Firstleaf vs. Winc 2024: A Clear Winner

Both Firstleaf and Winc are popular wine delivery services. Each provides you with a selection of wines chosen by its expert staff, and each has received many positive reviews for their service. But which is right for you?

To answer that question, I’ve examined both services carefully. I’ve checked out their bottles, studied their prices and shipping fees, and consulted our wine experts for their opinions. And after all that work, I feel confident in saying that Firstleaf wins this contest easily. 

Firstleaf gives you a much wider domestic and international selection. I was also impressed by the quality of Firstleaf’s wines. Winc has good wines, but its store doesn’t offer the broad range of critically acclaimed wines that you find at Firstleaf. And Firstleaf also gives you an à la carte option, so you can sample its wines before you commit. Read on to find out more!

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Wine List Variety

Winner: Firstleaf

Firstleaf wins this round by a mile, as it offers nearly 250 wines, while Winc has just over 50. By every standard, Firstleaf offers you a bigger selection of higher-quality wines.

Firstleaf gives you a choice of many domestic and international varietals and styles. By contrast, Winc sources most of its wines domestically, mainly from California and Napa, with a small selection of wines from countries like France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Argentina. 

Firstleaf also has a much better selection of specialty wines for dietary preferences. For example, Firstleaf offers 30 vegan-friendly options compared to Winc's 2 vegan wines. Firstleaf also offers 60 keto-friendly wines that are lower in sugar, something you can’t find on Winc.

Winc primarily offers serviceable but unexceptional table wines, while Firstleaf features many award-winning wines that have scored 90 points or higher in various wine competitions. Firstleaf’s Sirenia Garnacha (above) isn’t just vegan. It scored 95 points at the 2022 Eastern Wine Competition for its flavors of pomegranate, cherry, and ripe raspberry with an oak finish.

Ordering, Delivery, Unboxing

Winner: Firstleaf

Firstleaf wins because it allows à la carte orders, while you can only order from Winc if you sign up for a subscription. 

Both Firstleaf and Winc use an introductory quiz to determine your palate preferences. But Firstleaf lets you rate each bottle you receive, then uses that information to further hone its recommendations. Firstleaf claims that, after you rate just 3 wines, its recommendation accuracy goes up to 98%. 

You can choose between a 6-bottle and 12-bottle Firstleaf subscription. Monthly, bi-monthly, and quarterly deliveries are available. And while Firstleaf does a great job of selecting wines you’ll love, you can always swap out any bottle in an upcoming order for a bottle of your choice. Just go to the Club Orders page and click Swap to the right of the wine you want to change.

With a Winc subscription, you are charged a monthly fee for Winc credits ($1=1 credit). These credits serve as currency toward your future wine orders. You can always skip a monthly order using Winc’s Skip a Month feature and save your credits for premium wine or a larger order. 

Winc Credits accumulate until you make a purchase or cancel your membership. If you would not like to receive a shipment of wines for a particular month, you can use Skip a Month feature. When using this feature, you will neither receive nor be charged for wines that month. Winc’s minimum order is 3 bottles

Both Firstleaf and Winc offer iOS apps, as well as web orders. Firstleaf also has an Android app to manage your account and make selections. Firstleaf includes information about the wines in your box, including flavor notes and pairings. To get information about the bottles in your Winc box, you must go online.

Your Firstleaf wines arrive in a medium-sized, branded box. Each bottle is securely housed in specially designed cartons to withstand the journey. Firstleaf avoids unnecessary packaging, which also reduces waste. However, if any bottle is damaged during transit, simply send a picture to Customer Service, and you will receive credit for a new bottle. 

Firstleaf is committed to sustainable practices and guarantees a carbon-neutral delivery. This means that Firstleaf takes measures to offset the carbon footprint generated by its shipping activities. You can enjoy your favorite wines while also supporting environmentally friendly business practices.

Winc’s packaging is also recyclable, and the company partners with 1% for the Planet to give 1% of its proceeds to worthy environmental causes. Both Firstleaf and Winc score high marks in the sustainability department. 

Customer Support

Winner: Firstleaf

Firstleaf pulls ahead in this round as well, thanks to its Wine Concierge service and customer satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not impressed by a bottle that Firstleaf selected for you, you’ll get credit for 100% of the price of the bottle.

Firstleaf’s Wine Concierge service gives you personal access to wine experts. These trained professionals help you gain a deeper understanding of your wine preferences and offer recommendations to enhance your wine experience. This service ensures that you get the most from your subscription and helps you explore new tastes and expand your wine knowledge.

The customer service team at Firstleaf is also equipped to handle other customer needs. Firstleaf’s customer service agents are available to address any inquiries or issues regarding your order, delivery process, the wine rating system, and any other facets of your interaction with the club. The Firstleaf Member Experience team is available 7 days a week from 6am-5pm PT.

For immediate response outside of working hours, Firstleaf offers a digital chatbot on its website. The chatbot gives you quick access to relevant information on the site, saving you time and effort in searching for answers. 

Winc has a solid FAQ that will answer most of your questions. If you can’t find what you are looking for in the FAQ, you can use Winc’s contact form or email directly at support@winc.com. Winc strives to answer within 24 hours. You can also chat with customer service by phone at (855) 282-5829 or live chat every day between 7am and 4pm PT. 

Pricing

Winner: Firstleaf

Though the price per bottle is very similar, Firstleaf is a better value than Winc. When you subscribe to Firstleaf, you get a 6-bottle box for $90 or a 12-bottle box for $180. Internationally acclaimed wine at $15 a bottle is a great bargain.

When you sign up for a Firstleaf subscription, you get 30% off à la carte wine orders. You can also save money by buying a wine bundle at the Firstleaf Wine Shop. For example, you can save 30% to 46% on boxes of 3 to 12 wines curated by Firstleaf’s experts. Shipping for a 6-bottle Firstleaf box costs $14.95, and 12-bottle orders ship free.

Winc recommends 4 bottles each month that will cost around $60, with individual bottle prices generally ranging between $12 and $25. If you order less wine, you can save your unused credits for future orders or purchase additional credits to cover extra costs. Winc charges $9 for orders under $50, with larger orders shipping free.

Firstleaf vs. Winc — Quick Overview

And The Winner Is: Firstleaf

Winc is a solid wine delivery service, but Firstleaf is really special. You get a better selection of high-quality wines with your Firstleaf subscription. Winc’s credits system can be confusing, while Firstleaf makes the whole process much easier. 

Firstleaf is a fantastic choice for most wine lovers, but if you want to find out more about other options, check out our list of the best wine delivery services. You’re sure to find something that will suit your tastes. 

FAQ

Is Firstleaf a good company?

Firstleaf is an excellent wine delivery service with high-quality wines and great customer support. If you have questions about the wines in your order or simply need advice on choosing the wines that are best suited to your palate, Firstleaf’s Wine Concierge service will be happy to answer your questions and offer suggestions.

Is Firstleaf worth it?

Firstleaf is among the most affordable wine delivery services out there. Its subscription boxes offer high-quality domestic and international wines at around $15 a bottle, which is significantly less than you will pay for comparable wines at a retail outlet.  

Can you send Winc wines to a friend? 

While you can send a Winc gift card to anyone over 21, Winc does not offer à la carte orders. The recipient of a Winc gift card can redeem it for credits that they can apply toward their Winc Membership.