Winc Reviews 2023 — The Best Wine Subscription

We scoured Winc reviews from across the internet to find interesting information about what Winc is and what it has to offer. And we compiled all the must-know details, so you can decide if this subscription is right for you. 

It’s perfect for those who want to try new wines without breaking the bank. Or is it?

All About Winc

Before we get into our Winc review, let’s explore how the company grew into what it is today. 

Overview and Highlights

Winc is a wine club with a subscription service. The company started as Club W in 2012 when it was a personalized wine club. It sent bottles tailored to the user’s answers to a short quiz, and it took off like wildfire. 

That’s when the Winc membership was launched — a personalized wine subscription by the same company. This set the club apart in 2016 and brought us the rebranded Winc we see today. While the team didn’t start as winemakers, it has found its place on the market. 

The wine club is committed to its customer base and prides itself on its clean winemaking process based on customers’ preferences. So, the Winc wine club reviews all aspects of the manufacturing — from harnessing grapes to branding and shipping.  

Winc is based in California, but that’s not where all the magic happens. The company brings in grapes from all over the world like:

• South Africa
• Chile
• Australia
• Argentina
• Spain
• California Coast
• Italy
• Portugal
• New Zealand
• France

No matter which region you prefer, Winc picks ingredients carefully to bring you the best of the best. 

What Does Winc Offer?

Winc provides monthly personalized wine selections based on a simple quiz about your taste. As of 2021, you can choose from over 730 wines in 62 varieties.

While sending you the best wines possible, Winc is also committed to its sustainably sourced ingredients. Also, unboxing Winc comes guilt-free as the packaging is recyclable. The customers’ health is another top priority, with 55% of the wine selection containing low sulfur.

Once you receive your first Winc box, you need to review the wines to personalize future orders further. Each month Winc credits your account with your monthly fee. It’s a different subscription service in that when you go online, look over the recommended wines and checkout. Nothing remains a secret. 

If your total costs more than your credits, Winc debits from your account directly. But if the total is less, the credits accumulate. It might be a little confusing at first. But when you do it a few times, you’ll see how much you can save compared to other services. 

Some of the Winc favorites aren’t only available online. Winc wine reviews show you can also pick them up at specific Whole Foods in California and some restaurants. We recommend checking out the website as the company constantly adds new locations. 

Boxes are available with either three or four wine bottles, and you can state how many you want. Also, you can increase the number as much as you’d like. Each box contains your order and some information on the wine or any new products coming out soon.

If you’re looking for a good food pairing, consider a meal kit delivery service that also delivers straight to your door.

Winc Pricing, Discounts & Options 

You can choose between two subscription levels that ultimately determine the wine price you get. The featured option will send more affordable wines, usually between $13–$25 per bottle. The select option will send wines between $14–$48. But it all depends on what Winc selects for you. 

So, how much does Winc cost? There’s no subscription fee. The monthly cost is between $52–$59, depending on your recommendations and what you ultimately choose. You can go for three or four bottles each month. Plus, you can add any specific bottles you want to try or your favorites. 

To review your billing date, log into your account. 

Saving Opportunities 

As a member, if you order more than 12 bottles at once, you’ll receive a 10% discount. Also, if a friend signs up using your link, you can get a $15 credit for their first month. And if they stay for two months, you get it for the second one, too. Your friend will get $30 credit for their first order. 

You can also “Give a Box,” like a Winc gift card. Here, you can send a box (covered by Wix) to your friend, and all they need to do is pay for the tax and shipping. The point is to introduce more people to the service. 

One of the company’s best features is that if you aren’t happy with any of the wines, Winc offers a full money-back guarantee.

Website Experience 

From the home page, it’s pretty easy to see what you’re signing up for. The website is very user-friendly and has a basic layout. All you need to do is scroll down to find any information you may need. You’ll see an explanation of the sign-up process, what Winc is, and what you can expect from it. 

How Does Winc Work?

Here’s what you need to do to get your first box:

• Go to the Winc website.
• Click on “Get Started.”
• Answer the questions to help the service determine your taste.
• Enter your email and date of birth.
• Finish your profile. 

Here are some of the questions you’ll need to answer:

• Do you prefer red, white, or a mix?
• What flavors do you like?
• What wine regions are you interested in trying more from?
• What are your favorite foods?

Based on this information, Winc will send you wines perfectly suited to your taste.

Managing Your Subscription

The point of Winc wines is to bring you something fun and new, not to have you regretting your subscription. You can cancel at any point, as long as it’s at least 48 hours before the billing date. If your order is already on the way, contact Winc directly to sort it out.

If you won’t be home for delivery or decide to do a monthly cleanse, Wink reviews your preferences and will skip the order. Also, there’s a “Ship Now” option that sends you the wine within two or three days. 

You can change your preferences on your profile, including how many bottles of red and white you want each month. Nothing is ever set in stone with Winc. 

Winc Shipping Cost & Packaging

Your wine comes in a conveniently packed cardboard box with a sturdy handle so you can carry it with ease. 

If you order four or more bottles ($50+), your shipping is included. For anything less, it costs $9. 

Please note that Winc doesn’t ship to the following states: 

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• New Jersey
• Kentucky
• Mississippi
• South Dakota
• Hawaii
• Alaska
• Delaware
• Rhode Island
• Utah
• Michigan

Unfortunately, Winc must comply with laws and regulations, but the company is constantly adding more areas.

Customer Service

Winc reviews confirm that consumers love its customer support. The company truly strives to keep its users happy. While the FAQ section is very helpful, you can get through to Winc in several other ways:

• Email: support@winc.com
• Live Chat: Mon–Fri 6 am–5 pm PT and Sat–Sun 7 am–4 pm PT.
• Text: (855) 282–5829

The team got back to us via email within three hours and was super helpful. 

My First Winc Review

It was pretty simple to choose my wines and place my first order. I chose to ship to a nearby FedEx office because I wasn’t sure if I’d be home to sign for it. Once it arrived, they gave me five days to pick it up (which was more than enough time). I’m glad they offer this pickup option – it’s perfect for busy people. The closest FedEx office to me was located inside a nearby grocery store, so I was able to pick it up after doing some shopping. They also offer the option to text you when the box arrives so you don’t have to keep checking the tracking number. Since it’s alcohol, they obviously required ID when I went to pick it up.

I chose three bottles of red wine and one white wine. When reading this Winc review, bear in mind that I decided to try some of their cheaper wines first so I didn’t spend too much money. 

My four bottles were packaged in a brown rectangular box with a carrying handle at the top. Inside, there was a thick booklet on top that described each wine. To hold the wine bottles in place, there were some specially-designed cardboard holders on each end of the boxes. This prevented them from clashing into each other and breaking. It was very simple to unbox and I stored my wines in the fridge right away.   

The booklet was so thick because it was filled with a bunch of pages about the “A-Z of wine” that shared a page about wine for each alphabet letter. This was a great opportunity to learn more about wine! For example, “A” was for acidity and they gave a paragraph describing acidity.

As for the wines, I’ll be sharing each one I got and how I liked them below.

Winc Reviews of Selected Wines

2017 Summer Water Rosé

Rosé is probably my favorite type of alcohol. This Summer Water Rosé was one of my first recommended wines. It looked wonderful – I had to try it out. There was a page in the Winc booklet about this wine since it’s one of their most popular. 

The cute design of the bottle is one of the main things that attracted me (even though the inside is what counts). It’s made in Central Coast, California. The description advertised subtle tasting notes of grapefruit, strawberry, and white peach. It has an alcohol percentage of 12.5%. It’s more of a dry wine with a light body. Overall, I really liked it. I loved the fruity notes.

This wine is dangerous – it’s so easy to drink. Before I knew it, I was on my third glass! It’s the most expensive bottle I got, but definitely worth it. 

2016 Rosa Obscura Red Blend

Although this Rosa Obscura Red Blend wine didn’t have as nice of a design as the other bottles, it tasted delicious. It has a 14.9% alcohol percentage, which is a bit more than all the other wines I got. It’s slightly sweet with a full body. The description advertised tasting notes of cherry, cocoa, and strawberry. Yummy! If you’re wondering “where does Winc get their wine”, this particular one is made in California. It has the perfect amount of sweetness for me.

2017 Loves Me Not Malvasia Bianca

This is the only white wine I got. Even though I don’t usually like white wines as much as red, this one was pretty good. It’s sweet with a medium body. There’s an 11.3% alcohol percentage in this one. The description stated it has tasting notes of nectarine, peach ring, and white flowers. Although it’s from 2017, it’s still both regular and favorite in many Winc reviews. I really like the difference of this compared to the red, fruity wines. The sweetness was delicious. This is definitely my favorite white wine that I’ve tried! I’ll be getting more of these kinds in my next box.

2017 Cocomero Rosé

When I wasn’t able to decide on my last bottle of wine, I just added a second bottle of rosé. However, it turned out that it was one of the best Winc wines for this month. The name of this first made me think it would have notes of coconut. However, it’s named Cocomero because this means watermelon in Italian. This one is also with 12.5% alcohol. It’s a light body and is dry rather than sweet. It has tasting notes of watermelon, honeysuckle, and rhubarb. This one is also made in California. The Cocomero wine smelled just like watermelon – my favorite fruit! I also noticed the tasting notes. I liked this even better than the Summer Water rosé!

Winc Reputation & Customer Satisfaction

Most Winc wine reviews are incredibly positive. Consumers praise the accuracy of the taste preferences and how affordable the subscription is. Ratings are also fantastic, ranging between 3–4.7 stars. 

Still, some customers aren’t that impressed with the service. Most Winc negative reviews concern canceling the subscription, saying that they struggled to do it through the live chat. But it seems to be the exception rather than the rule. Customers like the credit rollover, but they don’t like the lack of a cash refund. 

Winc Alternatives — How Does It Compare?

In a world full of monthly package subscriptions, where do you even begin? For starters, let’s see how Winc compares to the rest. 

Winc vs Dry Farm Wines

Dry Farm Wines focuses on distributing wine based on its health benefits and to people on a specific diet, like low-calorie or keto. The subscription of 6 or 12 wines arrives every month or two months. 

In contrast, Winc is way more involved in the process. The company makes the wine and distributes it. Also, price-wise, Winc is much more affordable. You’ll get around four bottles for $52. But with Dry Farm Wines, you’ll receive around six bottles for $159. It’s expected that the price is higher as the service focuses on organic ingredients.

Winc Wine vs Firstleaf

Firstleaf is suitable for wine lovers that want to try local and international wines. Also, both Winc and Firstleaf give you a quiz to get to know your palate. 

Wine specialists curate Firstleaf boxes and answer any questions you might have. Plus, your first box is only $40 for six bottles. It’s a pretty sweet deal. 

Bright Cellars vs Winc

Similar to Winc, Bright Cellars offers a wide range of international wines based on your palate. While the company doesn’t make the wines, it curates the boxes carefully. 

The price difference isn’t too big. Bright Cellars costs around $80 per month, but it’s for international brands, which is pretty decent. 

On a side note, if you’re looking for a way to spice up your relationship, date night boxes couple perfectly with any wine subscription.