Wine.com Reviews

I've been buying wine from wine.com for around 5 or 6 years now. For part of that time, I was a Stewardship member, which gives you free shipping for an annual fee. I've ordered Bordeaux futures and wines they have available. Here’s a rundown of my experience with them.

Website: 5/5 stars. Their site is hands down the best for finding wine info. They’ve got a huge selection, and not only do they provide details about each wine and its vintage, but they also share info about the vigneron and other wines from that producer. They include reviews from major wine critics, and you can check ratings for that wine from previous vintages, even if it’s not in stock. The layout is user-friendly and pleasant, and their filtering options are pretty solid. I do have some disagreements with how they categorize certain wines, but that’s a minor issue.

Pricing: 3/5. Generally speaking, wine.com tends to have higher prices than other places. Bordeaux futures are on par with local prices. If I apply a 10% case discount and use my Stewardship membership, the cost is about what I’d pay locally, even with the high taxes in Chicago. But honestly, buying less than a case isn’t economical unless there’s a good coupon or free shipping deal. I get that they have overhead and need to make a profit, but it’s just something to keep in mind.

Phone App: 4/5. The app (at least the Android version) is nearly as good as the website. It can be a bit buggy, but it has the essential features of the site, plus a barcode scanner and camera for searching wines. When I’m out shopping in Chicago, I often use the app to check prices and ratings.

Customer Service: 3/5. My experiences with customer service have been hit or miss. Sometimes the wait is long, and if you’re not looking for recommendations but have questions about your order or shipment, the help can be inconsistent. It can be a bit frustrating, but I don’t often need to reach out to them.

Shipping: 5/5. Over the years, I’ve had about 30 cases delivered. One case was poorly packaged (they forgot the top casing to keep the bottles upright), but since none were damaged, I didn’t pursue it further. The first time I ordered, I had it sent to my home, which was a disaster since my wife and I weren’t there for the three delivery attempts by FedEx, and I had to pick it up at a regional store. I don’t see that as a wine.com issue, but rather a FedEx one. If folks are unhappy with delivery, they should direct their complaints to FedEx. Neither company can be blamed if an adult isn’t home to sign for the package. Now, I have FedEx deliver to Walgreens, which is way more convenient. Since I’m a member of a wine storage facility, they handle my deliveries now, and everything arrives in perfect condition.

COVID Issues: Seriously, folks. During a global pandemic, when people are getting sick and there are all sorts of government regulations causing delays, you’re going to give wine.com a 1/5 star rating because your wine took a few extra days to arrive? Sure, it’s annoying, but we’re not talking about essential items like flour or toilet paper. If you need wine for a special occasion and it’s time-sensitive, just go to a store. If wine.com is the only place with that special bottle, plan ahead.

I shop with a few other online retailers, and I’ve never had major issues with them. The longest wait was about 6 weeks from a small wine shop in Connecticut. Honestly, if I had read all the negative reviews before ordering from wine.com, I might have been hesitant, but that’s not how it went down. They have their problems, but their selection is top-notch. Pricing is decent, customer service is average, but they make ordering wine super easy, especially in a state like Illinois, which is a regulatory nightmare.

At first, I had my doubts about wine.com due to some bad reviews, but honestly, they’ve become my go-to during quarantine! I’ve placed four big orders and even sent a gift to a buddy, and it always shows up in less than three days. The variety and quality are fantastic. I’ve never encountered any issues and I totally suggest this service to anyone who talks about wine delivery.