Skip to Content

Naked Wines Review: Should You Try it?

Naked Wines Review: Should You Try it?

The Naked Wines brand is a well-known online wine shop.

This shop allows you to purchase wines online at a discount since you are not dealing with everything that goes into the retail process.

There are even subscription-like options, where you become an investor rather than a subscriber, that allow you to save even more.

The company has been around for ten years and has built its business on a commitment to bring high-end wines to consumers for cheap prices.

The company actually works with 159 winemakers from around the globe to bring the best wines into the homes of their investors and customers.

The Naked Wines Business Model

Image result for naked wines logo

One of the things that is completely unique with Naked Wines is their business model. This is because the majority of the cost of a bottle of wine occurs when the wine has left the winery. In fact, most domestic wines cost just over 10% of what the retail price is.

When it comes to imported wines the retail price is often less than 10% of the retail price. The price for wine is driven up dramatically because the distributors make so much money off of each bottle that they sell.

The Chance to be an Angel

The system is completely rewritten with the Naked Wines business model that allows for the winery and winemaker to bring together new wines through a crowdfunding type of model. The way that this works is that customers put $40 into their accounts each month.

This money goes to the winemakers to be able to create wines that are made exclusively for NakedWines.com. The customers who invest money are called angels. These angels actually get to use all of the money that they invest in wines. If they choose they can even get a full refund. They are going to get wines at a deep discount with this investment because there is no marketing campaign or additional costs associated with it.

It is not always possible to become an angel. In fact, there is a waitlist most of the time. They do this so that they can have a sufficient amount of wine available to the investors. Don’t worry though, even if you are not an angel, you can still order the wines.

Top Reasons You Should Choose a Wine Club

Even though Naked Wines is not your traditional wine club, it is still a wine club. In fact, there are a lot of different features that make this one of the best wine clubs that you will ever find. Now you might be asking yourself why you should do a wine club, this is a common question. There are three main reasons that you will want to consider a wine club.

Three Reasons to Choose a Wine Club

  1. Always have access to your favorite bottle of wine and the opportunity to purchase when the wine is typically sold out.
  2. Without any shopping or hassle, you will have a regular shipment of wine delivered to your house.
  3. Be able to get wine recommendations from people who are experts.

Things to Avoid When Choosing a Wine Club

Of course, we need to mention that not all of the wine clubs were created equally. In fact, there are a few things that you can avoid when choosing a wine club.

  1. Do not choose a club that has a long term commitment. Choose a club that allows you to cancel anytime that you want.
  2. Make sure that your club has published their shipping costs upfront. Some companies hide hidden fees in their shipping and handling. If you do not see and cannot find shipping costs, there is a good chance that you might be overcharged for shipping at some point.
  3. Do not choose a club that partners with other companies. If you are hearing about your wine club from a magazine or newspaper, this is something that you will want to check. If these companies are partnering together, you are likely overpaying for your wine.

Things to Look for When Choosing a Wine Club

Likewise, there are some things that you are going to want to look for when you are choosing a wine club.

  1. Look for a wine club that is in the price range that you can afford. Find one that allows flexibility and one that stands behind their club and will give you a full refund if you are unhappy.
  2. Try to find a club that offers you a flat shipping fee or offers you free shipping. This way you can avoid hidden costs.
  3. Choose a wine club that works with winemakers. If you are not choosing a club that is working directly with the winemaker, you are going to be overpaying for your wines.

By understanding how to find a great wine club, you will be able to appreciate Naked Wines and all that they have to offer you.

Why I Chose Naked Wines

When I chose Naked Wines, it was because I was looking for a great wine experience online. I wanted to be able to shop for wines and save money and I wanted to still receive the same high-quality wines that I was choosing when I went to my local wine cellar or liquor store.

I liked a few things right off of the bat about the business model. I loved that I was able to choose between purchasing bottles as I wanted them and becoming an angel so that I could invest and have an account to purchase wine with. I was able to get unique and delicious wines on my doorstep easily with Naked Wines.

To be honest, Naked Wines was kind of like my dream come true in that I was able to get all of the wines that I wanted at wholesale prices. I was able to save money and could purchase wines with ease. I also loved that winemakers were able to launch new wines and creative options.

This allowed me to try new wines and also offered me wines that I might not have heard of before. Basically, the winemaker gets to propose new wines to Naked Wines. After the wine is approved,

Naked offers an advance to the winemaker to make the bottles of wine. This is where the investment money is going to be used. Right now there are over 100,000 investors or angels that have signed up with Naked Wines.

The Main Features of Naked Wines

Naked Wines offers a unique business model and offers you wines based on your interests and likes. There are a lot of special wines that you can purchase and you can even become an investor in order to gain deep discounts on the entire expansive collection of wines.

  • Simple buying options, choose to order online or choose to become an Angel (investors) to gain access to discounts and monthly buying specials.
  • Naked Wines is very easy to manage wine investment opportunity.
  • You do not get monthly shipments of wine or wines that you have not to handpicked out.
  • Many choices of wines from 159 during winemakers.
  • Easy policies for cancelation.
  • Friendly and respectful customer service representatives.

Pros to Naked Wine

There are a lot of things that we loved about Naked Wine.

  • Naked Wine offers wines that are from around the globe.
  • Great discount if you are invested as an angel.
  • If you have any questions, Naked Wine is a page where many of the winemakers actually answer the questions or respond to the comments, so it is worth your time to let them know how you feel (whether it is good or bad).

Cons to Naked Wine

There are a few things that we were not completely happy with.

  • Popular wines can be purchased quickly, which means it can be hard to get your hands on bottles of the best wines.
  • You have to pay monthly to get the best discounts.
  • If you do not pay monthly, you can only get the deepest discount once (the first time).

Some of Our Favorite Wines from Naked Wines

We got several different bottles of wine that we really enjoyed when we tried Naked Wines. We thought that we would share some of our favorite bottles with you to offer you a look at what you can expect.

Matt Parish Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2016

The first thing that we noticed about this wine is that it normally would cost $40 a bottle. We were able to get the bottle for just $18 as an Angel. The wine is really good and mimics the flavors and quality of wines that cost three times as much. The company will even offer you some tips so that you can develop their palette better.

Scott Kelley Oregon Pinot Noir 2017

You save 50% on the Scott Kelley Oregon Pinot Noir 2017 when you purchase as an Angel for around $15, as the regular price is around $30. Almost all of the Angels who were able to get their hands on this bottle of wine said that they would order it again when it is available. The wine rivals pinot noirs that are in a price range that you would expect instead of tasting like it cost just around $15.

Rabbit and Spaghetti Icon Reserve Shiraz 2016

When you order the Rabbit and Spaghetti Icon Reserve Shiraz 2016 as an Angel you are going to receive this $50 bottle for just $21. It is a nice deep discount that will keep you drinking in style on a budget. This Shiraz comes from Australia which is why the quality seems to be improved if you are used to drinking the U.S. made wines.

These were our personal favorite three wines that we received and we wanted to share them with you.

What Does Naked Wines Cost?

Naked wines offers a great way to save money on great bottles of wine. The prices are very reasonable, but they do vary depending on the bottles of wine that you choose. There are quite a few coupons available online that you can use when you place your first order to save a considerable amount of money. If you choose to be an angel, you will be spending $40 per month.

Best Alternatives to Naked Wines

Of course, there are many different types of wine clubs that are on the market today. We felt that Naked Wines was unique since you are not subscribing and you can withdraw your complete balance of investment at any time.

This made the company appealing to us because if we did not like the wines that we originally received, we were not locked into receiving more and we could get back any money that we had paid into the company. However, for those who are seeking to learn about the alternatives, we thought that we would share some of these with you.

Bright Cellars

Image result for bright cellars logo

Bright Cellars is a wine club that delivers wine to your door for a $50 per month fee. They offer you the chance to have a better experience with an algorithm that looks to bring you perfect bottles of wine that you are sure to enjoy. Plus, you get to take the Bright Cellars quiz so that you can find your perfect wine match. The wine that comes to you is $20 per bottle. You can cancel at any time. Plus, you can either choose to have white or red wines or a mixture of the two in your delivery.

Winc

Image result for winc logo

With Winc you get to have four bottles of wine that are handcrafted come to your door for the price of $39 each month. You can get $20 off of your first order with a coupon. Winc offers you a great quiz that features six quick questions so that you can discover wines that are specific to your tastes and wants. The wines are delivered to your door and you can easily cancel at any time.

Wine Insiders

Image result for wine insiders logo

Wine Insiders is a club that offers you the wine that you love and more. When you sign up, you receive an introductory selection of wine that includes 15 hand-curated bottles for $89 with free shipping.

The subscription is not monthly. Instead, every twelve weeks, you will be receiving 12 bottles of wine for $139.95 and $19.95 in shipping and handling. Plus, there is a bonus winter and a bonus summer shipment as well.

Wine Insiders promises you that you will receive high-quality wines for a low price. This club offers you the best selection of wines from regions around the world. You even get a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Wine of the Month Club

Image result for wine of the month club logo

For over 30 years Wine of the Month Club has been offering wine drinkers a different type of wine subscription. There are many different options for which one of the wine clubs is going to be best for you.

We are going to try and share each one with you, it’s price and some basic information. Keep in mind all of the prices are what the average monthly costs. Some months might cost slightly more and some will be slightly less. Each subscription comes with 2, 6, or 12 bottles of wine each month. Please keep in mind that we have included all of the shipping charges with the prices below.

2 Bottles of Wine per Month

  • Classic Series Membership @$37/month
  • Vintners Series Membership @$48/month
  • Limited Series Membership @$58/month
  • Pure Wine Series Membership @$52/month
  • California Wine Series Membership @$43/month
  • Napa Series Membership @$63/month
  • Bordeaux Series Membership @$63/month
  • Rose Series Membership @$53/month
  • Pinot Noir Series Membership @$95/month

6 Bottles of Wine per Month

  • Celler Series Membership @$98/month-$161/month

12 Bottles of Wine per Month

  • Case Club Membership @$152/month
  • Mystery Case Club starting @$99 + tax/month-$119 + tax/month

The California Wine Club

Image result for the california wine club logo

The California Wine Club offers you a $25 when you sign up for your new subscription. You receive a VIP winery tour and tasting invitation with your membership. This allows you to experience the wine as well as enjoy it in your home. Each month a different winery is featured, which means that you get to try wines from all of the wineries including those that you have not tried. There are red and white options available. All of the wines are handcrafted. You will have access to personal wine consultants and there are wine club gifts that are available.

Most Loved Wine Club
The California Wine Club’s Signature Series

Featuring only the highest-rated and most coveted of California's wines. Curated wines for you or as a special wine gift for loved ones. The Signature Series is sure to impress as a gift for birthdays, weddings, or other special occasion.

Buy for Yourself or as a Gift
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

How to Use Naked Wines

Naked Wines is a special wine service. They work differently than a subscription as you are not sent wines automatically each month after paying into the company. While they are often called a subscription, this is wrong as you are really an investor. The best thing about this investment is that it gives you access to the highest quality wines at the best prices. However, you never have to worry about losing money as you can easily get all of the money that you have invested refunded to you.

Things You Must Know About Wine

There are some simple things that you should know about wine when you are looking at Naked Wines.

  • You should know that wine is made from 18 different types of grapes and that there are over 200 different types of wine.
  • Depending on the region where you live, different wines are typically preferred.
  • Wine can have different taste characteristics, some are dry, some are sweet, and some are tart.
  • The region where the grapes grow reflects the type of grape that the wine was made out of.
  • Depending on how long your wine has been aged, it might taste differently.
  • You do not always have to pay more to get a better wine.
  • With practice, you, too, can be a wine expert.

These simple facts will help you to have a basic understanding of wine, but you can find more if you know where to look. One thing that many people do not understand is that wines have basic characteristics.

Basic Characteristics of Wine

Today so many people are focused on rating and analyzing wines. To be able to analyze wine yourself, you are going to have to understand these three distinctions for tasting your wine.

How sweet or dry is the wine? — The sweetness is the first thing that you should know. When you taste the wine, you should know how to identify and taste the sweetness. The first thing that you should do is look for a tingling sensation on the tip of your tongue.

There is also a slight oily taste in the middle of your tongue. Wine has a higher viscosity, which is an indicator of a higher ABV level. Some wines have residual sugar. When a wine is very dry, it can be confused with high levels of tannins.

How tart is the wine? — As you taste the tartness of the wine, you are going to be looking for the acidity. The acidity of the wine is sometimes confused with an alcohol forward wine. If you have a feeling on your tongue where there is a tingling on the sides and front, you will know that the wine is tart. When you rub your tongue on the roof of your mouth it will feel gravely. You might also notice that it feels as though you have bit into an apple-like your mouth is wet.

How bitter is the wine? When you are looking to taste the tannins in the wine, you are able to taste how bitter the wine is. The side of your tongue and the front inside of your mouth will taste the bitter with high levels of tannins.

Your tongue is going to dry out. Even after you swallow, you are going to still taste that bitter flavor and feel that dry feeling. Just do not get confused and describe the wine as dry when describing the bitterness of the wine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I get charged for wines that I have not picked out?

If you are not an Angel investor, you are not going to get charged unless you have picked out and purchased bottles of wine. If you are an Angel investor, you are going to be charged $40 per month to invest in Naked Wines. However, you are not going to be getting a wine that you have not picked out delivered to you. Instead, your investment goes into a “piggy bank” or an account where you can purchase wine with the credits that you have saved.

I have heard bad things, is Naked Wines really a scam?

So many have commented and wondered about the validity of Naked Wines. We did not feel that anything about our Naked Wines experience was a scam. We were very happy with the wines and loved that we had options that were affordable. We also loved that the investment option meant that we could always sit down and order wine on the credit that we had invested. Plus, you can cancel at any time and if you have invested money that you have not spent, you are able to get a full refund of all of this money.

How do I cancel being an Angel?

If things are not working out or if you have had a sudden change in income or bills and need to cancel your policy, you will be thankful that you have some options and that it is easy to do so. In order to cancel you just need to pick one of the following options:
Option #1 — Make a Phone Call — The first option that you have is that you can simply pick up your phone and call Naked Wines at 1-800-673-4718.
Option #2 — Send an Email — The second option that you have is that you can send an email to [email protected].

I received a voucher for Naked Wines, how do I redeem it?

Redeeming your voucher for Naked Wines is really easy. When you go to the homepage at www.nakedwines.com, look to the upper right-hand corner and click on “Redeem voucher”. From here you can enter your voucher information and sign up. Keep in mind that you can only use one voucher, the first time that you are ordering, from one email address. If your email address is registered to the website or if you have used the website in the past, you will not be able to redeem the voucher.

How do I become an Angel and how long will it take?

The amount of time that it takes to become an Angel varies. Some months Nake Wines might need more investors than others and then you could end up getting off of the waitlist quickly. However, there are some cases where it has taken a couple of months or longer. No one can say for certain how long you will be on the waitlist for.

Why Should I Choose Nake Wines Over Other Wine Clubs?

There are many reasons that you should choose the Naked Wines club over other wine clubs. Here are just a few of these reasons:

  • You actually get to pick out every single bottle of wine that you are paying for.
  • Naked Wines offers a money-back guarantee on everything, including all of the money that you have invested as an Angel.
  • You are always going to find a wide selection of wines that are a great value.
  • You can find everyday wine as well as date night wine as the choices are endless.
  • There is no shortage of wines to choose from. They have everything that you could ever dream of and more.
  • While you might not realize when you are purchasing from a large company like Naked Wines, you are still able to support small independent winemakers.
  • Do your wines contain 220 preservatives or sulfates?

Sadly, all of the wines from Naked Wines have preservatives in them. They are unable to guarantee freshness with wines that do not contain preservatives. The reason behind this is that wines that do not contain preservatives are prone to spoiling.

They can end up being very expensive as well. However, the company has recently offered the information that they are in the process of talking with some of the winemakers in hopes of being able to offer a preservative-free wine.

Does Naked Wines sell Moscato wines?

Naked Wines offers a nice selection of Moscato wines. They offer many different styles and bottles from many of their winemakers. There are no shortage of bottles to choose from.

Benefits to Being a Naked Wines Angel

One of the biggest benefits of becoming an Angel is that you are going to have access to many different types of wines, including those that are exclusive. In addition, you get to purchase these wines at special preferred prices that are significantly cheaper than what you would typically pay. Finally, you will be able to get your money back if you are not satisfied. Not only does the Naked Wines Angel program offer all of this, but it offers much more.

With these benefits in mind, we wanted to share with you some of the additional benefits that go along with being an Angel.

Quit Supporting Industrialized Winemaking and Support Independent Winemakers

One of the best things about being an Angel is that your money is not just going to a large wine producer. Instead, you are able to get wine from a winemaker who is focussed on being able to create wonderful wines.

Many times independent winemakers have put considerable years into producing wine working for someone else. By this point, they know how to produce great wine, but do not have the resources to get their brand out on the store shelves. Thankfully Naked Wines offers them the opportunity to create their own wines by funding with Angels’ investments.

Take Advantage of Great Pricing and Save Big

When it comes to purchasing wines, Angels are able to save big. They are able to pick up great bottles of wine for a fraction of what they would pay in the store. In fact, most of the wines have at least 50% off and some have considerably more.

I noticed that I personally have not seen any wine that does not have at least a 50% discount as an Angel. Since Naked Wines is funding the winemakers and they are not going into debt or having to fund the wine by selling everything that they own, you are not going to see inflated prices on these bottles of wine.

Connect with Other Wine Lovers

Some many people who love wine find that they cannot find other wine lovers where they live. If this is you, it is time to relax. You are going to connect with a community when you become an Angel.

One of the biggest things that I enjoyed as an Angel is that I could connect and talk about wines that I had received from Naked Wines without ever having to worry that I would choose another bottle that I did not like. I was able to get consistent and constant feedback that allowed me to fall in love with the wine that I choose.

Get Free Wine

That’s right, you can get free wine as an Angel. The way that you qualify for free wine is to add 11 bottles of wine to your case. Once you have done this, you will be given a choice of accepting the current free wine selection or not.

Of course, we suggest that you always try these free bottles as they will give you what you need to expand your tastes and will also help you to discover new bottles of wine that you might not have ever tried. Plus, you are not missing out on anything if you hate it as you are not paying a dime for this bottle.

Conclusion

Finding a good bottle of wine can be a struggle. I will admit that I have always had a hard time trying to pick out wine. I used to get stuck buying the same bottle every single time once I found one that I was happy with.

This is because there are so many wines out there that it can be intimidating and it can be hard to not end up with wines that you are not happy with. Thankfully I was introduced to Naked Wines. Being Naked Wines Angel has allowed me to be able to find a large variety of different types of wine and many choices that I have fallen in love with.

I would highly recommend that everyone take advantage of the specials that are available with Naked Wines. Plus, if you become an Angel, you are going to get to choose wines each month and if you decide you no longer want to buy or try wines, you can easily get a full refund of all of the money that you have not spent from your account.