I was recently provided with an opportunity to sample several wines from the direct-to-consumer online wine shop Wine Insiders. My goal in this write-up is to offer readers my real deal review about their wines and online wine shop.
In these unusual times, more and more of us wine consumers have incorporated online options for our wine purchases. Digital wine sales are thriving, and many online clubs are seeing an unprecedented increase in direct-to-consumer sales.
As an avid wine buyer, COVID-19 has definitely shifted the way that I purchase much of my wine. First, let me say, I am no newbie to buying wine online; pre-COVID, I have tried various wine clubs (none of which I would deem worth mentioning) and direct-to-consumer wine shops.
The issues with almost every club and/or wine purchase I joined/made were generally the same.
Issues ranged from terrible shipping policies to poor customer service, on down to inferior quality wines. Most of the 10+ weren’t worth the value, sadly. Therefore, of course, when I was offered samples to try for Wine Insiders’, I was very excited to give it a go and provide my readers with this Wine Insiders — The Real Deal Review to help you.
What about wine insiders?
In particular, Wine Insiders’ online shop allows customers to choose from a variety of premium wines at everyday low prices, curated throughout various parts of the world, many from multigenerational family-owned wineries.—Spain, Italy, South Africa…
Wine Insiders has been in business since 1982, founded by Louis Amoroso. This year the company celebrated its 38th anniversary. The company delivers millions of bottles of wine per year to customers in 41 states. Offerings include individual bottles, 6-bottles, or full cases, all with a no-obligation Wine Insiders Club for a convenient option for trying wines.
Wine Insiders’ self-proclaimed goal is to “…make shopping for great wine easy, convenient, fun, and affordable.” The company also states several advantages as to why you should join their wine club on the website.
Wine Insiders — The Real Deal Review
I visited the Wine Insider website and browsed through many of the pages. The site has a clean, fresh vibe; it’s laid out well, making it simple and easy to navigate. I can honestly say that it is a huge plus (for me) when shopping on any online site. The shop collection offers a nice variety of wines, including vegan and organic selections, they also offer various gift sets. It’s always nice to have options, but not feel overwhelmed with too many.
The wine prices are relatively reasonable, although with a little research, I did locate a few wines a bit cheaper from other retailers. The free shipping on 6 or more bottles is a definite plus—3 bottles would be better. With 35 years in the business under their belt, they must be doing something right. There is only one way to find out: give some of the wines a try.
Two of the wines that I sampled were the 2016 Lythium Cabernet Sauvignon and 2018 Strictly Chard Unoaked Chardonnay.
2016 Lythium Cabernet Sauvignon
In the glass the wine is a dark garnet color. Aromas, of dark and black fruit with cherry undertones, baking spices and vanilla. The palate follows the nose closely, with jammy blueberries and blackberries. There are faint oak notes that briefly appear. Firm tannins and acidic. Overall, the wine is quite pleasant, and a good value.
2018 Strictly Chard Unoaked Chardonnay
Muted gold color in the glass. Aromas of citrus peel. Heavy citrus follows through on the palate with notes of tropical and tree fruit, and graphite, underlying is a faint minerality. Medium body, nice acidity, no oak, high alcohol. This wine needs food! This wine is currently unavailable on the Wine Insiders website.
In general, both wines were drinkable. Out of the two wines, the Lythium was the favorite. I tasted both of these wines without food. Both wines were tasted at the industry suggested temperatures, and were allowed to breathe in the glass prior to tasting.
Wine Insiders — The Real Deal Review — Straight Talk
Listen, the straight talk is, the only way to know if you are going to like a wine club or a direct-to-consumer online wine shop is to try them out. In my humble opinion, Wine Insiders seems to be worthy of an opportunity. They are currently advertising some great deals, and therefore, I decided to take advantage of one of the deals to get an opportunity to experience their service and wines as a paying consumer.
Stay tuned to hear all of the details about my purchasing experience. Subscribe, Never Miss a Sip.
Please keep in mind wine is subjective, and each palate has it’s own preference. I encourage you to explore and sip your way to what is pleasurable to your palate.
All wines reviewed were industry samples. However, the assessments made are mine.
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