription)
California
Body: Medium
Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 14.7%
If you like butter, you're going to love this chardonnay. At first sip, I was floored by the flavor profile—the buttered popcorn and butterscotch notes hit me immediately, followed by mellow vanilla and a touch of citrus for somethin' interesting at the very end. My boyfriend was a huge fan, and you know what? I'd hand-select this one again, purely out of a love of butter. The medium body also gave it a great mouth feel, if you're into that sort of thing.
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2018 Finke's Barrel Aged Sparkling Chardonnay — $22.99 (or $19.99 through the subscription)
Currently, this wine is sold out.
California
Body: Medium
Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 12.5%
Winemaking: Vegan
Now, I'm usually irked to see a bottle of Finke's show up in my delivery unannounced because I think at one point, Winc had a ton of excess inventory and they were eager to distribute it to those that didn't keep a close eye on their monthly shipments. However, my boyfriend and I just celebrated 5 years together (woohoo) so the arrival of this sparkling chardonnay was timely and lovingly accepted. I'm glad I set my initial disappointment aside because this bottle of bubbly was really wonderful! The more expensive of Winc's offerings from Finke's, this sparkling chardonnay had a lovely medium body, a sophisticated dryness that lent itself well to repeated sips (which is where the minerality shone through), and a wonderful palette of fruity notes from apricot and candied lemon to peach ring. I'd spring for this again for a special occasion—or for a quiet Friday at home filled with video games and laughs with my guy.
Verdict: Winc, how I've missed you. While in Australia, I agonized over rows of bottles at the shop and would quickly burn out thanks to my ever-present decision fatigue. Winc auto-selecting a quad of wines and delivering them straight to my door is something I appreciate more than ever, and even though their selections have been limited due to increased memberships, there are still a ton of options to explore at different price points. This month's delivery came to a total of $62.96, which is more than what I'd pay for 4 random bottles from my local liquor store, but the friendly user interface, the sheer convenience, and the added safety factor during these weird times make it worth it, in my opinion. Plus, there's a science behind Winc's selections, which is more than I can say for me blindly shoving a few bottles into my cart and hoping for the best. If you're committed to staying indoors like I am, then Winc is a service I highly recommend.
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. Sign up today and curate your own selection, or let them choose a few bottles for you.
Value Breakdown: This box cost $62.96 for four full bottles of wine, but had a retail value of $71.96, so that's a savings of $9.00 by having the subscription.
Check out all of our Winc reviews and more of our best wine subscription boxes!
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