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 April 2021 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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2020 Sister Snake Sauvignon Blanc— $16.99 (or $14.99 through the subscription)
Western Cape, South Africa | Light & Dry | Low-Sugar, Sustainable | 12.6% alcohol
As someone who's always identified as at least 50% Slytherin, I absolutely couldn't resist this wine. The label is quirky and cool, and it looks like it should be the album art for one of my favorite indie bands' next releases. The snake imagery refers to the South African land that produced this wine, and it acts as a warning that the place is untamed and dangerous. The wine itself also feels a little wild. It has the tangy citrus notes I expect from a great Sauvignon Blanc, but there's also an earthy base that keeps the flavor grounded. It's crisp but mellow, perfect for pairing with baked fish while dining al fresco.
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2019 Wall of Sound Red Blend— $14.99 (or $12.99 through the subscription)
California | Medium & Sweet | Low-Sulfur | 14.7% alcohol
I sampled this red blend with my husband, and the name launched us into a discussion about the history of music and Phil Spector's Wall of Sound and how music today is different from recordings of yore. Unfortunately, we didn't find the wine as interesting as the conversation. To be fair, neither of us often reaches for sweet red wines, so this put us both a bit outside of our comfort zones. For my palate, this wine was all spiced berry jam and kool-aid. The big raspberry and blueberry flavors were interesting, but I just couldn't get over the sweetness.
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2020 Debts & Lessons® Riesling— $18.99 (or $16.99 through the subscription)
Monterey, California | Light & Slightly Sweet | Low-Sulfur | 11.2% alcohol
Speaking of sweet wines, Riesling is one of the only ones I reach for frequently, and it's definitely a "food wine" in my book. I love pairing it with spicy dishes (especially Thai), as I love how the hint of sweetness cuts through the heat. I'm currently obsessed with The Milk Street: Tuesday Nights cookbook, and I paired this wine with one of my favorite recipes, Lemongrass Coconut Tofu. The hit of sweetness is balanced by a brightness that keeps each sip interesting and cuts through rich foods. Delicious!
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2018 Vinyasa White Blend— $16.99 (or $14.99 through the subscription)
California | Light & Dry | Low-Sulfur | 14% alcohol
My final pick this month was a white blend, and sadly, it was a miss. It's not often that I open up a wine that I simply do not like, but the flavors in this bottle did not work for me. Based on the description, I was expecting a light and citrusy wine, something easy that would be right at home poolside; however, in the glass, I found this wine to be bold and floral. It almost tasted like perfume in a glass! Personally, I found the flavors just a bit too much. I'm going to try turning down the volume by using this in a spritzer with some seltzer, but on its own, it's a no from me.
Verdict: I always look forward to my Winc shipments. I enjoy browsing the online selection and picking out my wines, and it's always a lot of fun to taste my way through the box. This month has some highs and lows. I loved the Riesling and the Sister Snake, but the Vinyasa and Wall of Sound were both misses. That's partly down to me. I know my wine preferences pretty well, but I still took a chance on the sweetish Wall of Sound. I prefer dry reds, and I should know better than to order ones that are sweet. Without a subscription, the wines I received in this box would cost $67.96, but with a membership, it comes to $59.96— an $8 savings.
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 $59.96 for four full bottles of wine, but had a retail value of $67.96, so that's a savings of $8 by having the subscription. The per-bottle cost breaks down to $14.99.
Check out all of our Winc reviews and more of our best wine subscription boxes!
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