I’ve developed a deeper appreciation for wine in the past few years. There’s nothing quite like sharing a cheese platter with friends over a nice glass of wine! Although I am still a novice, I’ve been slowly learning more about different varieties and what I like. Last month, I decided I was going to do a home wine tasting in a quest to find a really solid wine that could be my “Go-to” when picking up a bottle of vino to go with dinner. I picked up a few varieties of reds and whites, and dedicated a notepad to my tasting notes.
Although it was a fun experiment, I didn’t find any standout winners, and I didn’t feel much wiser for it. There is such a range of how a wine can taste, even within one standard variety, so it can be a little overwhelming!
That’s why I was fascinated by the concept of Club W – WINC. This personalized wine club delivers top picks to your door based on your “Palate Profile”. To set up your profile, you take a brief quiz that asks you about your taste preferences, then makes recommendations based on that information. I immediately loved this concept: Not only is it geared towards casual enthusiasts like me who are still learning, but it also involves two of my favorite things: Wine, and taking quizzes!
The palate quiz was quick and fun to take. I wondered how it would interpret my results: For example, it asks if you enjoy sweets/chocolate, to which I naturally indicated yes; however, I don’t actually like overly sweet wines. But when it showed the top picks for me, one of the first wines listed was a Malbec, which is my go-to red, so it was a promising start!
I selected three wines for my first shipment:
- 2015 One from the Quiver® Malbec
- 2014 Passarola Vinho Branco
- 2014 Alchymist Noir Red Blend
One caveat for joining a home delivery wine club: Due to unavoidable legal restrictions, shipping can get a little complicated, as someone must be available to sign for the delivery who is 21+. WINC has a handy page about shipping options that explains this in more detail so you can be prepared before placing your order.
After my wines arrived, I set about hosting wine tasting #2: Personalized edition!
I began with the One from the Quiver® Malbec, since I am definitely a Malbec girl. This was my favorite out of the three – it was a little tart, but pretty smooth overall.
Next, we sampled the 2014 Alchymist Noir Red Blend. This was my fiancé’s favorite out of the three, enjoying its dark chocolate palate paired with cookies. I personally found it to be a tad more bitter than the Malbec, but still enjoyed it.
Finally, I opened the 2014 Passarola Vinho Branco. I used to avoid white wine altogether, but as my wine appreciation grows, I realize how much I enjoy the right varieties. This wine had musky notes that are stronger than I usually prefer, but it paired nicely with cheese!
WINC gave me the chance to expand my wine repertoire with a fun wine tasting in the comfort of my own home. My hunt for that elusive, perfect bottle of wine continues, but I would absolutely try a shipment from WINC again – the wines were quality, affordable, and would be great for dinner parties or hostess gifts.
The company also has a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, so if you don’t enjoy what you receive, they will give you full credit towards another bottle along with more personalized recommendations to figure out what you will like. I don’t know about you, but tasting new wines every month sounds like as task I would definitely be up to!
And if you are at a loss what to gift to those who love wine tasting – this Club W – WINC gift card would be an interesting and unique gift that will allow your friends to explore life’s experiences.
