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Naked Wines is an online wine retailer that offers a subscription-based service as well as a la carte wine sales. Tasting Room is a wine club and online retailer that offers both monthly subscriptions and one-time purchases.
Both companies offer a wide selection of wines, but Naked Wines has a greater focus on independent wine growers, while Tasting Room offers a more diverse selection of wines.
Table of Contents
Bottom Line Up Front
Naked Wines is a better choice if you’re looking for value and a wide selection of wines. Tasting Room is a good choice if you’re looking for personalized service and recommendations. My personal choice would be Naked Wines for the affordability and freedom I have to choose what I want from a huge selection.
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Main Differences Between Naked Wines and Tasting Room
The main differences between Naked Wines and Tasting Room are:
- Naked Wines offers a wider selection of wines, whereas Tasting Room specializes in hard-to-find and small-production wines.
- Naked Wines has a more affordable wine subscription service, whereas Tasting Room’s subscriptions are pricier but include access to exclusive events and tasting experiences.
- Naked Wines offers a wine club with free shipping on orders over $100, whereas Tasting Room does not have a wine club but offers free shipping on orders over $75.
- Naked Wines is a great option for those looking for a wide selection of wines at an affordable price, whereas Tasting Room is ideal for those who are willing to pay a bit more for exclusive access to rare and small-batch wines.
Naked Wines Overview
Naked Wines was founded in 2008 by Rowan Gormley, who is also the founder of Virgin Wines. The company is headquartered in the United Kingdom and operates in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Naked Wines’ business model is based on the concept of “crowd-funding” wine production.
The company solicits investments from customers, which are then used to finance wine producers. In return, investors receive discounts on future purchases.
Naked Wines offers a wide selection of wines, including red, white, sparkling, and rosé wines. The company also offers a wine club with free shipping on orders over $100.
Wine Selection
My favorite thing about Naked Wines is the huge selection. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a light red wine or a full-bodied white. My husband is a big fan of the rosé selection, and I’ve found that the sparkling wines are perfect for entertaining.
Their selection is very unique because every wine was carefully crafted by a small, independent producer. I absolutely love this because, as a wine lover and as a small business owner, I love to see them getting the support they need.
Wine Club
Naked Wines also offers a wine club, which is a great way to try new wines at a discount. The club includes free shipping on orders over $100, and you can cancel at any time.
However, the way the Naked Wine club works is a bit different than other clubs. You can begin by taking a quiz, but it’s not to get to know you better. It’s to educate you on the value of the actual wine in the bottle.
After you take the quiz, you’ll get a voucher for ordering wine. The wines range in price, but they’re all very affordable. The club is a great way to try new wines without breaking the bank.
Naked Wines calls its members Angels, which is appropriate because I am one. (Insert innocent grin here.) To become an Angel, there’s a minimum deposit amount into your account of $40. This goes toward the purchase of wine and other items.
This is a one-time deposit, but you can add more at anytime. This funds your future wine purchases and will remain in your account if you don’t use it. I also took comfort in the fact that I could withdraw this money at any time, so I’m not locked into anything.
How it Works
I really love the way Naked Wines works because there’s no commitment, and I am in complete control over what I order, how much I spend, and how often I get it. All of their wines are available to everyone, and you can load your cart with exactly what you want.
They don’t operate on a monthly subscription model, and no one chooses your wines for you. You are the orchestrator of your own wine fate. Pick things you know you’ll like, or branch out and try something new. If you don’t like it, you can take advantage of their 100% satisfaction guarantee. They’ll replace the bottle with something else or refund your money, and you can even keep the bottle.
Wine Quiz
I really enjoyed the Naked Wines quiz because there were some things I didn’t know. For example, the price of the bottle doesn’t necessarily correspond with the value of the liquid in the glass. Over about $35, you’re simply paying for a fancy label and a middleman.
The goal of Naked Wines is to bring awareness to this and teach people how to identify a good bottle at a great price. Educating wine drinkers of this fact will benefit the entire wine industry by recognizing smaller sommeliers and winemakers.
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Naked Wines Pros
- Freedom to choose exact bottles
- Spend as much or as little as you like
- Order whenever you want
- Huge selection
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
Naked Wines Cons
- $40 minimum commitment up-front
Tasting Room Overview
Tasting Room was founded in 2007 by Anthony Tasso. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and operates in the United States. Tasting Room specializes in hard-to-find and small-production wines. The company offers a subscription service that delivers six wines per month. Customers can also purchase wine by the bottle or case.
Tasting Room’s business model is based on the concept of “wine discovery.” The company works with small, independent producers to source its wines. Tasting Room also offers a wine club, which delivers six wines per month. Customers can also purchase wine by the bottle or by the case.
Wine Selection
I wasn’t too impressed with Tasting Room’s selection. I know they advertise that they curate their wines based on quality and aim to offer only the best, but there isn’t a wide variety to choose from.
When you join the wine club, you don’t get to choose your own, which won’t bother some people but may make others feel like they’re losing control over what they get. If you’d rather shop the collection on your own, you can, but there aren’t very many options.
What I do like about Tasting Room is the detailed notes they offer for each bottle. You’ll know exactly what you’re getting, and there won’t be any surprises. This makes it a lot easier to shop the collection and select what you know you’ll like.
Wine Club
This wine club model is pretty typical of others. You choose whether you want white, red, or mixed boxes. Then you can choose either 6 or 12 bottles and 1, 2, or 3-month frequencies. If you add the optional tasting kit, you’ll receive that with your first shipment. Then simply add it to your cart and wait.
Once you receive your box, you can try everything inside and rate it. Tasting Room will use your ratings to pair you with even better wines the next time. The more wine you rate, the better they’ll get to know you, and the more you’ll like your wines.
There’s a wine concierge that I found helpful when I had questions, and the shop allows you to order more of what you love from the collection.
How it Works
Tasting Room’s wine club offers regular deliveries of wine they’ve hand-selected for you. Every box gets better based on how you rate the wine you receive. It’s easy to sign up, relatively affordable and takes no time at all.
You can begin enjoying your wines quickly, and the hands-off process means you can relax and let them take care of everything. Your wines will always show up on time, so you can begin trying new things with every delivery.
The Blog
The real stand-out offering from Tasting Room is the blog. I love reading through it for ideas on new things I can try, new activities to do with wine, and great gift ideas for wine lovers.
They take great care in entertaining you as well as offering quality wines. You can tell they’re passionate about what they do, and that shines through in every post.
Tasting Room Pros
- High-quality wines
- Fantastic blog
- Comprehensive quiz
- Effective rating system
- Detailed tasting notes
Tasting Room Cons
- Small selection
Alternatives
Naked Wines and Tasting Room aren’t the only options on the market, and I would highly suggest shopping around for a club that works for your lifestyle. I’ve tried most of these, and there’s something good about each one.
Firstleaf
Firstleaf offers a more personalized experience. They get to know you and your taste preferences before sending you wine. This can be great if you’re worried about not liking what you receive.
Winc
Winc is a bit more expensive but offers an interesting selection of wines. They also work with small, independent producers, which is a bonus. It’s obvious that Winc loves its club members, and every box comes with tasting notes, recipes, and other fun activities and offers.
They also have a rating system that allows you to tell them what you like and what you don’t. This helps to fine-tune your experience and make sure you’re only getting wines that you’ll love.
My favorite thing about Winc is that the entire experience is personalized to you, from the quiz when you sign up to the interactive rating system after you receive each box.
Vinebox
Vinebox is a wine club that delivers wine by the glass. This is great if you want to try new things but don’t want to commit to a whole bottle. Each box comes with nine different wines, three whites, three reds, and three roses.
The downside to Vinebox is that it’s quite pricey, but I like that you can try a bunch of different wines without having to worry about what to do with the leftovers. And if you find a wine you love, you can always order more.
Martha Stewart Wine Club
The Martha Stewart Wine Club is one of the most affordable wine clubs with the fastest shipping times I’ve tried. You can choose between all reds, all whites, or a mix of both. The wine is sourced from some of the best vineyards in the world, and the club offers free shipping on all orders.
I like that you can choose how often you want to receive your wine and that there’s no commitment. You can cancel at any time, which is great if you’re not sure how much wine you’ll actually drink.
The Martha Stewart Wine Club is a great option if you’re looking for quality wines at an affordable price. The free shipping is a nice bonus, and I love that you can cancel at any time.
California Wine Club
The California Wine Club focuses on wines from great regions in California, so while the geographical area is limited, the selection of wines is still huge. It’s affordable, and they offer free shipping.
However, if you’d like to try wines from other places, they also have a club for wines from the Pacific Northwest and one for wines from Italy.
The California Wine Club is a great option if you’re looking for quality wines at an affordable price. The free shipping is a nice bonus, and I love that you can try wines from all over the state.
FAQs
If you’re in the market for a wine subscription, the options can be overwhelming. These frequently asked questions will help you narrow down the field and find the club that’s right for you.
Answer: The cost of a wine club varies depending on the type of club, the frequency of shipments, and the quality of wine. Generally, you can expect to pay between $60 and $200 per month.
Answer: Red wine is made from dark-colored grapes and is full-bodied with high tannins. White wine is made from grapes that have had the skin removed. While some white wines are made from grapes with green skins, like Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio is actually made from grapes with purple skins.
Answer: Most clubs offer monthly or quarterly shipments. Some clubs offer the option to skip a shipment or cancel at any time.
Answer: Most clubs offer a satisfaction guarantee, so you can return or exchange wines that you don’t like.
Final Thoughts
While Naked Wines and Tasting Room are both great, I have to give the nod to Naked Wines. I love that you can customize your experience and that the wines are amazing. Plus, the fact that you’re supporting independent winemakers is a huge bonus.
That said, Tasting Room is a great option if you’re looking for more of a traditional wine club experience. All of their wines are excellent as well.
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Recommended Reads:
- The Martha Stewart Wine Club Review: Worth the Money?
- Best David Akiyoshi Wines
- Naked Wines vs Firstleaf Compared
- Naked Wines vs Winc
- Naked Wines Review
- Firstleaf vs Vinebox
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