Monday, October 14th
2024 Wine Store Reviews
Wine Access
- Prices from $13 to $6,500
- 406 different wines
- Red, white, sparkling, sake, and rosé
- Oldest vintage: 1882
- Free shipping on orders $150+
- Unlimited time to make returns
- Protected shipping options for bottles
- Wine clubs for membership fans
- 4.2-star average
- 95% positive reviews
Wine Access is a wine store designed to make it easier to find and try out the most "inspiring” wines in the world. Headquartered in Napa, California, Wine Access is backed by industry experts who seek out wines for you, and all you need to do is enjoy. The site was first conceived in 1996 when Stephen Tanzer was trying to make a database of all the wines people wanted or were trying to find. It was mostly an inventory archive that developed into a site for wine stores to host their websites. Wine Access launched its own online store in 2017.
406 wines to pick from - and a vintage from 1882
Wine Access sells 406 different wines with a variety that focuses on unique or "inspiring” finds curated by the Wine Access staff. You can expect to find a range of favorites like Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, but also some unique wines left out at most basic wine stores, like Malbec, Grenache, and Semillon. You'll find selections from the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Japan, and more, with flavor profiles that include fruit, oak, body, sweetness, tannin, acidity, and pretty much anything a pro or amateur sommelier could need. We found the vintages extremely broad with some wines at Wine Access dating back to 1882.
Easy shopping with wine lovers in mind
Shopping on Wine Access shows the company's chops. It's clear from the clean styling and easy browsing that this site knows how to help you shop for wine. You can browse the entire wine inventory, shop by collections, or start by looking through limited-time offers. Once you pick a way to begin browsing, you can use extremely detailed filters to narrow the field including variety, region, availability, specific food pairings, price, alcohol content, vintage, drinking window, flavor profile, and collections. The site feels like it was designed by sommeliers for sommeliers, but it doesn't leave you out if you're not already a wine expert. As you add wine bottles to your cart, you can see which ones members are loving right now with a helpful visual on the listing photos. If you're interested in becoming a Wine Access member, there are 9 different wine clubs to choose from. Some of the standout clubs include "The Discovery Club,” "Collector's Club” and "The Wine for Normal People Club.”
Prices from $13 to $6,500
With low-cost wines and exclusive vintages, Wine Access offers prices that appeal to many budgets. It's possible to keep the total under $20 per wine bottle if you need to, or you can buy some exclusive collector's wines for a splurge. To compare prices at Wine Access to other sites in our review, we looked at the price ranges for three types of wine: red, white, and rosé. We also found the most expensive and rare wine at Wine Access. Take a look:
- Red wine: $13 to $2,300
- White wine: $15 to $6,500
- Rosé: $23 to $26
- Top vintage: 1882 W & J Graham's Ne Oublie Port with a dense and pure flavor that leans fruity with solid oak and tannin flavor too. This costs $6,500 per bottle.
Shipping free on orders $150+
Wine Access ships to all but four states in the US. If you're in Utah, Alabama, Mississippi, or Arkansas, you won't be able to order from Wine Access, but everyone else is good to go. Ground shipping is free on any order over $150. You can bundle multiple orders (even if the orders are placed on different days) to hit the $150 threshold. Your order will be held by Wine Access for 30 days, and then you'll be charged for ground shipping costs if you haven't ordered enough wine to reach $150 within that time frame. For shipments under the $150 threshold, shipping is a little pricey. Our test order cost $27.71 for standard ground shipping in our area, which does not include protection against weather spoiling or breakage. You can upgrade your shipping for $12 more to guarantee wine freshness during warm weather and with biofoam to protect the glass. If you choose to let Wine Access hold your wine for optimal weather, you may wait a little longer, but you won't have to pay as much for protected shipping.
Credit if you don't love the wine plus no-limit free returns
Wine Access promises that if any bottle you order isn't to your liking, they'll credit your account. Wine Access also states that there is no time limit for returns or exchanges of wine, and they don't charge any restocking fees if you choose to return something. In these cases, they will email you a prepaid label to print if you need to make a return. This is one of the most customer-friendly return policies for the wine stores in our review.
Stellar ratings for quality and customer service
On average, Wine Access has earned 4.2 stars out of 5. Reviews show praise for Wine Access' customer service, impressive and detailed listings, and the wide variety of wines. One shopper noted that Wine Access is one of his favorite places to spend money on wine. Reviewers love the new- and old-world wine options, the impressive flavors, and the solid shipping policies. Across all reviews on Trustpilot, 95% of all reviews were 5 stars. Currently, Wine Access does not have a page on the Better Business Bureau, but the reviews from wine blogs and pro sommeliers support the feedback we saw on Trustpilot.
Best wine experience and vintage selection
Wine Access is the ultimate wine experience. While it may not have quite as many wines as some other wine stores in our review, it makes up for it with high-quality, exclusive vintages, and a website that makes you feel like a sommelier even if you're just starting your wine journey. And if you are already a wine pro? The site has everything you need to make an informed decision about your wine. Whether you want one bottle or several, customers say you'll love your experience at Wine Access. For these reasons, it easily earns the top spot as the #1 wine store in our review. Hop on over to Wine Access ASAP to grab your next vintage.
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Which Wine Store is the Best?
It's 5 o'clock somewhere, and wherever you're located, shopping for the right wine can be a wonderful way to relax at the end of a long day. Whether you're looking for a perfect pairing to go with dinner or searching for a gift to surprise your in-laws, there's always an occasion for wine. And, it's no wonder wine is a favorite. It's been around for thousands of years.
The oldest known traces of grape wine production have been found in digs in Georgia (in Europe) that date back to 6000 BC. Wine has been a staple throughout Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and modern times. And it isn't location-specific, either. You can find wines made all over the globe, from the USA to the Middle East, to world-renowned wineries in Italy and France.
Wine Store FAQ
Continued from above...
With so much history behind wine, it's not such a surprise that there are so many kinds to choose from. Whether you have a staple favorite or you're a burgeoning sommelier hoping to try them all, there are tons of choices from around the world. From Sauvignon Blanc to Merlot, or Chardonnay to Pinot Grigio, there are plenty of flavors, grapes, and vineyards to pick from.
You can even find some unique distilleries like those in Japan that offer Plum Wine or Rice Wine (better known as Sake). Whatever your pleasure, there's wine (or wines) out there just for you. You may never get tired of this longtime favorite boozy beverage. But the trick is finding the best wine store to score those sweet reds, fruity whites, or balanced rosés.
There are tons of places to find good, great, and rare wines, and it can be hard to decide where to start browsing. Whether you're looking to pick out a single bottle or stock your home wine cellar, shopping online can take a lot of the travel worries out of purchasing your favorite flavors. With access to wineries around the world, online wine stores offer a wider variety than at your local shop or a winery that just produces its own vintages. Plus, someone else can do the heavy lifting for you, so if you are buying a case (or two), getting the wine shipped through an online service can save you some sore muscles from moving the bottles from the shelf to the cart to the car.
Now, if your head is spinning from too many options, we've got your back. We get it, the internet is overflowing with wine stores and wines to choose from. How do you pick out the best wine store for your needs? To help you narrow the field (or vineyard, we should say), here are a few factors you can consider:
- Cost. Whether you're looking for your everyday red wine or something a little exotic, the price matters. If you can find a wine somewhere for a slightly lower cost, it's definitely worth a look. Some wine stores charge you a retail price that's padded for extra profit. So, make sure you get good value for your money. Check sizes, vintages, and quality to make sure that if you want to pay top dollar for some fancy wine, you get your money's worth.
- Shipping. Since you're shipping something breakable and perishable, you'll want to check out the shipping policies for the wine store you're considering. Make sure the shipping costs are competitive with other stores, and check for guarantees against breakage or damaged bottles.
- Wine selection. The selection of wine is a big deal for choosing a wine store. You don't want to pay for shipping just to find the same few wines you'll get at your local grocery store. Make sure the wine store you pick has a competitive variety that carries all the wines you want plus all the ones you want to try too.
- Reputation. A wine store's reputation can tell you a lot about the quality of its vintages and service. Look for wine stores that have "A+” ratings from the Better Business Bureau or that have lots of positive reviews from other amateur (or pro) sommeliers out there. That way, you'll know you're getting the best wine for your money.
To help you with your home wine cellar (or maybe just a wine shelf), Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked today's top wine stores. We hope this helps you sit back, relax, and enjoy a glass or two of your favorite bubbly or fruity vintages. You deserve a little treat. And maybe, you'll be able to try some new flavors or wines you've never considered. Cheers!
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