Even if you do have a favorite local shop, if you’re someone who regularly pops open a bottle of wine at home, wine delivery services are a great option to stock up with a case of your choosing without having to cart it home. There are lots of great options out there, depending on your taste and budget. Here are our picks for the best wine delivery services.
Best Wine Delivery Services of 2022
Best Overall: Astor Wines & Spirits Best Curated Service: SommSelect Best for Natural Wines: Primal Wine Best Membership-Based Delivery: StewardShip by Wine.com
What We LikeApproachableHas something for every wine drinker What We Don’t LikeDoesn’t ship to all states Astor Wines & Spirits is a wine mecca in lower Manhattan that opened in 1946. While its size might lead you to believe it’s just another big box wine store selling whatever it can get its hands on, that’s hardly the case. Every single bottle you’ll find at Astor Wines is hand-selected by folks who truly know wine. Luckily, you don’t have to live in New York City to enjoy Astor’s offerings because it runs a robust delivery program that ships to most states. You can easily search for what you’re looking for on the shop’s website, as well as browse if you’re not quite sure what you want. The site really feels like you’re stepping into a wine shop, with great tasting notes and recommendations, as well as a glossary to educate you on wine varietals. Astor Wines offers free shipping on your first order over $199. After that, if you happen to live in Manhattan or Brooklyn, you’ll get free ground shipping on orders of $150 or more. Anyone else in New York can get free shipping on orders of $199 or more. Otherwise, you will have to pay for shipping after your first order. Prices are competitive enough for this not to be a pain point. Plus, the shop offers 10 percent off single cases and its liquor selection is just as robust, in case you want to add a bottle or two to your shipment. What We LikeRare and unique winesConcierge program What We Don’t LikeMay not suit all budgets SommSelect was founded by Master Sommelier Ian Cauble, whom you may know from the Somm documentaries, and is run by a team of highly experienced sommeliers. You really can’t get much more curated than what SommSelect offers. Every bottle is hand-selected and you’re given access to a wide range of wines you might not find anywhere else. What really makes SommSelect stand out is its concierge service. By reaching out directly to the concierge team, you’ll be able to get personal guidance and bottle curation, no matter if you’re an everyday drinker or a collector. The company also emails a Daily Offer on bottles that it’s most excited about, as well as occasion-driving collections if you’re looking for added inspiration. Bottle prices start at $20, which is quite reasonable for such curated wine. SommSelect offers free shipping on orders of six bottles or more and ships to most states with the exception of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Michigan, Mississippi, South Dakota, and Utah. What We LikeOut-of-the-box selectionsEco-friendly packing material What We Don’t LikeNo free shipping until order $185 or over While natural wines have become incredibly popular, they’re still not readily available in all wine shops. If you’re interested in diving into the world’s natural wines and don’t have access to a wide selection locally, you can do no better than Primal Wine. Primal Wine’s website is curated and easy to navigate. It not only offers thoughtful tasting notes with each bottle it sells, but it also provides detailed notes about the producer, region, and terroir. You’ll learn a thing or two before your wine even arrives at your door. Emoji food pairings add a dose of fun to the experience. Primal Wine is a smaller company and does not offer free shipping until you order $185 or above in product, but it does use 100 percent recycled packaging material for its shipments. This care and attention, from bottle to box, really makes Primal Wine stand out. What We LikeAffordableLarge selection of wines What We Don’t LikeWebsite is a little clunky to navigate Wine.com features the largest selection of bottles you’ll find just about anywhere. That means you could order from this shop frequently and never drink the same wine twice. And, if you are a regular customer, consider becoming a member of StewardShip. For $59 per year, you’ll get unlimited free standard shipping. There is no minimum purchase, so you can opt to order a single bottle or multiple cases at a time. Wine.com ships to most states except for Alabama, Delaware, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah. What’s more, you can choose your delivery date. With such a broad selection comes wines that fit absolutely every budget and taste. This truly is the online version of a wine outlet. That said, unfortunately, is a website that’s a little difficult to navigate. Searching for particular bottles is the best approach, while browsing is a bit clunky and less user-friendly. However, for affordability and expansiveness, you can’t beat this wine delivery service.
What Is a Wine Delivery Service?
A wine delivery service delivers wine straight to your door without having to go to a store. Many are offered through brick-and-mortar stores as a supplemental option if you don’t live locally, while others are strictly online operations.
Is There a Minimum Number of Bottles I Need to Order?
Minimum orders depend on the service. Some might have a case minimum, while others will let you order as little as a single bottle. Often, there are discounts offered the more you buy.
How Much Does Shipping Cost?
The cost of delivery also depends on the service. Typically, you’ll need to order a minimum quantity or spend a certain amount to qualify for free shipping. This is because shipping wine is generally an expensive process due to factors like weight and temperature control.
How We Chose the Best Wine Delivery Services
To narrow it down and select the best from the countless wine delivery services available, we opted for services that ship to a majority of states, offer a wide selection, and are able to fit a range of budgets and tastes.
