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Bright Cellars Review

Tuesday, March 19th

2024 Wine Club Reviews

Bright Cellars Review 3.5 Star Rating

Bright Cellars

3.5 Star Rating
  • Shipments from $66.24/month to $155.04/month
  • Red and White wine available
  • Algorithm-based wine selections designed for you
  • Sales on first-time purchases
  • Free shipping available for some membership options
  • International wine selection
  • Shipments from $66.24/month to $155.04/month

Bright Cellars is a personalized monthly wine club that aims to select wines based on your tastes. Founded by Joe Laurendi and Richard Yau, Bright Cellars uses a unique algorithm called Bright Points to assign scores to wines, based on the results of a quiz you take before signing up. Bright Cellars has shifted towards an algorithm-based selection process to cater to the specific needs and preferences of customers, though they do still employ expert staff to help with the final selections. Bright Cellars' staff receives intro WSET sommelier training to better serve customers.

What kind of Wine lover are you?

To get started at Bright Cellars, you first tell them whether you're a "Wine Newbie" or a "Wine Lover" . Then, the ordering process starts with a quiz that determines the flavor profile of the wines that Bright Cellars thinks you'll like. The quiz consists of seven questions, with each question having multiple-choice answers. After completing the quiz and entering your information, you are given the opportunity to add a "premium mystery bottle" to your order at a discounted price. You can also add a waiter's style corkscrew with your order for $8.00.

Wines based on the quiz

Bright Cellars offers a subscription service where you can choose from a 4-bottle delivery option, a 6-bottle delivery option, and a 12-bottle delivery option. Using the quiz results and the 100-point scale, the algorithm assigns the wines that best match your preferences to your first box. After taking the quiz, customers can indicate whether they want their wine every 4, 6, or 8 weeks at checkout. Customers do have the option to swap out wines for a different wine selected by the algorithm.

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Easy options at competitive prices

After the first shipment, Bright Cellars becomes a monthly subscription. The pricing per month is based on a per-bottle basis. Both the 6- and 12-bottle subscriptions provide free shipping as part of the membership. If you calculate the monthly payment the Bright Cellars prices range from:

  • 4-bottle plan: $66.24/month
  • 6-bottle plan: $92.52/month
  • 12-bottle plan: $155.04/month

Discounts and bonuses are available

As a bonus, Bright Cellars helps new members keep prices down with a new member discount of $110 on a 6-bottle subscription. To use the discount, the customer needs to take the wine taste quiz, discover their ideal matches, and choose the plan that suits them. If the customer needs more or less than 6 bottles, the discount can still be applied to a 4-bottle subscription with $55 off, or a 12-bottle subscription with $220 off, depending on the chosen plan.

Mystery bottle

A fun benefit at Bright Cellars is that the company offers the option to opt-in for a mystery bottle on top of the ones you're already getting in your membership for an additional $15-$20, depending on the plan you select. The mystery bottle is selected by Bright Cellars' Sommelier.

Make it your shipment schedule

If you want more flexibility with the shipments, Bright Cellars offers the option to reschedule or delay shipments. On top of that, if customers don't like a wine in the shipment, Bright Cellars will send a replacement. Plus, with the rating system at Bright Cellars, customers rate the wines after drinking them and those ratings factor into the options for the next shipment. Bright Cellars allows members to customize an order through their Wine Concierge up to 24 hours before shipment, and they have a wine blog on their website that helps you increase your knowledge of wine.

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Bundles of bottles for sale

One of our favorite features at Bright Cellars is that you can buy bottles directly from their website outside of a subscription plan. So, whether you're a club member or not, you can shop for wine on the Bright Cellars site. However, they only sell the bottles in "bundles." So, there aren't any options for individual wine bottles. This does make a great way to send wine as a gift, though. The bundles are curated with particular themes, like the "influencer" bundle which is based on the tastes of famous influencers online.

High customer ratings

In terms of customer satisfaction Bright Cellars has a great reputation with the BBB. The bureau has awarded Bright Cellars an "A+" rating and full accreditation for its customer service. In terms of third party review sites, the ratings aren't as high with an average rating of 3.5, but there were only around 150 total reviews of Bright Cellars at the time of this review. However, if you look at the reviews on the Bright Cellars site, there are over 600,000 5-star reviews from verified customers. We recommend taking these with a grain of salt as they are featured on the site for a reason, but the feedback is impressive.

Reviews are mixed

Happy customers note that buying from Bright Cellars has been a "great experience." Multiple customers enjoyed the algorithm at Bright Cellars, noting that the company "understands their palette" better than other wine clubs they tried. On the other hand, customers who weren't as satisfied said the wines weren't impressive and that they didn't feel worth the price. Others noted that there was mold in their bottles, which was concerning overall.

Worth trying despite some poor feedback

Bright Cellars provides a convenient and customizable wine-buying experience. Because there have been some negative reviews including some of those concerns being mold in bottles, we can't rate Bright Cellars as high as some of its features deserve. However, there are a lot of great things to enjoy with Bright Cellars, so it might still be worth checking out.

Where Can You Find the Best Wine Club?

Whether you're looking for a cool way to discover new and unique wines from all over the world, or you're looking to level up your nose and taste for wine, a wine club is a unique and exciting way to explore the wide world of sommeliers. Wine has so many intricacies and nuances that make it such a fascinating beverage. From the type of the grapes to the winemaking techniques used, every aspect of wine plays a role in its taste and character.

If you're a wine fan already, you may already know about wine pairings and the fun of choosing a wine for dinner or dessert. However, if you're new to wine and want to explore all the flavors in a wine club, you can look forward to novel ways to enjoy your meals and snacks with a little red or white on the side. In a good wine club, you can find out more about all the best wines and the different ways to experience them.

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Wine Club FAQ

A wine club is a membership that delivers wine to you on a regular basis and without any long term commitment. The majority of these clubs simply require you to cancel your membership prior to your next shipment. The fine print of each club should be perused before making a final decision.
The idea of a wine club is to provide delicious new wine brands and flavors that most consumers wouldn't otherwise have access to. Whether the wine originated from California's popular Sonoma Valley or a small and quaint village in Southern France, customers can take care in knowing that each wine is selectively handpicked by wine connoisseurs with great care.
The frequency of a wine club delivery really depends on you. Some wine club memberships offer a variety of flexibility in terms of options. Choose from monthly, semi-monthly, seasonal, or quarterly depending on your needs and budget.
On average, wine clubs start around $7 per bottle and up. The cost of shipping is also something to consider before buying. Most companies charge a flat rate fee for each delivery, while others provide free shipping. Wine club shoppers will find the option to pay in full or be charged at each delivery.
If your wine club delivery shows up damaged or missing you simply need to contact the customer service department. The bulk of wine club membership are very customer oriented and want to fix any problems that might occur during transit.
Typically, all wine club memberships include tasting notes. Tasting notes allow the wine taster to learn about the winery and history of the establishment. Generally, the aromas and flavors will also be listed along with food pairing.
Sangria is a very well-known drink that features wine. Here's one popular recipe:
Ingredients
  - 1 (750-mL.) bottle or sweet red or white wine
  - 1 c. orange juice
  - 1/2 c. brandy
  - 1/4 c. granulated sugar
  - 1 orange, sliced
  - 1 apple, sliced
  - 1 c. blueberries
  - 1 c. sliced strawberries
  - Other fruits if so desired
  - 1 (12-oz.) can seltzer
Instructions
In a large pitcher, mix together wine, orange juice, brandy, and sugar then stir in oranges, apples, blueberries, and strawberries. Refrigerate until ready to serve, preferably 2 hours. Top off with seltzer before serving.
Wine clubs can be a great gift for the wine lovers in your life and those hard to shop for family members. Imagine delicious, hard to find and unique, wine arriving each month to your gift recipient. Wine clubs can also make a wonderful business gift for your special client.
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Continued from above...

One of the primary benefits of joining a wine club is that you'll receive a selection of carefully curated wines on a regular basis, usually monthly or quarterly. You can have these wines at home, share them with friends and family, or simply savor them on your own. From the fruity, bold flavors of a Cabernet Sauvignon to the delicate, floral notes of a Riesling, there is truly a wine for every taste.

The best part about wine clubs is that they offer the chance to try different types of wines that you might not have come across otherwise. They often have exclusive access to wines that you can't find in stores or restaurants, which can broaden your horizons and expand your palate.

Joining a wine club is also super convenient. Instead of spending time and energy searching for new wines to try, you can rely on the expertise of the club's curators to provide you with a regular supply of high-quality wines. Plus, they often offer educational resources like tasting notes and food pairing suggestions, so you can learn more about wine and become a bit of an expert yourself.

If you're ready to say "Cheers" and celebrate a new Wine Club membership, we're totally on board. But with so many online clubs to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are a few important factors to consider to help you find the best fit for you:

  • Cost. What are the prices like? Are you being charged a fair price for the subscription based on the wines you'll receive? How do individual bottles stack up against pricing from other companies?
  • User-friendly shopping. Is the website difficult to navigate? Can you easily find the wine or club you're looking for?
  • Flexibility. Are you looking for an ongoing membership? Or are you looking to purchase a prepaid short-term club option? Perhaps you are looking for a club that lets you join some months and skip others? Thinking about the flexibility you want from your wine club will help you decide where to shop.
  • By the bottle. Are you only looking for a wine club that will ship you new flavors? Or are you looking for a place where you can enjoy club shipments as well as buy wine by the bottle? Some businesses offer deals for your membership that reduce by-the-bottle prices, which may help you as you look through the options.
  • Other products. Are you looking for more than just wine? Some club sites offer other memberships to foods, flowers, and more. Additionally, some wine club memberships offer a ship with not only additional wines but products like glassware to help you build your home bar.

Top Consumer Reviews is here to make the process of finding your next wine club a breeze. We have reviewed and ranked the best wine clubs out there today. We hope this information helps you feel ready to pop the cork and enjoy a glass of your next favorite wine as soon as possible!

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Select any 2 Wine Clubs to compare them head to head

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  • Gold Medal Wine Club
  • Firstleaf
  • Wine Access
  • Cellars Wine Club
  • Amazing Clubs
  • The California Wine Club
  • Bright Cellars
  • Plonk Wine Club
  • Wine of the Month
  • International Wine Club
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Gold Medal Wine Club vs Firstleaf Gold Medal Wine Club vs Wine Access Gold Medal Wine Club vs Cellars Wine Club Gold Medal Wine Club vs Amazing Clubs Gold Medal Wine Club vs The California Wine Club Gold Medal Wine Club vs Bright Cellars Gold Medal Wine Club vs Plonk Wine Club Gold Medal Wine Club vs Wine of the Month Gold Medal Wine Club vs International Wine Club Gold Medal Wine Club vs Wine Awesomeness Gold Medal Wine Club vs Harry & David Gold Medal Wine Club vs Picked Gold Medal Wine Club vs Vinesse Wines Firstleaf vs Wine Access Firstleaf vs Cellars Wine Club Firstleaf vs Amazing Clubs Firstleaf vs The California Wine Club Firstleaf vs Bright Cellars Firstleaf vs Plonk Wine Club Firstleaf vs Wine of the Month Firstleaf vs International Wine Club Firstleaf vs Wine Awesomeness Firstleaf vs Harry & David Firstleaf vs Picked Firstleaf vs Vinesse Wines Wine Access vs Cellars Wine Club Wine Access vs Amazing Clubs Wine Access vs The California Wine Club Wine Access vs Bright Cellars Wine Access vs Plonk Wine Club Wine Access vs Wine of the Month Wine Access vs International Wine Club Wine Access vs Wine Awesomeness Wine Access vs Harry & David Wine Access vs Picked Wine Access vs Vinesse Wines Cellars Wine Club vs Amazing Clubs Cellars Wine Club vs The California Wine Club Cellars Wine Club vs Bright Cellars Cellars Wine Club vs Plonk Wine Club Cellars Wine Club vs Wine of the Month Cellars Wine Club vs International Wine Club Cellars Wine Club vs Wine Awesomeness Cellars Wine Club vs Harry & David Cellars Wine Club vs Picked Cellars Wine Club vs Vinesse Wines Amazing Clubs vs The California Wine Club Amazing Clubs vs Bright Cellars Amazing Clubs vs Plonk Wine Club Amazing Clubs vs Wine of the Month Amazing Clubs vs International Wine Club Amazing Clubs vs Wine Awesomeness Amazing Clubs vs Harry & David Amazing Clubs vs Picked Amazing Clubs vs Vinesse Wines The California Wine Club vs Bright Cellars The California Wine Club vs Plonk Wine Club The California Wine Club vs Wine of the Month The California Wine Club vs International Wine Club The California Wine Club vs Wine Awesomeness The California Wine Club vs Harry & David The California Wine Club vs Picked The California Wine Club vs Vinesse Wines Bright Cellars vs Plonk Wine Club Bright Cellars vs Wine of the Month Bright Cellars vs International Wine Club Bright Cellars vs Wine Awesomeness Bright Cellars vs Harry & David Bright Cellars vs Picked Bright Cellars vs Vinesse Wines Plonk Wine Club vs Wine of the Month Plonk Wine Club vs International Wine Club Plonk Wine Club vs Wine Awesomeness Plonk Wine Club vs Harry & David Plonk Wine Club vs Picked Plonk Wine Club vs Vinesse Wines Wine of the Month vs International Wine Club Wine of the Month vs Wine Awesomeness Wine of the Month vs Harry & David Wine of the Month vs Picked Wine of the Month vs Vinesse Wines International Wine Club vs Wine Awesomeness International Wine Club vs Harry & David International Wine Club vs Picked International Wine Club vs Vinesse Wines Wine Awesomeness vs Harry & David Wine Awesomeness vs Picked Wine Awesomeness vs Vinesse Wines Harry & David vs Picked Harry & David vs Vinesse Wines Picked vs Vinesse Wines
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