Affordable Wine Subscription Options
As someone who has personally purchased and tried many different wine subscription services, I can tell you that some are more affordable than others.
And you might think that you have to purchase the most expensive ones to get the best wine.
Well, in some cases that’s true, especially if you’re looking for something very niche or only from a certain wine region. Those can be expensive.
But fortunately, some of the more affordable wine subscription brands do curate great wine at an affordable price point.
They often do this by striking deals with smaller winemakers or use their ability to purchase many cases of wine at once, at great wholesale prices.
So now that you know that, my goal for this article is to give you a few options I’ve purchased myself and have been pleased with.
Because you really don’t have to break the bank to get great wine!
Also, the links for these subscriptions are affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase, I’ll get a small commission. However, I’m proud to say my reviews are always my honest opinion whether I have an affiliation with a product or not.
With that said, here’s my curated list for you of three of the most affordable wine subscriptions with great quality wine that I’ve enjoyed.
Wine Insiders
Here are the wines I received with my first delivery:
Wine Insiders is a well-established wine club with over 40 years of experience. They’re a direct-to-consumer company with three expert wine curators who carefully select the wines they offer.
Out of all the wines they sample, only 3% make the cut, ensuring you get the best of the best.
Plus, by cutting out the middleman, Wine Insiders can offer exceptional wines at prices much lower than what you’d find at retail stores.
When you subscribe to Wine Insiders, you’ll enjoy a significant discount on your first order. Plus, with your second delivery on selected shipments, you’ll receive a complimentary gift.
As a bonus for joining, you’ll get three premium 93-point Gold medal-winning Bordeaux wines with your very first delivery.
Pros
- Wide variety of unique varietals your rarely hear about.
- Diverse selection of artisanal quality wines from all over the world.
- Bonus bottles with first shipment.
- Free professional chrome lever pull-screw worth $50.00 sent with second shipment.
- Detailed and accurate tasting notes for each wine.
Cons
- Club orders limited to one per household.
- No delivery to P.O. Boxes.
- 3-Bottle minimum on non-club orders.
Price
- From $89 for 15 high quality bottles of wine (introductory offer).
- Free shipping on your first order.
Firstleaf
These are the wines that Firstleaf sent me:
Firstleaf is a unique wine club that tailors its selections to match your personal taste preferences. Owned by Penrose Hill, Firstleaf operates out of Healdsburg, CA, and offers a wine subscription service that kicks off with a 6-bottle delivery at a special discounted price—around 60% off your first shipment.
The club was founded by Philip James, with the goal of creating the most customer-focused wine club in the industry. By working directly with winemakers and wineries, they cut out the middlemen like distributors and retailers, which keeps prices lower for you.
The club’s personalized approach is supported by a flavor profiling system and an interactive rating system, ensuring you get wines that truly suit your tastes.
You can also customize your membership anytime by adjusting the bottles you receive or changing your delivery dates through your online account.
Many of the wines offered by Firstleaf have won prestigious awards, including Silver, Gold, and Platinum medals at well-known wine competitions, adding even more value to your subscription.
To get started, Firstleaf asks you to take a fun, quiz-like survey to learn about your wine preferences. You’ll be asked questions like whether you prefer sweet or non-sweet wines, which varietals you enjoy (such as Oaky Chardonnay, Sweet Reds, or Napa Cabernet) and whether you lean toward “exciting” or more familiar wine styles.
They also ask about your level of wine expertise and any specific wines you dislike. I found the questions intuitive and a great way to pinpoint what you might like. Plus, they email you the results, so you can refer back to them later.
One of the things I really appreciate about Firstleaf is how they let you customize your order—something many wine clubs don’t offer.
Before your first shipment, you’ll see exactly which wines are included and if there’s a bottle you’re not excited about, you can swap it out.
Pros
- Firstleaf offers a Wine Concierge team to help you choose your wines and provide food pairing suggestions when you call.
- They have a wide selection of over 200 award-winning wines to choose from.
- You’ll receive detailed tasting notes for each wine, including:
- The wine’s body, acidity, sweetness, and tannin profiles.
- Flavor notes, food pairing suggestions, nutrition facts, and alcohol content.
- Their “refer a friend” program gives you $40 off your next box and your friend gets their first six bottles free (excluding tax and shipping).
- They take member feedback directly to the winemakers to refine their selections over time.
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
Cons
- You must be at least 21 years old and present to accept delivery when your shipment arrives.
- This is a legal requirement for alcohol deliveries, but it’s good to keep in mind.
- There’s no option to choose the shipping carrier when placing your order (e.g., FedEx vs. UPS).
- My delivery was handled by FedEx.
Price
- Firstleaf costs $44.95 plus tax for your first 6-bottle delivery, with free shipping on your initial shipment.
- The next two 6-bottle deliveries come with a $25 discount each.
- Shipping isn’t included on these subsequent deliveries, but if you double your order, shipping is free.
Naked Wines
These are the wines from my first delivery of Naked Wines:
Naked Wines is a unique wine club that connects wine lovers directly with winemakers through an Angel investment model.
By becoming an Angel, you contribute $40.00 each month to your Wine Savings Account, which is then invested in independent winemakers worldwide who create wines exclusively for Naked Wines. This means you get access to wines that aren’t available anywhere else—pretty cool!
Since the winemakers rely on Naked Wines for sales and marketing, they can focus entirely on crafting exceptional wines. As an Angel, you get to enjoy these wines at a 40-60% discount off the regular, non-Angel prices.
Naked Wines operates in the U.S., the U.K., and Australia, and they’ve been around since 2012.
The club also features an extensive online rating system with over 2 million customer reviews, so you can see what others think before you buy.
And finally, they offer a no-risk, 100% money-back guarantee because they want you to love every wine you purchase.
There’s no membership fee, and unlike many other wine clubs, they don’t auto-ship wines. You’re in full control of what you buy and when, so there’s no pressure to receive a set number of wines every few months—it’s all up to you!
Pros
- A nice variety of value-priced wines from around the globe, with over 500 options from more than 220 independent winemakers.
- If you ever decide to cancel, they’ll happily refund any unspent funds—no questions asked!
- Their satisfaction guarantee has your back: if you don’t love a wine, they’ll credit your account.
- Customer-friendly pricing means if they drop the price on a wine you’ve purchased, you get a refund for the difference!
Cons
- No gift subscriptions.
- They only deliver to people aged 21 and over, and you’ll need to show a valid ID to receive your shipment.
- Discounts or vouchers can only be used once and cannot be combined with any other promotion, discount, or voucher.
Price
- From $39.99 for six bottles of wine, shipping included (introductory voucher offer).
Note: The button above will automatically apply a $100 voucher to get the lowest price.
Conclusion
While there are other wine subscriptions that may be considered affordable, the three above are my favorites.
I’ve tasted the wines from each service and have enjoyed all of them. Really, no duds from any of these three.
How to choose? Well, if you want to get the most wines at once I’d say go with Wine Insiders.
If a quiz based selection process interests you, then Firstleaf can’t be beat.
And finally, if you like the idea of supporting independent winemakers through a unique Angel investment model, give Naked Wines a try.
No matter which one you choose, I think you’ll enjoy the wines you receive and at a great price point.
