If you‘re a wine lover, you‘ve likely heard of Wine.com. As one of the largest online wine retailers, Wine.com has made a name for itself by offering an enormous selection of wines from all over the world, paired with helpful recommendations, tasting notes, convenient delivery options, and top-notch customer service.
Intrigued? In this comprehensive Wine.com review, we‘ll uncork all the details you need to decide if this popular wine website is right for you. We‘ll take you on a virtual vineyard tour of the company‘s history and mission, the ins and outs of how the website and services work, the best wines to buy, real customer reviews, and much more. Let‘s raise a glass and dive in!
About Wine.com: Revolutionizing the Way We Buy Wine
First, some background. Wine.com was founded in 1998 in San Francisco by wine-loving entrepreneurs Robert Olson, Peter Granoff, and Harry Max, with a mission to "revolutionize the way people discover, buy, and enjoy wine."
What started as a small startup called Virtual Vineyards in Los Altos quickly grew into the leading online wine store we know today. Over the years, Wine.com has expanded its offerings dramatically, partnered with top wineries and retailers, launched convenient services like pickup and subscriptions, and racked up recognition from major publications like The New York Times, Bloomberg, Forbes and Food & Wine.
More than just an online store, Wine.com aims to be your go-to resource and community for all things wine. Not only can you shop a curated selection of over 17,000 wines, but you also get access to detailed information on each bottle, professional ratings and reviews, food pairing suggestions, advice from expert sommeliers, special events and experiences to grow your knowledge, and an easy app to manage it all.
So what makes Wine.com so popular among oenophiles? Let‘s break down the key highlights:
Key Features of Wine.com
– Giant selection of 17,000+ wines from around the world, including hard-to-find bottles
– Curated picks and recommendations from master sommeliers and wine critics
– Detailed product pages with vivid descriptions, photos, region information, tasting notes, serving tips, food pairings, reviews, and ratings
– Easy shopping by type, region, variety, rating, price, etc.
– Convenient delivery to most states, with many shipping and pickup options
– Subscription clubs tailored to your preferences
– Live chat with wine experts for personalized suggestions
– Educational articles, guides, recipes, and videos to enhance your appreciation
– App with label scanning, favoriting, ordering, and tracking
– Premium gifts, gift sets, baskets, and collections for any occasion
– Specialty online wine store for collectors, enthusiasts and connoisseurs
In essence, Wine.com is a one-stop shop for exploring, discovering, buying, and learning about wine. But how exactly does it work and what are the different services? Keep reading to find out.
How Wine.com Works: Services, Ordering, and Delivery
There are a few key ways to shop and enjoy the Wine.com experience:
Ordering from the Wine.com Website
The simplest way to use Wine.com is to visit the website and browse the virtual shelves. You can view all wines, filter by categories like red, white, sparkling, dessert, fortified, etc. or narrow down by varietal, region, rating, price range, flavor profile, and more.
Found a promising bottle? Click on it to see a complete profile with pricing/discounts, descriptions, region and winery details, alcohol content, tasting notes, serving tips, food pairing ideas, photos, community and professional ratings, and reviews. From there, you can add it to your cart and check out when ready.
Shopping on the Wine.com App
For on-the-go ordering and wine management, check out the highly rated Wine.com app (available for iOS and Android). It packs in all the same browsing and buying power as the website, plus handy features like:
- Label scanning: Snap a photo of any wine label and instantly pull up prices and information
- Order history and tracking: View past purchases and track shipping in real-time
- Favorites and ratings: Save your top picks and leave reviews of wines you‘ve tried
- Notifications: Get alerted about sales, new arrivals, events, and order status
Picking Up Wine.com Orders In-Store
Can‘t wait for delivery? Select "Pick up in-store" at checkout to collect your order at one of 14,000+ retail locations, like Walgreens, Duane Reade, and Safeway. Your vino will be waiting at the counter, usually within 1 hour, for easy grab-and-go.
Joining a Wine.com Club Subscription
If you want regular shipments of wines picked just for your palate, consider a Wine.com Club subscription. Simply choose your preferences (red, white, or mixed), desired price range, and delivery frequency. A certified sommelier will handpick a curated selection for each box – you can preview the wines 48 hours before shipping and swap out any bottles that don‘t appeal.
Once your box of vino arrives, be sure to rate each wine on the site. Wine.com‘s algorithm takes your feedback into account for even more personalized picks next month! Certain memberships also come with extra perks like credits, gifts, and exclusive sales.
No matter how you choose to shop, Wine.com makes getting great wine easy and convenient. But with so many options, you may be wondering: what are the best wines to buy on Wine.com?
The Best Wines to Buy on Wine.com
While everyone‘s tastes vary, here are some of the top-rated, best-selling, and most beloved wines on Wine.com:
Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
A classic California Cab, this Caymus is a full-bodied red bursting with ripe berries, dark chocolate, clove and vanilla. Consistently high rated by both critics and consumers, it‘s a crowd-pleasing splurge for any occasion ($82).
Meiomi Pinot Noir
This rich, velvety Pinot Noir blends grapes from California‘s most famous coastal growing regions for a complex, balanced profile of cherries, berries, mocha and oak. A staple on restaurant wine lists, it‘s also a great value for everyday sipping at home ($21).
La Marca Prosecco
Pop some bubbles with this crisp, refreshing, and wallet-friendly Prosecco. Sourced from Italy‘s Veneto region, it offers aromas of citrus, honey, and white flowers, with a clean finish. Perfect as an aperitif or paired with appetizers ($16).
The Prisoner Napa Valley Red Blend
A perennial favorite of red blend fans, this bold and brooding wine marries Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petite Sirah for a smooth, intense flood of cherry, dark berries, chocolate, and spice. It‘s a steak‘s best friend ($49).
Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Hailing from the world-renowned Marlborough region of New Zealand, this zippy white features ripe citrus, stone, and tropical fruits over a lively acidity. Drink it ice cold on a hot day, preferably with a plate of oysters on the half shell ($15).
Of course, this is just a small sampling of the gems you can find on Wine.com. The fun is in the exploration! But you don‘t have to take our word for it – let‘s see what real Wine.com customers have to say.
Wine.com Reviews: What Customers Think
No Wine.com review would be complete without input from shoppers. We scoured hundreds of reviews on sites like Trustpilot, Google, the Better Business Bureau, and social media to see if Wine.com lives up to the hype. Overall, it gets a resounding "cheers!" from the vast majority of customers.
On Trustpilot, Wine.com earns a 4.2/5 star rating from over 12,000 reviews. Happy shoppers rave about the "incredible selection", "spot-on recommendations", "lightning fast shipping", "beautifully packaged and tracked deliveries", "very reasonable prices", "great subscription options", and "amazing customer service".
Many people call it their "go-to place for buying wine online" and appreciate the "one-stop convenience." Others say they‘ve discovered many amazing new wines based on Wine.com‘s suggestions. Dozens report giving Wine.com subscriptions and gift baskets for holidays and special occasions to the delight of recipients.
The company also maintains a high rating of 4.6/5 on Google from 7,000+ reviews. Fans call it "the best online wine ordering experience", "super reliable with a huge selection", "comparable to having a virtual sommelier", and "unsurpassed customer service." Several reviews come from long-time customers who have ordered dozens or even hundreds of times over the years, citing consistent quality and satisfaction.
As with any large company, Wine.com has its share of negative reviews, with most complaints centering on delayed/damaged deliveries, subscription cancellation issues, and disappointment with highly rated wines. However, Wine.com representatives respond promptly to complaints and the vast majority of customers report complete satisfaction with both the ordering experience and products. The company also maintains an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
All this considered, we confidently conclude that Wine.com is not only legit, but delivers an all-around stellar wine buying experience for most shoppers. But who exactly is Wine.com best for?
Who Is Wine.com Best For?
While Wine.com can accommodate virtually any legal-age wine drinker, it‘s an especially great fit for:
- Newer wine drinkers looking to explore and discover their tastes with guidance
- Casual sippers who want an easy way to stock up on affordable, crowd-pleasing wines
- Enthusiasts seeking convenient access to high-end and hard-to-find bottles
- Connoisseurs who want to manage their cellars, track their ratings, learn from critics, and discuss with a community
- Gift shoppers looking for curated sets and baskets for wine lovers
- Anyone who wants wine delivered directly to their door or available for local pickup
So if you enjoy wine to any degree, Wine.com is worth a browse. But how can you get the best deal on your bottle (or case)?
Wine.com Promotions, Discounts, and Coupons
Like any savvy sipper, we‘re always on the hunt for wine deals. Luckily, Wine.com offers quite a few ways to save:
- Get $20 off orders of $100 or more with code NEW2021
- Enjoy free shipping on every order of 6+ bottles (no minimum for Stewardship members)
- Shop the extensive Sale section with wines up to 40% off
- Join Stewardship for $49/year to get free shipping on every order, plus exclusive discounts and gifts
- Buy a curated Case Club sampler for up to 15% less than bottles individually
- Refer friends for a $30 credit when they place their first $100 order
- Check the Promotions page for rotating seasonal sales, Daily Deals, and more
We recommend signing up for the Wine.com email newsletter and following the company‘s social media accounts for notice of sales, new arrivals, giveaways, and limited-time promotions.
Shipping, Returns, and Customer Service
A few final important details for our Wine.com review:
Shipping: Wine.com delivers to all states except AL, DE, MS, RI, UT, VT, and WV, though options and regulations vary by location. Most orders arrive within 1-2 business days via UPS or FedEx. Shipping is $20 for the first bottle plus $2 for each additional bottle, with free shipping on 6+ bottles to most states.
Returns: Wine.com guarantees every purchase (yes, even if you don‘t like a wine!). You can return unopened bottles for a full refund within 30 days. If you receive the wrong item or a damaged bottle, contact customer service for a replacement or refund. You‘ll just pay a small return shipping fee.
Customer Service: Have a question or concern? Wine.com offers support by phone (1-800-592-5870), email (service@wine.com), and live chat on the website/app. Reps are available Monday-Friday from 8am-8pm EST, Saturday 9-6, and Sunday 12-6. In our experience and research, the Wine.com customer service team is consistently friendly, helpful, and quick to resolve any issues.
Wine.com Review: The Final Sip
We‘ve reached the bottom of the bottle on this Wine.com review! To recap, Wine.com is a convenient, comprehensive resource for finding, buying, and learning about wine online. It offers unparalleled selection, valuable guidance and recommendations, flexible ordering options, and top-notch customer service.
Of course, as with anything, Wine.com isn‘t perfect. Your mileage may vary on highly rated wines, shipping windows sometimes get delayed, and you can occasionally find better deals at local shops.
But by and large, Wine.com is a reliable, trustworthy, and genuinely helpful place to buy wine – especially if you want to explore bottles from outside your area, discover new varieties, send gifts, and become a more informed drinker. The company has an admirable mission, hundreds of thousands of fans, and some truly excellent sips in stock.
So raise a toast and clink your cursor over to Wine.com. We bet you‘ll find something you love. Cheers!
