Vinesse is a popular wine delivery service, but you might be wondering what makes it special. Figuring out if it's right for you isn't easy. Check out my full Vinesse wine club review to learn all the ins and outs. Find out if you can trust this place for your wine purchases, or if you're better off looking elsewhere.
Fortunately, I’ve done all of the groundwork, so you don’t have to. I’ve looked at the pros and cons, different available wines, regions offered, pricing, ease of use, whether there are gift options, and how the club membership works. I wanted to get a thorough and holistic understanding of Vinesse’s offerings and whether the company is worth it.
Overall, I believe Vinesse is among the best wine delivery services in the US. It features an impressively large selection of wine types and flavors. There’s everything from red, white, sparkling, and rosé, with varietals ranging from Chardonnay, Malbec, Garnacha, Petite Sirah, blends, and more. You’ll also find a wide range of prices between <$20 to $100+.
Pros | Cons |
Lots of choices of different boutique wines | Options can become overwhelming |
Wide range of pricing and wine options available | Shipping and other fees can add up |
Shipping available to AK and HI | Delivery is available in select states only |
Current deal – Enjoy 6 Exceptional Wines for Just $41.94 |
There’s no shortage of wine to choose from, including reds, whites, rosé, sparkling, and more. As you’ll see, there’s a good mix of both types – though I was a bit shocked to see items like Gewürtztraminer and Chianti missing from the list.
You can view everything on offer long before signing up, which is what I like to see. Some services make you sign up first before seeing what’s available
Here are a few of the most popular reds you’ll find:
Petite Sirah
Pinot Noir
Cabernet Sauvignon
Red Blend
Merlot
Syrah
Malbec
Bordeaux Blend
Shiraz
Garnacha
Primitivo
You’ll also find several popular white wines such as:
Riesling
Zinfandel
Pinot Blanc
Pinot Grigio
Chardonnay
White Blend
Pinot Gris
Roussanne
Chenin Blanc
I also found there to be a solid selection of different price points, depending on your budget. You can shop wines by price, and there are 4 distinct categories:
Under $20
$20 to $40
$40 to $100
$100 or more
The Under $20, $20 to $40, and $40 to $100 categories include single bottles. The $100 or more category comprises 12-bottle box sets, on the other hand.
I wouldn’t call it the absolute most affordable service, though. So if you’re looking for a more affordable alternative with most wines costing less than $50, check out my Wine Insiders review instead.
Around half of the bottles in the Under $20 and $20 to $40 categories are exclusives. I can’t really comment on the quality you can expect here since these aren’t really well-known brands. If you’re after more established, boutique brands, check out the $40 to $100 category instead.
You’ll find a good blend of US and international wines. You can find wines from California, Washington, Oregon, Portugal, Australia, Argentina, and a few others. Though, I’d say about at least half of what’s available is US-based.
You can place 1-off orders or join the wine club. If you opt to join the club, you get 6 curated wines delivered to you each month. You don’t get to choose individual bottles – rather, you can choose from mixed (reds and whites), all reds, or all whites instead.
However, if you ever receive a wine you don’t like, you can contact Vinesse to have it replaced. Learn more about the different customer service contact methods below.
Place an à la carte order, or join the club – both are super simple and straightforward. 1-off orders work just like Amazon or Target. Simply browse the menu and add at least a single bottle to your cart before checking out.
If you’re interested in signing up for the club instead, here’s how that works.
Click WINE CLUB. But first, visit the Vinesse homepage.
Scroll down to the bottom. Look out for a section called JOIN THE CLUB. Then, choose your options – a Mixed box, All Reds, or All Whites. Then, click Next >.
Decide whether it’s a gift (or not).
Enter your personal details and shipping information.
Confirm your membership! Accept the terms and conditions and click Activate Enrollment. And you’re done!
Your wines will arrive in industry-standard cardboard packaging. Every 2 bottles have an insert between them, which protects them from bumping around and potentially breaking.
Generally speaking, you get between 1 and 2 inserts with informational wine content. One insert contains info on the wines in your delivery box, and the other insert contains information on other wines currently in Vinesse’s inventory.
Lastly, all of the packaging is recyclable. This includes the box, inserts, and promotional inserts and materials.
This 2018 Merlot from Calibrate Columbia Valley hails from Washington State. It’s often described as smooth, concentrated, balanced, elegant, full-bodied, polished, dark fruit, buttery, and dry.
Here, you’re getting a rosé from Ray’s Station in Hopland, CA. It’s considered vintage, and it’s from 2020. It’s a blend of Zinfandel and Barbera.
The 2021 Pinot Grigio is from Shepherd’s Knoll in Monterey, CA. It’s often described as balanced and as being a “rich and multi-layered white wine”, according to the website.
Delivery is not available everywhere in the US due to legal reasons. It’s impossible to list every state in which shipping is allowed, as the rules constantly change (thank the US bureaucracy for that!). I highly recommend visiting the website to check if shipping is currently available in your state.
If you live in an eligible state, in most instances, products are shipped within 48 hours of the order being processed. Delivery can be delayed during certain times of the year and in specific regions because of temperature control regulations. Otherwise, most shipments are handled by temperature-controlled trucks ensuring the quality of your wine.
An adult who’s at least aged 21 must be available at the time of delivery to sign for the package. The individual must present valid, government-issued photo identification. You’ll receive a tracking number, so you can follow your order and plan for someone old enough to be there to receive it.
If you need to reschedule a delivery, this must be done before your order is processed. For more information, I recommend getting in touch with a member of the customer service team for help.
Vinesse recommends using a business address whenever possible for several reasons. It can help expedite the shipping by a day or 2, make the signature requirement simpler, and waive the $3 residential shipping surcharge. More on shipping prices below.
If you’re dissatisfied with your delivery, contact customer service within 45 days. Someone will be able to help get you sorted out with a replacement (or replacements).
You can contact Vinesse via email at support@vinesse.com or phone at 1 (800) 823-5527. Someone is available to answer your question(s) from Monday to Friday from 7 am to 4 pm (PST).
I took it upon myself to test out the email support response time and professionalism. Overall, after 5 days of waiting for an email response, nobody got back to me. I had to email the team a second time.
Once someone did reply, the agent was friendly, courteous, and offered a professional answer. That’s all I can ask for!
You can reach out to customer service via email if you want to cancel your membership. You're free to end your membership whenever you want without any penalties. Plus, there are no minimum buys or spending limits, so it's entirely up to you if you decide to skip any shipments.
Starting from | Minimum Order | Shipping Fee |
$11.99 | 1 bottle (à la carte) | $25.20 to $26.04 |
$17/bottle, or $102 total (You get your first 8-bottle box for just $49.99 including shipping) | 6-bottle monthly club membership | Free for first order; $25.20 to $26.04 after that |
Pricing is very straightforward at Vinesse. You can buy individual bottles, 1-off orders, or sign up for a club membership. Orders containing fewer than 6 bottles incur a shipping charge, which ranges from $25.02 to $26.04, depending on where you live.
Individual bottles range anywhere in price from about $11.99 to $52.00. Your club membership will cost $49.99 (including shipping) for your first order. Your first club order also contains 8 bottles.
After that, your club membership will cost roughly $102 for 6 bottles ($17/bottle), delivered monthly. Shipping will, again, cost around $25 to $26 for future club membership deliveries.
However, even with all that said, shipping rates are a bit tricky at Vinesse. Here’s some important information from the Vinesse website:
Vinesse offers several gift options in the form of 1-off orders or club memberships. Here are the gifts you’ll find:
American Cellars Wine Club: This includes 2 bottles of boutique US wines delivered monthly.
Élevant Society Wine Club: 2 of the world’s “most distinctive” wines, again, delivered monthly.
International Classics: Get 3 international red wines from France/Australia.
Ultimate Champagne Celebration: Includes 1 bottle of champagne and 2 flutes.
Quintessential Napa Cabernet: Includes 1 cabernet from Napa Valley and 2 stemless wine glasses.
Exclusive Elementus: 3 bottles of Vinesse’s own Elementus wines.
Mystery Case Special: Red, white, or mixed boxes containing 6, 12, 24, or 36 bottles.
Special note: each gift comes with a $25 gift card for both the sender and receiver. This can be used on any future orders of $100 or more. Also, keep in mind that gifts sell out often, so there’s no guarantee of getting what you want.
After checking it out, I can say Vinesse is even better than I thought. It offers a large selection of wines and suits a wide range of customers, which is not something I've seen often. This means you get to try wines you won't find in your local store.
It also offers a wide range of options to fit any budget and taste, making it a great choice for wine lovers of all levels. However, it might feel a bit overwhelming if you're someone who finds too many choices a bit tricky to navigate.
Also, keep an eye on shipping fees as they can add up based on where you live. Since you get free shipping on orders of 6 bottles or more, it may be worth stocking up to save on those added costs.
Vinesse is a wine club. This subscription service brings a range of high-quality, diverse wines from global vineyards directly to your home.
Vinesse is a wine club that also allows 1-off purchases. Club members receive a specially curated collection of wines at regular intervals, usually monthly. They come complete with comprehensive tasting notes and food pairing recommendations.
It’s up to you what you deem worth your hard-earned money. However, for wine enthusiasts who value diversity and discovery, I generally consider the club a worthwhile investment. It features a rich variety of wines from around the world that won’t break the bank.