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 at no cost for review. (Check out the editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
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Winc shipments are delivered in a durable cardboard box complete with molded separators to keep the bottles safe and sound in transit.
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Along with the wine, I also received a very detailed Winc magazine that featured "The A-Z of Wine" and "The Greatest Hits." Honestly, my wine knowledge is lacking, so I was happy to learn a bit more via this handy dandy guide while sipping this month's wine picks!
The Wines
Being new to the Winc system, I completed my profile and instead of taking the recommendations, perused the website for bottles and descriptions that caught my eye. As you can see, I have an affinity for sparkling and white wines, though I do enjoy a good red blend now and again. I was impressed with the number of selections and had a hard time deciding just which bottles to choose! Next time I may just go with the recommendations and see how well they correspond with my tastebuds. Anyways....let's get tasting!
Finke's Brut California - $18.99 (Member Price: $16.99)
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California | Light | Dry | 11.5% alcohol
Though sparkling wine is most suited for celebrations, I just can't resist a bubbly glass of champagne at home every now again and this bottle was fantastic. Light with a fresh citrus and apple flavor, it was delicious served chilled by itself, but paired well with orange juice, mimosa-style as well.
Meet your new everyday bubbly. Finke’s is our pursuit to define a new style of quality California sparkling wine that perfectly reflects the state’s sun-kissed fruit. This fun-loving sparkler sees minimal aging, resulting in an especially fresh and youthful wine with bright acidity on the palate and minerally notes of lemon, apple and white peach.
Perfect for any event, I chose this after reading the description in celebration of Mother's Day. Because my mom was driving up for the weekend, I had the Brut sparkling wine chilling on ice and a bottle of Simply Orange ready to go for my non-wine drinker mom to enjoy. What can I say, I'm one of her two favorites!
2020 Prismus Moscato - $17.99 (Member Price: $15.99)
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Italy | Light | Slightly Sweet | 13.4% alcohol
When I think of Moscato, I envision sugar-laden grapes swirling in a glass, so sweet it could be mistaken for grape juice. This is not the description I would go with when describing this wine. I understand the term "semi-sweet", but this version is so acidic the sweetness is cut right out, leaving a bright, but sour flavor in my mouth.
The highly drinkable Prismus Moscato wears its name well. There’s always a new side to discover in this charmingly unique wine. Organically grown grapes grown on the southwestern coast of Sicily are picked early and aged in stainless steel. This preserves the fruity, floral signature of Moscato, as Prismus shows multifaceted notes of citrus, stone fruit, white flowers and honey. Its aromatic nature is perfect with spicy food, so try pairing this with Indian curries, spaghetti arrabbiata, or Szechuan cuisine.
Because it is recommended to be paired with a spicy dish, maybe I need to try it with tonight's spicy Italian sausage spaghetti, just to give it a fair chance, but I'm afraid this Moscato just wasn't my favorite.
2021 Mercana Torrontes - $16.99 (Member Price: $14.99)
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Argentina | Light | Dry | 13.4% alcohol
Less acidic than the Moscato, this Torrontes has a deeper flavor and noticeable hints of apple, peach, and honey. Easy to drink, and fantastic with Chili Cheese Fritos (classy, right?), this wine is exactly what I look for when purchasing.
If you like Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling, you’ll love this bright, floral Torrontes from the mountains of Argentina. Mercana is a play on Mercado, the lively Argentinian markets featuring colorful butcher counters, and this Torrontes pays homage to the vibrancy of Argentinian food and wine culture. A vineyard in the high desert of Mendoza provides a long growing season for these grapes, giving complexity as well as richness. Intriguing notes of stone fruit, white flowers, and candied lemon rind combine in this nuanced wine that’s aged in stainless steel - no oaky notes here. A native grape of Argentina, this Torrontes is perfect with fresh vegetables, fish, and chicken, just like you’d find at the Mercado.
And isn't the bottle pretty? A perfect addition to my wine cabinet.
NV Finke's Demi-Sec Sparkling White Wine - $20.99 (Member Price: $18.99)
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California | Light | Slightly Sweet | 11.5% alcohol
Ohhh another bubbly! I just couldn't resist. At a bit higher of a price point, this Finke's Demi-Sec sparkling wine was well worth it. With a fantastically smooth beginning and bubble-infused bite at the end, I really enjoyed this drink. Watch your socks though - after sitting in the refrigerator unshaken, I went to open the bottle and it exploded all over the island in my kitchen. Whoops!
A bubbly that’s kissed with sweetness is your ideal companion for any occasion. Finke’s is our pursuit to define a new style of quality California sparkling wine that reflects the state’s perfectly ripened fruit. Sometimes you just need a little sweetness in your day. Enter the Finke’s Demi-Sec. With just a touch of residual sugar to take the edge off, this is a mellow sparkler with easy-drinking vibes. The Demi-Sec shows richer pastry and peach notes that make this a no-brainer with brunch.
I definitely agree with the description Winc has provided - this sparkler is definitely easy to drink... maybe a little too easy! Happy Friday, folks!
Verdict
As I mentioned before, I am new to Winc, and was really excited to check out and learn the process. Upon signing up, I completed a profile survey and was recommended wines. Because I just couldn't resist checking out all of what Winc had to offer, I opted out of the recommendations and did my own choosing. Loving 3 out of the 4 wines was pretty good considering I am a novice in the wine department and tend to choose wines based on their packaging over their descriptions. I do have to say, the selection of sweet wines was definitely not as many as other varieties, with most being sold out, so I will definitely be keeping an eye on that throughout the month to see when they restock. Other than that, my husband and I had a fantastic time watching "The Big Bang Theory" re-runs while shopping for wine. Way less stressful than poring over the liquor store aisle knowing my husband and kids are impatiently waiting in the car! After a great first month, and rating this month's choices, I can't wait to see what next month's recommendations are.
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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 costs $56.96, which breaks down to a per-bottle cost of $14.24. This is a wonderful value given the price I would pay for a bottle of wine like any of these at my local liquor store and the convenience of being able to shop from the couch!
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