There’s a company out there called Naked Wines. It’s not really a wine-of-the-month club type thing. They do some cross promotion with other mail order vendors, and I received a promo card with a discount code for them when I bought a set of flannel sheets from another company. Hey — winter is coming in the northern hemisphere.
So, I took the bait, after checking out the company, and gave it a try, with remarkably good results. It was a helluva discount for stocking up on a mixed red/white case of wine, with “free” shipping. So far, not one of those we’ve opened and consumed was swill. It was remarkably good.
What Naked Wines does is sponsor experienced winemakers who have set off on their own to produce wines under their own labels. Those winemakers range from Europe through the Americas, to Oz. Most are in the U.S., though. Anyone in the U.S. can order wine through them, but if you’re not a member, the wine will cost “market price,” rather than member price, which is at least a 50% discount.
“Members” chip in $40/month, which accrues to the member’s account until he/she wants to spend it. The member does not automatically get shipped wine, although it could be set up that way on a regular schedule if the member so desires. Members do get a “free” bottle of wine per month, or one to make an 11-bottle order to a full case, which is up to Naked Wines to select. But, there are options to order 6, 9, 11, or 12 bottles at a time. Shipping will be charged for any order that is less than $100, but I don’t get why anyone would bother to mail order a case of wine that costs less than that. There is no need to become a member, and anyone who does can drop membership at any time.
As I said, it’s an interesting business model. So far, the wine’s been good. There was one from Oz I wasn’t too keen on. It wasn’t bad — mostly too sweet. The rest have been remarkably good. These wines are not swill.
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