Wine clubs are a fantastic way to sample a variety of new wines each month while keeping costs down. By joining a wine club, you can buy new wines delivered to your door without ever having to set foot in liquor stores! It makes buying wine genuinely effortless.
Today, we’re going to look at two of the more prominent wine club providers – FirstLeaf and NakedWines. Both companies provide terrific service and access to lots of great wine. No matter your wine preferences, you should be able to find exactly what you’re looking for with one of these two wine club providers.
The Clubs and Available Plans:
FirstLeaf:
- Introductory shipments: Firstleaf starts with an introductory shipment, which is a box of three bottles of wine. When you order your introductory shipment, you answer a few questions about your palate and preferences. This is taken into account when selecting your initial shipment. These questions consider factors like your preferred tasting notes, and whether you prefer reds, whites, or something else entirely.
- On-going Club shipments: Once you’ve tried your introductory shipment, you can give your feedback to Firstleaf. Firstleaf uses this feedback to make a more developed profile and then uses this profile to send you monthly club shipments. This is a similar approach to Winc wines or Bright Cellars wine.
With the club shipments, you receive a set number of bottles per month- usually six. The selection includes California wines, local wine, as well as international wines.
Naked Wines:
NakedWines have a unique approach to the wine club concept. You can sign up for the company’s Angel Deal program, which lets you invest a small amount in the company every month. This money is then put towards independent winemakers, whose wine NakedWine sells as part of the catalog. Also, signing up for the Angel Deal program gives you access to a whole range of perks and benefits.
Who is it for?
Firstleaf is a fantastic option for those who want a curated set of wines, without needing to give too much input. The company takes care of selecting the wines for you based on your preferences.
NakedWines.com is an excellent choice for true wine enthusiasts and those who want to support independent winemakers. However, the company also has an incredible wine selection, from red wine, white wine, or other affordable wines. You can also choose whether or not you want to purchase a smaller or full-sized bottle. Naked wines offer a great wine club subscription service, but you are also able to do a one-time purchase.
Main Benefits for Members:
FirstLeaf:
- A selection of both local and international wines
- Affordable prices and great-quality wines
- Great customer service
- Introductory shipment, including free shipping, is a good way to try the service
- Flexible delivery options- you can choose to get a box everyone, two, or three months
NakedWInes:
- All wines are handmade in small batches by independent winemakers
- No commitment to the Angel Deal- you can choose to opt-out at any time
- Monthly gift bottle to Angel Deal members as a thank you
- Significant savings- you can save up to 60% on retail prices through NakedWines
The personalization process:
FirstLeaf:
When you first order through FirstLeaf, you answer a set of questions so the company can establish a palate profile for you. You should then receive a starter box, and your feedback on the wines helps FirstLeaf to refine your preferences further.
You can further rate subsequent deliveries, and doing so helps you ensure that your deliveries are as personalized as possible.
NakedWines:
The NakedWines subscription is not personalized. when it comes to a one-time purchase, the personalization process is based largely on the extensive filtering system and rating system that the site has. You can select the wines you want to see based on region, grape type, type of wine, and more. Also, you can choose to buy cases or single bottles of wine through the site.
The website and ordering process:
FirstLeaf:
FirstLeaf has both an online store and a wine club service. At FirstLeaf’s online store, you can browse the selection of wines available based on type, growing region, color, and other factors. Also, you can sign up for the wine club via FirstLeaf’s website. To do so, you need to answer the questions about your palate and preferences, and then you can order your introductory shipment.
As a member, you have the flexibility to skip a month of shipment when needed, through the account login section.
The website also has information for wine enthusiasts, including reviews for its catalog. FirstLeaf’s ‘Wine School’ features articles that you can use to learn more about wine and wine tasting.
NakedWInes:
NakedWines has a comprehensive website that is easy to navigate and use. The site features NakedWines’ web-store, which you can use to order bottles or cases of wine. You can filter your choice based on variety, color, region, and other factors.
The website also features a great customer review system, which helps you to make a more informed decision about the wines you purchase.
You can also use the NakedWines website to sign up for the Angel Deal. The ‘Angel’ section of the site explains the Angel Deal and its perks, and you can also browse the different independent winemakers that NakedWines.com works with.
The wines:
FirstLeaf:
The team at FirstLeaf chooses a variety of wines that are grown both locally and internationally. Many of the wines in FirstLeaf’s catalog are competition winners. In addition, FirstLeaf works directly with wineries, which usually means you can save up to 60% on retail prices when you purchase through FirstLeaf. The company offers a large variety of great red and white wines.
NakedWines:
NakedWines exclusively sells wines created by the independent winemakers it works with. All of the wines are made by hand, and there is a wide variety to choose from. In addition to being fantastic quality, they are also affordable. If you sign up for the Angel Deal, you can get other deals on some of the wines in the catalog.
Bottom Line:
We were very impressed with both wine subscription services. However, we feel that FirstLeaf is overall the better subscription service of the two.
The company sells an incredible selection of fantastic, high-quality, delicious wines, and keeps prices low by working directly with winemakers.
In addition, we loved the fact that their wine club service is 100% customized to customer needs. Also, the FirstLeaf wine club offers greater flexibility, so it can really fit every type of wine drinker in our opinion. You have the option to change the wine selection on your delivery, to skip a month when needed, and to set your subscription to arrive either every month, two months, or three months.
