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 my favorite alcohol delivery options out there!
This box was sent 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 U.S. zip codes, which you can check through this link.
Winc December 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 Yé-Yé White Blend — $15.99 (or $13.99 through the subscription)
Spain
Body: Light
Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 12.5%
Winemaking: Vegan, Low-Sulfur, Low-Sugar, Organic, Sustainable
Not that long ago, I was a regular Winc subscriber, but I've been on a break for a little while. This is my first box since resubscribing, and it was really hard for me to narrow down my selections. (There were quite a few bottles calling my name this month!) The first wine I settled on is a Spanish white blend. I picked out this bottle because I recognized the name; several years ago I picked up an Albariño that was released under the Yé-Yé label, and I liked it so much I still remember it well. This blend is another winner. It's a very bright wine, with a smack of lemon that gives way to a fruitier, peachy finish. I tend to drink a lot of Sauvignon Blanc, and this wine is from the same flavor family. It's fresh and crisp, and I really want to drink this with some herby and garlicky grilled shrimp.
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2019 L'Atelier du Sud® White Blend— $16.99 (or $14.99 through the subscription)
Costières de Nîmes, France
Body: Light
Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 13.3%
Winemaking: Vegan, Low-Sulfur, Low-Sugar, Organic
Next up is another white blend, this time from France. I tasted all of these wines side-by-side while I was photographing them, and these first two were a lot alike. This one was also lemony and bright, but the fruit flavors were slightly more pronounced and the finish was a little smoother — kinda like the sharp edges had been rounded off. Winc promises that this wine will "evoke a Mediterranean state of mind," and boy are they right about that. Sipping this wine made me long for the warmth of a summer seashore, and looking out my window at a cold December day made me feel very salty.
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2019 Pacificana® Pinot Grigio — $15.99 (or $13.99 through the subscription)
California
Body: Light
Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 13%
Sauvignon Blanc is my handy-dandy, go-to wine, but I've been on something of a Pinot Grigio kick lately. This one hails from California, and the flavor is a bit bolder than your standard Italian offering. It's still exceedingly easy to drink, and there's a minerality that's really quite lovely. This is the wine I want to drink while I'm sitting outside in the sun having brunch with my buddies. But, since it's the middle of winter and not quite ideal weather for dining al fresco, I think I'll save this for a cozy roast chicken dinner.
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NV Déclassé® Red Blend— $22.99 (or $19.99 through the subscription)
California
Body: Medium
Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 13.2%
For my final pick this month, I decided to splurge just a little on a slightly more expensive red, and oh my goodness, am I glad I did! This wine is a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, and it's blended to perfection. This wine is super yummy; to me, it tastes like cherry and licorice jam. Winc suggests pairing this wine with chocolate cake, which sounds utterly divine.
Verdict: It's been a minute since I was a Winc member, and it sure is good to be back. All four of the wines I received in my box were delicious, and the red wine was a standout. It's currently sold out, but Winc releases new vintages all the time; when Déclassé is back for sale, I'll be first in line to buy another bottle. Without a subscription, the wines I received in this box would cost $71.96, but with a membership, it comes to $62.96— a $9 savings. For the wines I received, I think that price is fair. (And I really appreciate the convenience of having the wine shipped to my front door!)
Before I sign off, a quick question for YOU, dear reader. I'm going to be reviewing Winc regularly, and I'd love to know if there's any additional content that you'd like to see included in these reviews. Would you like to see me try some of Winc's featured recipes? Would you like food pairing recommendations? Should I attempt to concoct a sangria? Let me know your thoughts!
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. Not all of the wines I received are still available for purchase, but Winc releases new wines all the time. 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. The per-bottle cost breaks down to $15.74.
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