Wine Insiders Club Review: Easy Selection & Purchase

We see some liquor stores selling wines at very high prices nowadays. So, it is not by chance that you are on this page right now. You could be a wine lover wanting to stock up with your favorite wines conveniently.

Or...

You might be looking to save your time wandering around grocery lanes and gaping at a vast wall of bottles, not knowing which ones to pick.

So…

If you’re both or either of the two, you might be browsing the internet now, trying to find a wine subscription and delivery service online. But with several companies offering this kind of service, which of them is the most suitable one for you?

Keep reading as we go over some helpful details and comprehensive Wine Insiders reviews to determine if this is the kind of service you need. Let’s go the extra mile to make wine selection and purchase a lot easier and more enjoyable one for you.

Update: Wine Insiders is still operating as part of Full Glass Wine Co., which also owns Winc, Bright Cellars, and Splash Wines. The former Vinesse website now redirects to Wine Insiders too. Offers and terms change, so check the site for current details.

How The Wine Insiders Club Works

The Wine Insiders Club might be one of the many names you noticed somewhere while looking for a wine delivery service. You might have questions like the Wine Insiders deals you can take advantage of, how it works, or how good the Wine Insiders customer service is.

It is an online wine store that aims to do matchmaking between you and the wines you love. They offer either individual wine bottles or a collection of curated wines. Their membership is optional and not a requirement if you only wish to purchase without any commitment.

The Wine Insiders only encourage their subscription service to those who may lack experience in choosing wines and seek professional help in exploring new wines. They provide their customers with the freedom to choose their wine preferences, skip a shipment, or revoke their subscription at any time.

The Target Market

The Wine Insiders' services are perfect for individuals looking to save money since they can only pay a flat fee contrary to a per bottle cost. They don't acquire middleman services, but instead, they bring the wines directly to their customers. It is also suitable for those who wish to try out new wines, discover membership perks, or would like a home delivery convenience.

However, Wine Insiders’ services may not be ideal for those who want to choose their wines. The customers can only select from receiving reds, whites, or mixed of both wines.

All About The Club Membership

Wine choices

Membership Benefits And Features

Hassle-Free Membership Cancellation: If, in any case, you no longer wish to continue your subscription with them, you may revoke it at any time. Simply go to the "MyAccount" page to cancel your subscription.
Notable Deals: At Wine Insiders, they offer special promos, discounts, and vouchers that you can use to redeem their wine services. These vouchers are an excellent way to help you save on your subscription with them. They also have a "Refer-A-Friend" program that allows your referral to earn credit on their first purchase.
Martha Stewart’s Curated Wine Collections: Wine Insiders partnered with the famous lifestyle expert Martha Stewart. When the partnership launched, the companies said Martha personally does the wine tasting and evaluation for each of the wines in her collection; check the site for what is offered now.

Martha Stewart is very passionate about making sure that the customers relish the right wine for every occasion. For this very reason, she also shares some of her recipes, entertaining tips, and tasting notes.

Availability of Gift Sets: For as long as the recipient is an adult, age 21 years old and above, the wines or the membership will make a wonderful present for any occasion. They have gift packages for single bottles and full cases.
Tasting Notes Inclusion In Each Bottle: Their team of experts ensures that you get the best out of their services, so they include tasting notes for every bottle in your package. Having the tasting notes handy can help you choose the perfect wine depending on the dishes you wish to have.

But that’s not all; you not only get access to these tasting notes, but you will get helpful serving tips as well. They also include food pairing recommendations to match each of the wines in your shipment.

The Wine Insiders Subscription

Wine Insiders offers a discounted introductory case to join its 12-bottle quarterly club, with reds, whites, or a mix of both. Check the site for the current price and offer.

How To Place An Order

On the Wine Insiders’ website, go to the homepage’s “Club” tab.
Choose your wine (Red, Whites, or Mixed)
The bottles 1 - 7 below your wine preference are what you should expect to receive, so make sure to check on each.
Select your payment method of choice and fill out the necessary billing information.
You can either choose a pickup location or enter your home or office address.
Review your order summary and checkout.

The Wine Selection Process

They feature a vast collection of varietals coming from different wine-producing regions worldwide. The team tastes wines from many regions and selects only a portion of them for the collection.

You may also enjoy Martha Stewart’s handpicked wines whether or not you have a subscription to the Wine Insiders. Several of the wines in their collection are not available in local supermarkets or retails stores. These wines are exclusive to their members only.

Shipping Cost And Schedule

Just like the many others, you're probably wondering if the Wine Insiders offer free shipping. First of all, let's start with the most crucial information about shipping. It is a requirement that a 21-year-old individual will receive and sign all shipments since they are selling alcoholic beverages.

Shipping is free on orders of six or more bottles, according to the Wine Insiders site; smaller orders carry a delivery fee. The states it can ship to depend on state alcohol laws, so check the current list before you order.

Membership Cancellation Process

You will continue to receive wine shipments regularly once you join the membership. A member has to cancel the subscription if he/she wishes to stop receiving these shipments. Wine Insiders has zero cancellation fee for those who opt to revoke their subscription.

Refund Policy

Since they aim for nothing less than a hundred percent customer satisfaction, they process refunds for any wines you don’t like. Please note that they issue a full refund but on a case-to-case basis only.

They encourage their consumers to reach out to their email address and discuss the process in more detail with a Customer Service Representative to confirm if any restrictions apply to your request.

If you receive a damaged parcel, contact customer service to arrange a replacement or credit.

Wine Insiders’ Featured Wines

Selection of wines

Wine Insiders collaborate with professional curators who are continually exploring new wines across the globe. They have an extensive collection including but not limited to red, white, dessert, rosé, and sparkling wines. You have the option to have these wines in single bottles, gift sets, or in their curated collections.

You may visit their website for an updated list of their wine collections, but the famous ones currently are the following:

California Dry Pinot Noir
Italian Organic Dry White Wine Blend
California Dry Chardonnay
Martha Stewart Collection
Martha’s Holiday Entertaining Half-Case - A six-bottle holiday set that has included Sauvignon Blanc, Red Blend, Italian Chardonnay, 2019 France Chardonnay, Frappato, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Celebrity chef collections, such as Geoffrey Zakarian and Ludo Lefebvre wines

Wine Insiders Club Review: What Do Their Customers Say About Them?

You can read customer reviews on the Wine Insiders website, including the ones shown below each bottle.

Recent reviews are the best guide to current service, so check a few before you order.

Alternative Wine Clubs

WineSociety

The Wine Society is a long-running British wine club that you join as a member. It delivers within the UK, so it is mainly an option for UK readers rather than US ones.

It offers several plan options, including the following:

Wine Without Fuss: Regular deliveries of wines picked by The Society's buyers.
Vintage Cellar Plan: A plan for building a cellar of fine wine over time.
Members' Reserves: A storage service that keeps members' wines in proper cellar conditions.

Plonk Wine Club

This wine club does the curating and allows you to customize the wine varieties that will be part of your next box. Not only do they source high-quality, organically-produced wines worldwide, but the Plonk membership even comes with food pairing recommendations in their packages.

Considering that they opt for wine producers who don't use any additives or pesticides while growing the grapes, it makes this wine club a suitable choice for health-conscious consumers. They also have flexible subscription plans that allow you to customize your bottle count. Here are their subscription options:

Ongoing Monthly Plan: Four, six, or twelve bottles on a recurring schedule.
Prepaid Plans: Three-, six-, and twelve-month plans in the same bottle counts.

Check Plonk's site for current prices and shipping terms.

The wine club’s membership can also be a perfect gift for friends who’d love to receive organic wines.

Firstleaf

Firstleaf is another online wine subscription service with a unique way of personalizing wine selections to recommend to their consumers. Their algorithm depends on consumer's preferences, which their experts determine through an online quiz. The user data is updated each time you provide a rating to connect the customers to wines they love accurately.

They would love to ensure that they connect their customers to wines they love, so the user data is updated each time you provide a rating.

They also offer a flexible shipment schedule, a wide variety of exceptional globally-sourced wines, and wine replacement if you get bottles you don't like in your shipment. Their services are suitable for more casual wine drinkers who'd love to have the option of picking red, white, or mixed wines.

Firstleaf has offered a discounted introductory box, followed by regular shipments on a schedule you choose. Check its site for current pricing.

Pros & Cons Of A Wine Insiders’ Membership

Pros

They guarantee 100% customer satisfaction as it is the company's utmost priority.
Orders of six or more bottles ship free.
There are no binding contracts and obligations. They guarantee a hassle-free cancellation any time you want.
They offer various deals and promos that will give you an excellent bang for your buck. They also have a wide range of gift boxes available.
Premium wine collection, some of which are personally handpicked by Martha Stewart
Their package includes tasting notes, serving tips, and food pairing suggestions that can make a novice a wine connoisseur in no time.

Cons

Their services are not available to all states.
Their introductory wines do not include vintages or any limited-edition wines.
There is a chance of receiving duplicate wines in every package.
You don’t have the option to select wines individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Else Do I Need To Know About Wine Insiders?

Is Wine Insiders A Good Deal?

Yes. I don't see how Wine Insiders won't make a good deal considering the numerous perks, affordable pricing, and wide variety of wine collections. They also provide complimentary wines and have a convenient process from ordering to shipping and from cancellation to refund.

Is Wine Insiders A Subscription?

Not necessarily. You can buy individual bottles and sets without joining, while the club is an optional subscription that you can cancel.

Where Do Wine Insiders Ship?

Wine Insiders ships to adult recipients in the states its licenses allow. Check the shipping page for the current list of states.

How Do I Cancel Wine Insiders?

Revoking your subscription is a hassle-free process which is what most customers love about Wine Insiders. Simply go to the “MyAccount” page to proceed with the cancellation. On the other hand, canceling an order is only possible if it is not yet processed. You may track the status of your orders on their website.

Final Thoughts

Wine Insiders has many remarkable features, but what I like the most about them is how they're very transparent about their terms and conditions. You can easily view it on their user-friendly and informative website. Most of their customers also love the ease of getting in touch with the customer service team.

Unlike other companies offering similar services, Wine Insiders offer customer support through several channels. Such businesses' growing accessibility can now help you pick quality wines without spending so much time in liquor stores or trying to understand wine labels.

Their website even has a dedicated section to educate its consumers about wines. It includes a comprehensive guide that answers commonly-asked questions about wines. So, with all this relevant information you now have, it will hopefully make wine purchases more effortless, and you’ll now have more confidence in your choices.

Sources

Full Glass Wine Co. Expands Portfolio with Strategic Acquisitions of Splash Wines and Scout & Cellar, Wine Industry Advisor
Wine Insiders, Wine Insiders
The Wine Society, The Wine Society