Bright Cellars Review [2020] - Is this wine club worth it?
This will let you in on how Bright Cellars finds the perfect wines for you, and what you can expect from your subscription. The review will tell you everything you might love as well as the things you would change.
So if smart subscription boxes with fine wines sounds like something you’d be into, keep reading this in-depth Bright Cellars review for more information or use the table of contents below to skip ahead.
Contents
What is Bright Cellars?
You know how Netflix always serves up movies and shows you like? They use math to figure out what you’re into and then they give you more of that.
Bright Cellars works the same way, but instead of romantic comedies and early 2000s sitcoms, they serve up delicious wine from all over the world. Founded by MIT grads, Bright Cellars uses an algorithm that learns from your preferences to select the perfect wines for you.
It all starts with a 7-question quiz to establish your taste preferences. From there, Bright Cellars matches you with 4 bottles of unique wine from vineyards all over the world. As you rate your wine from month to month, the selections will get better and better.
Sounds good, right? Keep reading this Bright Cellars review to see if this is the right wine of the month club for you.
Recent Bright Cellars Boxes/Items
What better way to evaluate this wine subscription than by taking a look at some of the wines they offer?
Keep in mind that boxes are based on unique, individual preferences. Among other things, if you prefer reds, they'd give you mostly reds but they could throw in a white every now and then if they think you'd like it.
Your box will be based on what you like, but this should give you an idea of the quality of the bottles in their cellar.
With Bright Cellars you pay $20 per bottle, regardless of the normal sale price. The price column in the table below shows you the retail price of each bottle so you can see how a wine subscription means savings.
Image | Product Name | Best Feature | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Obscura Pinto Noir 2016 | A blend of fruity flavors and baking spices means this wine pairs wonderfully with a wide range of savory dishes. | $23 | |
Jetbird Petit Verdot 2017 | Full-bodied and dry, this California wine goes great with hard cheeses and dark chocolate. | $20 | |
Batik Muscat of Alexandria 2017 | Juicy and sweet, this white wine has tropical flavors that blend perfectly with spicy dishes. | $21 | |
Mojave Rain Cabernet Sauvignon | A full-bodied wine with ripe raspberry, plum, and black cherry flavors and notes of spiced vanilla and oak. | $23 |
Bright Cellars Review
There are so many wine of the month clubs, each with their own twist, that it can be hard to find the one that’s perfect for you. That’s why in this Bright Cellars review, it lays out all the important information so you can make the best decision.
This Bright Cellars review is the next best thing.
Things To Love About Bright Cellars
There’s a lot to like about the club, but there are two things we really loved about this service.
1. Consumer Confidence
With any subscription box, you run the risk of getting something you don’t really like. Not so with Bright Cellars.
Their customized boxes are chosen specifically based on your preferences and matched with you on 18 different factors called Bright Points. Each bottle is given a percentage so you can see how well it matches your tastes. They’ve really gotten it down to a science.
And if you somehow wind up with a bottle that’s way off, the wine club will replace it with your next box.
2. Unique Wines
If you’re already a wine connoisseur, you might be tempted to think this service isn’t for you. You already know what you like and you don’t need someone else to tell you.
But these aren’t wines you’d find on the aisle of your local distributor. They look for unique wines from small vineyards all over the world, only to choose 1 of every 12 wines they try for their collections.
So even if you know what you’re looking for, these unique wines are hard to find.
1 Thing Not To Love About Bright Cellars
There was really only one drawback and it’s more of a philosophical disagreement than anything else.
Here is the 1 thing we don't love about Bright Cellars:
1.Pigeonholing
Once the algorithm learns your preferences, it only chooses things it’s really sure you’ll like. Which is awesome, but it cuts down on the variety and might prevent you from discovering something totally new.
That’s not too say there’s no variety within your monthly box, but it’s kind of like only watching movies Netflix recommends. You’ll probably like it, but sometimes it’s nice to shake things up a bit.
Pros Vs Cons Of Bright Cellars
For more detailed pros and cons, check out the table below. See how each of the pros and cons identified matches up with your priorities.
Pros
- Total customization - Every bottle of wine is chosen specifically for you with a system that only gets better over time. If a bottle is way off they’ll even make it up to you with a replacement the next month.
- Flexibility - Skip months as you need to and cancel anytime.
- Member perks - In addition to unique wines at discounted prices, members get rewards for every referral.
Cons
- Price - At $88 a month, it isn’t the cheapest wine of the month club available. Still, this is a good value for the service if your budget can accommodate it.
- Barebones - Unlike many other subscriptions, they aren’t big on the freebies. Forget stoppers and corkscrews, but we’d settle like a tasting guide or info booklet. It's all online… but still.
- Tunnel Vision - As awesome as it is getting wines you’re statistically likely to enjoy, this can seriously cut down on your variety
Bright Cellars Price
Pricing is really straightforward. They offer one subscription plan at a flat rate, plus $8 shipping per box.
Image | Subscription Plan | Monthly Price |
---|---|---|
4 bottles a month. Cancel or postpone any time. | $80 |
Bright Cellars Shipping Breakdown
Since Bright Cellars is a wine of the month club, shipping is totally dependent on your local alcohol laws. You should be able to find that information on your city or county website.
Assuming it’s legal, the club ships everywhere in the US for a flat rate of $8 per box. Someone 21 or over must be present to sign for the package, so the club recommends shipping to your work address to be sure you can receive the package.
Is Bright Cellars Worth It?
So, at $88 per box for 4 unique bottles of wine you’re sure to like, is Bright Cellars worth it?
Yes. It is. You often pay less than the sale value for unique, hard to find wines tested and approved for you. What more could you ask for?
If you know what you like and you want to explore unique twists on classic blends, Bright Cellars is the wine of the month club for you.
Want to get this box for yourself or as a gift for someone?
Bright Cellars Coupon or Promo Code
There is no current coupon or promo code from Bright Cellars.
How To Join Bright Cellars
Even with a quiz, joining Bright Cellars is quick and easy. Follow these three steps to join.
1. Wine Quiz
It all starts with a quick 7-question quiz designed to get an idea of your preferences. You can see the first 4 wines based on your preferences and decide whether or not to keep going.
2. Enter your Info
Enter the your shipping and payment information to make sure your wine gets where it needs to go.
3. Enjoy and Rate
Before you know it your first set of 4 bottles will greet you at the door. Be sure to rate your bottles so Bright Cellars can keep perfecting your preferences.
More Great Subscription Boxes
Looking for more great wine subscription boxes? Check out the links below to read more about these clubs.
- Try nine of the best selling wines each quarter with Vinebox.
- Explore organic hidden gems on the Mantelligence site.
- See how Winc uses their own wineries to make finding great wine easy on the Mantelligence site.
- We have a list of the best wine of the month clubs on the Mantelligence site.
- If you're not so much of a wine person, we have listed down the best beer of the month clubs you might want to join on the Mantelligence site.
In Conclusion
Hopefully this Bright Cellars review lead you to the decision that’s right for you.
If you found this review of Bright Cellars helpful, or if it has helped you with another wine of the month club, check out the reviews of other subscription boxes and share a link with your friends.