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
Choosing wine can be overwhelming and stressful, so Winc has taken the guess work out of finding a selection through a series of questions in a profile survey to match you with a bottle you are sure to enjoy. If you aren't feeling the pick, you are able to peruse the options yourself and override what has been selected for you. I just can't leave well enough alone and enjoy reading all of the descriptions, so I opted to choose my own wines this month, and I think I did a pretty good job! Anyways... let's get tasting!
2020 Far + Wide Touriga Nacional - $16.99 (Member Price $14.99)
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Portugal | Medium | Dry | 14.2% alcohol
Red wine isn't typically my drink of choice, but as I get older, I find myself craving a bit of the dry, flavorful offerings a strong red brings to my palette, so I decided to give this Portuguese version a try.
Far + Wide explores single varietals from the far reaches of the globe, like Touriga Nacional, Portugal's most revered indigenous red grape. Originally native to Northern Portugal, Touriga Nacional is a small, thick-skinned grape traditionally used in the production of Port wines. However, it makes a strong case for its increasing use to make dry red wines, and this bottle helps showcase why. The grapes for this wine saw aging in stainless steel, resulting in a plush, aromatic wine that shows red fruits, cured meat, and spice. With a medium-bodied profile, it can be served slightly chilled, which makes it a great summer-into-fall red to pair with grilled meats.
Finding it beautiful in color, and bold in flavor, my husband and I could taste the cherry and leather-like notes in this warming and elegant wine. With a slight bite afterwards, it was definitely a sipper, but paired deliciously with our grilled steak and mashed potatoes. A definite keeper!
2020 Au-Delà Pinot Grigio - $22.99 (Member Price $19.99)
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California | Medium | Dry | 14.4% alcohol
Typically, I stick with white wines, and have only recently started to appreciate the flavor of a dry, medium bodied wine over an ultra-sweet variety. Packaged beautifully in this extra tall, corked bottle, I was drawn to the royal blue label and simplistic design.
If you’re on the hunt for a wine that quenches your thirst for adventure, we’ve got it in this bottle of Au-Delà. We harvested perfectly ripe Pinot Grigio grapes from Edna Valley, a cool-climate growing region in San Luis Obispo County on California’s central coast. Miles away from the one-note Pinot Grigio that comes pouring out of Italy, this is a white that’s approachable, but complex. The expected notes of citrus and green apple give way to hints of tropical fruit and white flowers, making this a wine that over-delivers. Enjoy Au-Delà’s fresh, lively nature and its affinity for saltier fare - it’s a slam-dunk with sushi, shrimp tacos, or pesto and white bean salad.
I personally found this wine to be light, crisp, and bursting with green apple and citrus. While I enjoyed this as a nightcap instead of with food, I can definitely say it would pair well with salty snacks - Dot's pretzels and wine anyone?
2020 Lost Poet Rosé - $16.99 (Member Price $14.99)
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California | Light | Slightly Sweet | 12.5% alcohol
Honestly, I chose this wine mostly because of the beautiful bottle color and design over the description. It's just so pretty I couldn't resist, and isn't the Atticus quote lovely? Who wouldn't want to drink this rosé?
Winc is proud to partner with author Atticus, a young anonymous writer whose love of wine inspired him to work directly with Winc to create Lost Poet. You can’t help but feel the blush of romance when you discover this poetically-inspired rosé. As bright and flirtatious as a newfound crush, you’ll fall in love with this wine’s fresh citrus and floral notes, an intoxicating marriage that draws you back to the glass over and over again. Effervescent hints of melon and red berry pair with floral notes and a tickle of sweetness. It’s a joyful example of the alluring appeal of California rosé.
This light yet surprising wine brings out notes of rose petals mixed with strawberries and has a fantastic aftertaste. Being almost too easy to drink, this would make for a perfect addition to a summer picnic and will definitely find itself in my cart again in the future.
2020 Summer Water Rosé - $19.99 (Member Price $17.99)
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California | Light | Dry | 12.5% alcohol
Another beauty, and just in time for summer vacation, this bottle of Summer Water Rosé practically jumped into my online cart. Featuring a screw-on cap, there is no need to bring out the wine corkscrew and is shabby chic in design.
Summer Water Rosé brings the sunshine no matter the season. This perennial favorite is delightfully crisp, lighthearted, and destined for a good time. The grapes for this wine were picked early in order to achieve a natural acidity that’s ideal for warm-weather drinking. To ensure as little extraction from the skins as possible, we used the direct press method, retaining the delicate fruit aromas and pale color rosé is known for. The result is light, aromatic, and dry - with notes of melon, peach, rose, and citrus. Light fare like shellfish, ceviche, and salads will pair swimmingly or just drink it chilled anytime you need a shot of happiness.
Another wine that is dangerously light, I felt this bottle was a bit more acidic than the last, but in all the right ways. Being citrusy and bright, I could pull out the grapefruit flavor along with the orange and strawberry but felt the watermelon note was lost. Both my husband and I enjoyed this bottle, and have reviewed it on the website accordingly!
2020 Wonderful Wine Co. Chardonnay - $22.99 (Member Price $19.99)
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California | Medium | Dry | 13.7% alcohol
The last bottle I chose was a vegan-friendly version that is not only corked but has a bright and fun label as well. Don't the orange and pink colors just scream summer?!
The underlying ethos to all of Winc’s winemaking is our belief that great wine starts with great grapes. Our respect for the raw product is reflected in our minimal intervention practices. We are champions of respectful winemaking and we’re proving that commitment by bringing you this white that’s grown without pesticides, bottled without added sugars, and is vegan-friendly, low sugar, low carb, and low sulfite. The 2020 Wonderful Wine Co. Chardonnay is sourced from vineyards in sunny California, and that nature infuses this wine with bright, friendly notes of citrus and orchard fruit. Organic farming methods and clean winemaking mean that this is a no-guilt pleasure you can treat yourself to any time.
Being light, crisp, and fruity, this was overall a good wine. Tasting slightly similar on the grapefruit front as the Summer Water wine, this was a bit heavier, but was still pretty darn good.
Verdict
This is my second shipment of Winc, and I have found the process to be easy and fun. When I first signed up, I completed a profile survey and was recommended wines. Like I mentioned above, I nixed the recommendations and opted to do my own choosing and ended up with 5 really tasty wines. I do want to point out that while the selection is vast in majority, they didn't have many options for sweet wines. I have popped onto the website a few times to see if they have restocked and haven't seen much change. Finding this way of shopping much less stressful than at a traditional liquor store, I am a fan and can't wait to see what new brands I will discover in the future!
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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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