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.
I've been subscribing to Winc for years, and 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.)
My August 2021 Wines: First Impressions
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.
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 like to choose my own Winc wines every month, so unpacking my box is never any great surprise. Still, it's always fun to get my hands on the actual bottles and check out the label art in person.
The Taste Test
2020 Fog Land® Pinot Grigio- $14.99 (Member Price: $12.99)
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Washington | Light | Dry | 12.6% alcohol
In general, I'm not that picky when it comes to wine. I like whites, rosés, reds, and I've even tried some orange wines. I don't really buy into the idea that wines are seasonal, but I do tend to reach for lighter wines in the summer months. (I live in the deep south where the thick summertime heat demands chilled beverages at every opportunity.) For this shipment, I decided to select two whites and two rosés, and I opened this bottle of Washington Pinot Grigio to kick things off. It might sound kooky, but I like to think of Pinot Grigio as the "La Croix of wines." The flavor is typically reserved, it's not too full-bodied, it's nice and refreshing, and it always seems like a good idea. Pinot Grigio is usually a crowd-pleaser, and this bottle delivered on that promise. It has a mild flavor that's very tasty. The first sip reveals a wine that's light and dry, and the flavor reminds me of stone fruit that's had all the sugar sucked out of it. It's not fruity, per se, but there's a hint of peach and pear that tastes like it's been mixed with flinty mineral water. It's a wine that tastes clean in the best possible way. I'm a big fan.
2020 Chommie® Sauvignon Blanc- $15.99 (Member Price: $13.99)
1 of 3
Western Cape, South Africa | Light | Dry | 12.6% alcohol
I'm pretty open-minded when it comes to wine, but Sauvignon Blanc is always my go-to. I find the crisp dryness very satisfying, and I like that it pairs easily with both food and sunshine. Winc releases new wines every month, and if there's a new Sauvignon Blanc on the menu, there's a good chance it's going into my cart. This bottle hails from South Africa, and the flavor is a little different than the bottles I typically reach for. The mouthfeel is just a little rounder, a little bit more full-bodied than the mineral-heavy offerings from New Zealand or France that usually fill the shelves of my wine rack. This bottle surprised me, but it surprised me in a good way. I enjoyed the notes of pineapple and green apple in the aftertaste, and I didn't mind that this wine wasn't as austere as the Sauvignon Blancs that I usually drink. Best of all? The label. I can't help but smile at the geometric tribal-inspired artwork. Is it déclassé to drink wine out of a tiki glass? Because this wine seems to be begging for it.
2020 Pregame® Rosé- $14.99 (Member Price: $12.99)
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California | Light | Dry | 11% alcohol
If you're going to give a bottle of wine the name "Pregame," it better be pretty darn drinkable, and this wine is certainly that. I like a rosé that's so easy to drink you forget you're sipping on it until your glass is empty, and Pregame is sneaky like that. There's not a lot in terms of fruity flavor, though there are certainly hints of dark berries and watermelon. The magic of this wine is a whisper and not a shout. It's reserved, clean-tasting, and bright. It's the perfect "pre." You can drink this pre-theatre, pre-sports match, or even pre-night-in-while-wearing-PJs-and-watching-reality-tv. (Full disclosure: I opted for that final one, and it was a lovely night in.)
2020 So This Happened® Rosé- $14.99 (Member Price: $12.99)
1 of 3
California | Light | Slightly Sweet | 11% alcohol
My husband helped me taste-test this month's Winc wines, and his face lit up as soon as he took a sip of this one. "Are you sure this is made from grapes?" he asked. "This tastes like strawberries!" He totally hit the nail on the head. As soon as this wine hits your tongue, it explodes with a burst of strawberry. Winc describes the flavor as having notes of honey, raspberry, red cherry, and strawberry, and I am here to tell you that is wrong. This wine is fresh strawberries picked from the vine. It's strawberry shortcake, strawberry cobbler, and strawberry pie. (But without the sugary sweetness.) Most of all? It's delicious. If you're a fan of strawberries, I highly recommend adding this bottle to your next Winc order.
Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $52.96
Value Breakdown: This box has a retail value of $60.96, so that's a savings of $8 by having the subscription. The per-bottle cost breaks down to $13.24. That's less than I'd pay to buy wines of similar quality in the grocery store.
Key Takeaways
I've been a Winc subscriber for many years now, and I enjoy the ritual of picking out my wines each month and watching them turn up at my front door. Not every box is a home run, but this one certainly was! I enjoyed all four of the wines I selected, and I'd happily order each one of them again. If I had to choose two favorites, it would have to be the bottles of rosé. I can't get over how much the So This Happened® Rosé tastes like strawberries, and I love the drinkability of the 2020 Pregame® Rosé. There are a lot of different wine clubs out there, but I like that Winc sources wines from independent producers and lets you pick out your own bottles every month. It's one of my favorite subscriptions.
Keep track of your subscriptions by adding this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
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.
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