The Cellars Wine Club has been running continuously for nearly 30 years, and it is one of the most established and recognizable services of its kind on the market. What started with a simple idea in the late 1990s has blossomed into a thriving wine club that has shipped nearly four million bottles to its customers.
Today, there are eight different unique wine subscription services to choose from, and each of them offers customers a different unique look into the world of wine.
In this article, we will take a closer look at this iconic wine club with our own Cellars Wine Club review to see how it stacks up against the competition today, and help you decide if it is the right option for your wine journey.
Things To Consider When Choosing a Wine Subscription
Some people have no idea where to start when it comes to finding the best wine subscription service for their needs, and the shopping process can be a bit overwhelming for some.
We have hand-selected five of the most important factors when it comes to choosing the best wine subscription for your home to help you make a more informed and confident decision.
Price and Value
When choosing a new wine subscription service, it is important to weigh the price versus the quality of the wines being offered. The goal is to find a service that offers high-quality wines at a reasonable price, and finding the best value in wine subscriptions can take a bit of searching.
While it is true that premium wine subscription services cost significantly more than value-based options, they also generally offer better value in terms of wine received for the price.
These services source from established and recognizable vineyards, while more economical versions often use value wines that are sourced from all over the country.
Delivery Frequency
The delivery frequency of any given wine subscription service is an important factor to consider when comparing options. Choosing an option that delivers too frequently can leave you with more wine than you have space to properly store.
On the other hand, choosing a wine delivery service that does not deliver very often can leave you headed to your local wine shop between shipments, which defeats the purpose of subscribing in the first place for some wine enthusiasts.
Quality of Wine
When it comes to the quality of wine, there is a fairly wide gulf between the most high-end and cheapest options on the market today. Some options are designed to introduce people to the world of wine, and the focus is on price reduction and a deep variety of different wines.
Other services are tailored to serious wine enthusiasts who have taken years to develop their palates and establish tasting preferences. These options are generally more expensive, though they usually offer steep discounts on higher-end wine selections.
Gifts and Extras
Wine accessories like openers, basic aerators, and wine glasses can be thoughtful touches that add to the overall experience of receiving your regular wine delivery. Some companies have found that adding small gifts and extras pays for themselves down the line, as they help establish brand loyalty with happy customers.
Certain wine delivery services also offer perks like discounts on future purchases or exclusive access to limited-edition wines. It is always a good idea to take a closer look at each service to determine which, if any, perks and features are offered.
Company Reputation
Company reputation is another crucial factor when it comes to choosing a wine delivery service. A company with a good reputation will offer quality customer service, as well as accurate delivery and a proven track record of sourcing quality wine.
With so many different popular and established wine subscription services on the market to choose from today, there is little reason to take a chance on a smaller company.
The wine delivery industry can be difficult to navigate, and you want to make sure you stick with a service that will be around for the long haul.
Cellars Wine Club Review
Cellars Wine Club has developed a sterling reputation within the wine community, and it has been in business for nearly three decades. In that time, they have offered many different wine delivery options, though today they have limited their options down to eight popular packages.
Cellars Wine Club stands by each bottle of wine in its portfolio with a “100% No Bad Bottle Guarantee.” They have earned an A plus rating with the Better Business Bureau, and have a great reputation for making things right should any issues arise during your membership.
The Single Bottle Wine Club is one of the best ways to get started for new wine enthusiasts looking to expand their palates. At just under 30 dollars per month, it is also one of the most affordable options, and everything from delivery frequency to wine style can be customized.
For those looking to take the next step in their wine-tasting adventure, the Premium Wine Club strikes a great balance between reasonable cost and wine quality. Each shipment comes with two bottles, and selections include bottles from more well-known vineyards and wine regions.
Those with a sweet tooth and who find many bottles of wine to be too bitter and tannic will enjoy the Sweet Wine Club option. Each of the wines included contains moderate to high levels of residual sugar, and everything from Moscato to sweet Rosé can be expected in regular deliveries.
Fans of bubbly will likely enjoy the Champagne Club, which features bottles of sparkling wine selections from the famous French wine region, as well as other sparkling wine-producing regions across the world. It includes two bottles per shipment and comes in at just under $70 per shipment.
The Red Wine Trio Club has always been one of the cornerstone offerings from Cellars Wine Club, and it features everything from big and bold steakhouse wines to soft and delicate reds like Pinot Noir and Gamay from Beaujolais.
While the concept of rating systems is not universally embraced across the wine community, there are some people who find them to be helpful ways to find new bottles of repute and quality. The 90+ Point Wine Club comes with two bottles per shipment and is one of the best ways for new wine enthusiasts to try a wide variety of highly-rated wines.
There are also full case options that are perfect for splitting with friends or people with wine coolers in their homes. The Premium Case Club costs $129 and showcases 12 bottles of different high-quality wines that are always changing.
The most expensive and impressive offering from the Cellars Wine Club is the 90+ Point Case Club. It delivers 12 bottles of wine per shipment, and each of them has received a critics score that ranks in the 90s, allowing for a rotating selection of great wines in your home.
Pros
- Eight unique wine delivery options to choose from
- One of the most established and trusted companies in the industry
- Each bottle of wine comes with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee
Cons
- There are other options on the market that offer more personalized experiences
- Many serious wine enthusiasts do not trust the points rating system
Alternatives
While the Cellars Wine Club is one of the most historic and most highly reviewed wine delivery services on the market today, it is far from the only option of its kind. We have highlighted three other wine delivery services that have earned very good reputations within the wine industry.
1. Winc Wine Club
Winc Wine Club uses one of the most simple and straightforward tasting quizzes in the industry to help match its customers with the best possible bottles of wine. Their cutting-edge wine quiz is only five questions, which is far fewer than any other similar service.
Each wine shipment from Winc Wine Club comes with four bottles of wine, and the service uses user feedback to continuously adjust and refine new wine recommendations. Winc makes all of its own wines in-house and boasts one of the deepest lists in terms of variety of any winemaker in the world.
2. Vinebox
Vinebox is an innovative wine subscription service that is unlike any other on the market today. Instead of delivering their customers’ full bottles of wine, they package their carefully curated selections into cylindrical vials that equal one “pour” of wine each.
This unique delivery system allows Vinebox to let customers try a wide array of different wines at a fraction of the cost of buying and shipping fill bottles at a time.
They also use a single purchase system with different themed boxes as opposed to regular shipments or subscriptions.
3. Firstleaf
Firstleaf is one of the fastest growing businesses in the wine delivery industry, and like Winc Wine Club, they also use a proprietary tasting quiz to get a better idea of what their customers will enjoy. They then ship out six bottles of wine, and customers rate and review each selection.
Firstleaf claims that after just three wine ratings, their algorithm is able to accurately predict future wines that you will enjoy with 98 percent accuracy. This wine delivery service has won a number of different prestigious awards, and it seems to be a favorite among younger wine drinkers.
Cellars Wine Club Review – Conclusion
There is a reason that Cellars Wine Club has stayed in operation for nearly three decades, and there are many dedicated club members who have not missed a shipment since day one.
Selecting from one of their eight unique wine delivery options is a great way to bolster your wine collection and knowledge, and there are enough different options for all different types of wine lovers to find a great fit for their needs.
Click here to take a closer look at what Cellars Wine Club has to offer, and be sure to leave a comment below if you have ever tried this iconic wine delivery service!
