If you want a fun way to taste wines every month without breaking the bank – continue reading this review!
Of course, wine affordability is a subjective matter that can also change over time, but we can say that $15 per bottle just doesn’t buy what it used to.
This may surprise people who mistakenly think that wine clubs are only for connoisseurs with sophisticated palates and big budgets – but many wine clubs offer an excellent and affordable wine club experience.
Wine club subscription services are becoming increasingly popular. They offer a convenient way to broaden your wine knowledge and delve into the fantastic world of wine.
But another appealing thing about wine clubs, besides having wine bottles delivered to your door, is that they can also be very cheap. A handful of wine clubs still provide good-value wines under $15 to $20.
Our team at the Wine Club Reviews are experts in wine subscription boxes, and we are here to help you choose the best wine club that matches your needs.
Our knowledge comes from honest first-hand experience, and we provide detailed insight into each wine club we review. That’s why we revisited these top services to bring you our updated review for 2024 of the best and most affordable wine clubs!
Short on Time? Here Are the Best Affordable Wine Subscription Services:
- Firstleaf – Best Award-Winning Wines that are Affordably Priced
- Naked Wines – Best Affordable Wines, Straight from the Winemakers to You
- Bright Cellars – Best Premium International Wines at a Budget-Friendly Price
- WSJ– Best Affordable Wine Club for Large Case Delivery
- Winc – Best for Affordable Personal Picks
- Wine Awesomeness – Best for Adventurous Palates
- Gold Medal Wine Club – Best for California & Worldwide Wines at a Comfortable Price
- Wine Insiders – Best for Low-Budget Expertly-Selected Wines
In This Review, We Gathered the Best Cheap Wine Clubs Out There
1. FirstLeaf – Best Award-Winning Wines Affordably Priced
Pros:
- Large selection of award-winning wines
- Affordably priced wine subscription
- Personalized wines come with a satisfaction guarantee
- Access to the Wine Concierge and Wine School features
Cons:
- Only comes in 6 or 12-bottle shipments
- You have to order 12 bottles box for free shipping
About Firstleaf
Firstleaf is the best example of an affordable wine club and one of the best wine clubs with an affordable introductory offer of six award-winning bottles of wine.
This wine club has a unique personalization process that assists in shipping your wines based on your taste profile and makes the experience as fun and easy as possible. Extensive wine selection, with award-winning wines from local and international produce.
Firstleaf’s business model eliminates the middlemen in the delivery process and allows it to partner directly with many wineries. This allows Firstleaf to offer members prices around 40% to 60% below average retail prices on great award-winning bottles.
What Do You Get?
Choose between a 6-bottle or 12-bottle order and select from one of four wine quality tiers: Classic, Preferred, Premium, or Fine Wines. Each shipment can be customized for your preferred number of reds, whites, and roses.
You can also choose your preferred delivery frequency between two and twelve weeks. Plus, you always have the option to change your selected wine bottles per box.
What Do Customers Think of Firstleaf?
Customers love Firstleaf’s variety and affordability. One customer shared, “My partner and I have recently signed up for the FirstLeaf wine club. We’ve received 12 bottles so far, which have been great “daily drinkers” when we don’t feel like cracking an expensive bottle.”
Another wrote this review, “Firstleaf produce their own wines under their own labels. They’re a mix of winery and negociant (those who purchase grapes/wine and label it under their own name). I would say these wines are not inferior to other wines in the sub $15 price — some are very good.”
2. Naked Wines – Best Affordable Wines, Straight from the Winemakers to You
Pros:
- Handmade bottles of wine from top winemakers around the world
- Large selection of domestic and international wines
- Discounts and gift wine bottles for “Naked Wines Angels”
- Customer satisfaction guarantee
Cons:
- Only comes in 6 or 12-bottle shipments
- You have to order 12 bottles for free shipping
About Naked Wines
Naked Wines offers a unique and affordable wine club concept that allows you to order as a one-time customer or purchase from the wine club as an “angel.” To become an angel, you invest $40 monthly into the Naked Wines piggy bank. You can spend this money on any of their wine or have it returned to you if you don’t spend it.
The company then uses this money to invest in talented and independent winemakers, which results in the creation of great, exclusive wines at insider angel prices—40 %–60% off the regular retail price. These wines are then offered to the angels!
Naked Wines works with over 159 independent winemakers from 14 countries and locals from different wine regions and internationals. In their vast wine collection, you can find every type of wine at great prices per bottle.
What Do You Get?
When joining the club, the first shipment includes the best deal on 12 or 6 bottles made by award-winning independent winemakers, usually with free shipping included! This deal can be for a white wine box, a red wine box, or a mixed box.
You can choose subsequent deliveries for 12-bottle cases or single wines from the large online shop or join the Wine Genie Club to receive 12 personalized bottles every three months after taking their customization quiz.
You can also join their Fine Wine Club to receive 6 top wines every quarter.
What Do Customers Think of Naked Wines?
Customers appreciate the value of the quality wines they couldn’t find in stores. The ability to learn more about their palates and earn free rewards makes this a worthwhile service. One customer shared, “I think it can be very worthwhile to be a member. I’ve enjoyed it. In relation to my wine buying prior I feel I am getting better quality for a cheaper price.”
Another wrote this review, “I’m very pleased with naked wines and…I am definitely saving money on wine. I’ve tried so many new types of wine and learned a lot more about my preferences. They have a free bottle each month to add on, and sometimes it’s two bottles or a magnum. Most of the time the gift bottle is one of their more premium wines.”
3. Bright Cellars – Best Premium International Wines at a Budget-Friendly Price
Pros:
- Personalized shipments of high-quality wines
- The fun matching process teaches you about wine
- Offers a great rewards program and satisfaction guarantee
- Great for beginners to develop their palate
Cons:
- You can only purchase specific bottles of wine in packs of four or more
- Boutique wines may not appeal to those looking for larger producing labels
- More pricy
About Bright Cellars
Bright Cellars wine club is another great option for an affordable monthly wine club that promises six bottles of high-end wines of the best quality, personally matched to your tasting palate.
The Bright Cellars wine club is passionate about its wine selection. The company states that only one in every 50 bottles of wine tasted makes it onto its wine collection list! Their wine list includes very hard-to-find boutique wines from around the world—Italy, Spain, Portugal, and South America, just to name a few—known for their excellent wine production.
With Bright Cellars, you can choose your preference in terms of red, white, or a mixed box of both red and white. You can also skip months or delay your shipments whenever you need to.
What Do You Get?
You will receive your first box of 6 high-quality wines matched to your personalized quiz results. Choose future deliveries of 6 or 12 bottles with free shipping.
Members receive 20% off in the wine shop and earn rewards to redeem for more wine.
What Do Customers Think of Bright Cellars?
Customers like trying new wines and learning more about taste preferences and different varieties. One customer shared, “I am someone who is interested in wine but I know very little about it, so I recently subbed with Bright Cellars to try some different varieties (just got my first shipment a few weeks ago). I’m also tech geek, so the idea of the quiz and ratings which “learn” and theoretically feed back into my future orders is cool to me.”
Another wrote this review, “I’ve used BrightCellars for a year. I think it’s a fine, convenient service for beginner wine enthusiasts like me. I’ve only disliked one or two bottles. I’m still on a journey to taste as many different wines as I can, so I think this is a fun way to do it.”
4. WSJ- Best Affordable Wine Club for Large Case Delivery
Pros:
- Quality wines from producers all around the world
- Free wine concierge service available to members
- Up to 20% discount off of case pricing and earn points towards free wine
- Great introductory pricing is highly discounted
Cons:
- Extra costs for shipping
- No personalized selections
About WSJ
The Wall Street Journal wine club subscription is a 5-star wine club offering 12-bottle wine subscription boxes at a great price per shipment that are sourced from the top wine-producing areas in the world.
The WSJ wine club has a vast selection of excellent international wines delivered directly to your door every three months. Many WSJ wines have won major wine-tasting awards, and others have been recorded as a favorite by thousands of wine lovers online.
The one thing that stands out about the WSJ wine club is its unique, attractive introductory offer—with a price per bottle of around $5!
What Do You Get?
You receive 12 bottles of expertly selected wine every three months. The selections are customized to your favorite wine styles. You can rate and review the wines you receive and earn rewards for free bottles and merchandise.
What Do Customers Think of WSJ?
Customers have found the wines of WSJ to be good for casual wine drinkers or for those new to wine to try out new varieties. One customer shared, “I wouldn’t consider myself an expert… However, plenty of wines within the $10 range are not bad. I prefer more expensive wines, but I’ve had plenty within that $10 range that are very drinkable.”
Another wrote this review, “I’ve had a family member do this and the NYT one. Both were deemed ok and a decent way to always have a solid wine ready at a moment’s notice.”
5. Winc – Best for Affordable Personal Picks
Pros:
- Great affordable wines for casual wine drinkers
- Bottles are customized to your palate
- Large selection of Californian and West Coast wines
- Great customization options and the ability to swap wines when needed
Cons:
- Limited premier or high-end wines
- The rewards system can be confusing to navigate
About Winc
Winc is one of the largest and most famous wine clubs in the US. It is a cheap wine club option for those who enjoy tasting Californian and West Coast wines. Winc offers a membership service that is very easy and fun to use.
They aim to make your wine-tasting experience as enjoyable and accessible as possible. The Winc team of wine experts has worked with winemakers all over the world to produce great-tasting wines under the Winc label.
We also found most wine labels designed by Winc quite chic. The labels’ concept seemed to be supporting the Winc premise that drinking wine is a light-hearted and fun experience.
What Do You Get?
The Winc Wine Club is a monthly wine subscription service. As members, you will receive a shipment of four bottles of fantastic wines every month that are personally selected to match your taste – reds, whites, rose’, and sparkling wines. You can skip or pause deliveries anytime.
What Do Customers Think of Winc?
Customers like Winc for passing the cost savings on to the consumer and for the great variety at a great price. One customer shared, “Winc use this business model is to compress the outdated “three tier system” and restrictive shipping laws in the US. By producing their own wines, they are able to ship their wines to consumers in many more states than they could if they were only buying existing wines.”
Another wrote this review, “I have gotten maybe three shipments totaling 15 bottles. Of those, I enjoyed 2 and would maybe buy one of those again.”
6. Wine Awesomeness – Best for Adventurous Palates
Pros:
- Fun and unique wines that are affordable and sourced from quality regions
- Flexible subscriptions allow you to swap, skip, or cancel at any time
- Members get 20% off every wine on the list
- Access to the Wine Concierge and Wine School features
Cons:
- You have to order a case to receive free shipping
- Lack of a concise policy for replacing bottles you don’t enjoy
About Wine Awesomeness
The Wine Awesomeness wine subscription is curated to help curious wine drinkers explore new and exciting wines from different wine regions around the world at an affordable price.
You can choose how many bottles you want per month—3,6 or 12. The price goes down as you order more bottles per shipment. Each shipment includes wine-tasting notes and recommended recipe ideas, making the experience complete.
What Do You Get?
Every month, choose between a 3, 6, or 12-bottle box of either all red, all white, or a mixed variety. Let the experts pick or choose your own. Swap wines or skip deliveries at any time. Shipping is free, and you get 20% off in the wine shop.
What Do Customers Think of Wine Awesomeness?
Customers think the quality of Wine Awesomeness wines is excellent, especially at this price point. They are well-curated and include a large variety of new and interesting wines that make it fun to try different types of wine. People are always surprised by what they like, enjoy learning more about their taste and palate preferences, and think the customer service is top-notch.
7. Gold Medal Wine Club – Best for California & Worldwide Wines at a Comfortable Price
Pros:
- High-quality California wines
- Boutique and hard-to-find selections
- Flexibility in the number of bottles and frequency of delivery
- Access to pre-released and exclusive wines
Cons:
- Shipping costs are extra
- Primarily only offers wines from California
About Gold Medal Wine Club
Within this wine club, you can find several wine plans. The more comfortably priced one is the gold wine club. This plan offers superb local California wines from top boutique wineries of the ever-sun wine country. When joining this wine club, you will get hard-to-find yet relatively affordable red and white wines.
The Gold Medal Wine Club plan can be a perfect match for people who love discovering new wines and boutique wineries and those with a specific passion for California regions.
The club offers flexibility in choosing the number of wine bottles with each shipment (starting from 2 bottles and up to 12), the frequency of delivery, and the type of wines (reds, whites, or a mix). The price, naturally, goes down per bottle as you order more bottles per shipment.
What Do You Get?
Select from the gold, platinum, or diamond subscription level and choose between 2-12 bottles of wine that you can have delivered every month or every three months.
What Do Customers Think of Gold Medal Wine Club?
Subscribers appreciate the boutique-style wines that make you feel like you are getting access to hard-to-find and highly-rated wines. You can tell a lot of passion goes into developing each curated selection.
8. Wine Insiders – Best for Low-Budget Expertly-Selected Wines
Pros:
- Large selection of wines from around the globe
- Affordably priced subscriptions for reds, whites, or a mix of both
- Receive three free bottles on your first shipment
- Their wines have won over 2,200 awards and are backed by a 100% guarantee
Cons:
- Only comes in 12-bottle shipments
- There is no customization or personalized options
About Wine Insiders
Wine Insiders is a direct-to-consumer online retail wine shop and wine club. Wine Insiders is well-established, having been around since 1982. This wine club is proud to offer exemplary customer service and an extensive wine list with wines from both local and international wine regions.
A team of a few professional wine curators with over 50 years of experience manages Wine Insiders’ wine list. This discerning team tastes thousands of wines every year, but only approximately 3% of those wines are accepted to become part of the Wine Insiders wine box experience.
Wine Insiders ensures that wines suit every budget, occasion, and palate on their wine list. The club offers a convenient and straightforward online retail and wine club experience.
What Do You Get?
You receive 12 bottles of either red, white, or a mix of both every three months.
What Do Customers Think of Wine Insiders?
Customers like the value of Wine Insiders and the ability to try wines they might not otherwise. One customer shared, “I mostly got Bordeaux and other “bigger” reds… but I did have a Spanish Tempranillo and an Argentinian Malbec (not usually my favorite varieties) that seemed to at least be a slightly better value.”
Tips for Choosing the Right Affordable Wine Club for You
Wine clubs are a great way to diversify your tasting experience and broaden your knowledge of the wine world. They also offer opportunities to take advantage of significant savings on standard retail prices, with a range of wine clubs offering excellent, cheap service.
Some provide increasingly personalized membership services, so your tasting experience becomes ideally matched to your palate. Wine clubs mean you can enjoy the world of wine without spending a fortune or even leaving your living room!
You can buy everything online, and there are so many super cool wine subscription services available – there’s truly something for everyone. Here are some tips on finding the best one for you:
Calculate the cost per-bottle
When evaluating wine club choices, look at the price per bottle. Many companies will break down the member discounts available compared to the retail prices so you can have peace of mind that you are getting a quality wine for a great deal. Some other subscription services are based on quantity, where the more you buy, the more you save. Choose the right option to fit your budget.
Check Extra Fees – like shipping and canceling
It’s not always about the cost of the wine. Other hidden charges like shipping or membership cancellation fees can make one club a better fit than another. Looking at the total price can save you a headache and an unexpected hit to your wallet.
Check Wine Variety
Look at the variety of wines offered and how many bottles you would get with each shipment (some wine clubs ship six bottles, like Firstleaf, and some only two, like California Wine Club). It’s also a good idea to check the wine source—some wine clubs offer only local California wines, some provide a worldwide wine tour, and some even focus on only organic or sustainably grown wines.
Check Satisfaction Guarantee
Many reputable wine clubs offer satisfaction guarantees and have helpful customer service teams. Companies like Firstleaf will replace bottles you didn’t like with something else to ensure you get the most out of your experience. They also offer the support of a wine concierge team to help with food pairings or deciding on new wines.
Check if delivery is available in your area
Wine deliveries are not available in every area, so it’s a good idea to check before ordering. Some states have restrictions on wine deliveries, and others are not yet able to ship to certain locations.
ALWAYS Look for Coupons
There are always wine club deals to be found! Some are for first-time subscribers or even returning customers, and others offer free bottles or shipping. Look for coupon codes and discounts before subscribing because there are chances of some serious cost savings to be enjoyed.
Why Trust Us? Our Methodology
Our team at The Wine Club Review is a passionate group of wine lovers who are here to help you decide which subscription services are the best fit for you.
We are dedicated to thoroughly testing each service hands-on to understand the pros and cons of each company, the pricing, the quality of wines, and customer service support.
We save you the time and money of sorting through the numerous options and bring you updated and unbiased information so you can make the most educated consumer choices.
Final Thoughts
Whichever wine club you choose, you are sure to enjoy quality, expertly curated wines from all over the world at a decent price.
